No-Fault Case Law

Arcadia Acupuncture, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of N.Y. (2019 NY Slip Op 51707(U))

The relevant facts that the court considered in this case were that Arcadia Acupuncture, P.C. was seeking to recover first-party no-fault benefits assigned to it by three assignors. The claims arose from three separate accidents that occurred on three different dates. The main issue decided was whether the first cause of action seeking to recover upon a claim for services rendered to Juan Beato should be severed from the remaining causes of action. The holding of the court was that the order denying defendant's motion to sever the first cause of action from the remaining causes of action was reversed, and defendant's motion to sever the first cause of action was granted. The court found that the facts relating to each claim were likely to raise few, if any, common issues of fact, and therefore, the motion to sever the first cause of action should have been granted.
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Valdan Acupuncture, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of NY (2019 NY Slip Op 51705(U))

The main issues decided in this case were whether the defendant was entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint, and whether the plaintiff's motion to compel discovery should be granted. The court considered the fact that the plaintiff's assignor had failed to appear for duly scheduled independent medical examinations, and that the claim for the sum of $1,224.22 had been timely denied on that ground. The holding of the court was that the branch of defendant's cross-motion seeking summary judgment dismissing so much of the complaint as sought to recover upon a claim for the sum of $1,224.22 was granted. Additionally, the court found that the defendant failed to establish any basis to disturb the Civil Court's order granting plaintiff's motion to compel discovery.
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Premier Surgical Servs., P.C. v GEICO Gen. Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51704(U))

The court considered the defendant's appeal from an order of the Civil Court that denied the defendant's motion to sever the causes of action in an action by a provider to recover first-party no-fault benefits assigned to it by four assignors. The main issue decided was whether the causes of action should have been severed into four separate actions due to the fact that the claims arose out of four separate accidents which occurred on four different dates, and therefore were likely to raise few, if any, common issues of fact. The holding of the court was that the order denying the defendant's motion to sever the claim of each assignor into separate actions was reversed, and defendant's motion was granted.
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Refill RX Pharmacy, Inc. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of NY (2019 NY Slip Op 51702(U))

The court considered the appeal from an order of the Civil Court which granted the plaintiff's motion to compel discovery and denied the defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The main issue was whether the plaintiff's assignor had failed to appear for duly scheduled independent medical examinations, which would affect the outcome of the case. The court ultimately reversed the order, granted the defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, and denied the plaintiff's motion to compel discovery as moot. The holding of the case was in favor of the defendant, with the court ruling that the plaintiff's assignor's failure to appear for scheduled medical examinations warranted the dismissal of the complaint.
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Atlas Orthosurgery, P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51697(U))

The relevant facts considered by the court were that Atlas Orthosurgery, P.C. was seeking to recover first-party no-fault benefits as the assignee of an individual named Jackxuell Delgado. The main issue decided was whether the defendant insurance company's motion for summary judgment to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that the plaintiff's assignor failed to appear for independent medical examinations (IMEs) was valid, and whether the plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment should be denied. The holding of the case was that the court affirmed the order to grant the defendant's motion for summary judgment and dismiss the complaint, as the proof submitted by the defendant was sufficient to establish the proper mailing of the IME scheduling letters. Therefore, the order was affirmed.
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Nica Acupuncture, P.C. v American Ind. Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51696(U))

The relevant facts the court considered were that NICA Acupuncture, P.C., and other plaintiffs were seeking to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits from American Independent Insurance Company. The main issue decided was whether the Civil Court should have denied the defendant's motion to dismiss and ordered jurisdictional discovery, pursuant to CPLR 3211 (d). The holding of the case was that the order to grant the defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint and deny the plaintiffs' cross motion seeking discovery pursuant to CPLR 3211 (d) was affirmed. The court found that the evidence provided by the plaintiffs did not constitute the "tangible evidence" necessary to substantiate their allegation that jurisdiction could exist, and therefore, they did not make a "sufficient start" to warrant discovery on the issue of personal jurisdiction over the defendant.
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Body Acupuncture Care, P.C. v Erie Ins. Co. of N.Y. (2019 NY Slip Op 51695(U))

The relevant facts the court considered in this case were that the plaintiff, Body Acupuncture Care, P.C., had filed a motion for summary judgment to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, while the defendant, Erie Insurance Company of New York, had filed a cross-motion for summary judgment to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that the plaintiff had failed to appear for scheduled independent medical examinations (IMEs). The main issue decided was whether the plaintiff had failed to appear for the scheduled IMEs, and whether this failure warranted the dismissal of the complaint. The holding of the case was that the defendant had established that the IMEs had been scheduled and timely mailed to the plaintiff's assignor's address, the assignor had failed to appear at the scheduled IMEs, and the claims had been timely denied on that ground. Therefore, the defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint was granted, and the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment was denied.
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Charles Deng Acupuncture, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51693(U))

The court considered the appeal from an order of the Civil Court which granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and denied the plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment in an action to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits. The main issue was whether the defendant's papers established, as a matter of law, that the denial of claim forms had been timely mailed, and if the defendant is entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The holding of the court was that while the defendant failed to demonstrate that it is not precluded from asserting its proffered defenses and is not entitled to summary judgment, the plaintiff also failed to establish that the claims at issue had not been timely denied or that the defendant had issued timely denials of claim that were conclusory, vague or without merit. Therefore, the court modified the order by providing that the defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.
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Lida’s Med. Supply, Inc. v Global Liberty Ins. (2019 NY Slip Op 51692(U))

The main issue in this case was whether the Civil Court of the City of New York correctly granted the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment in an action to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits. The relevant facts considered by the court included the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, the subsequent judgment entered on December 12, 2017, and the appeal by the defendant. The holding of the case was that the judgment was reversed, and so much of the order entered May 10, 2017 as granted the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment was vacated, denying the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment.
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Lida’s Med. Supply, Inc. v Global Liberty Ins. (2019 NY Slip Op 51691(U))

The court considered the fact that Lida's Medical Supply, Inc. filed a motion for summary judgment in order to recover first-party no-fault benefits. The main issue decided was whether the proof submitted by Lida's Medical Supply, Inc. established that the claim had not been timely denied or that the insurer had issued a timely denial of claim form that was without merit as a matter of law. The holding of the court was that Lida's Medical Supply, Inc.'s motion for summary judgment should have been denied, as the proof submitted failed to establish that the claim had not been timely denied, or that the insurer had issued a timely denial of claim form that was without merit as a matter of law. Therefore, the judgment was reversed, and the motion for summary judgment was denied.
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