Opinion
2015–1091 K C
12-22-2017
LONGEVITY MEDICAL SUPPLY, INC., as Assignee of Randal Chacon, Respondent, v. CITIWIDE AUTO LEASING, Appellant.
Miller, Leiby & Associates, P.C. (Melissa M. Wolin, Esq.), for appellant. Law Offices of Melissa Betancourt, P.C. (Melissa Betancourt, Esq.), for respondent.
Miller, Leiby & Associates, P.C. (Melissa M. Wolin, Esq.), for appellant.
Law Offices of Melissa Betancourt, P.C. (Melissa Betancourt, Esq.), for respondent.
PRESENT: MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, MARTIN M. SOLOMON, JJ
ORDERED that the order is reversed, with $30 costs, defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is granted and plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment is denied.
In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant appeals from an order of the Civil Court which denied defendant's motion which had sought summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that plaintiff's assignor had failed to appear for scheduled independent medical examinations (IMEs), and granted plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment.
In support of its motion, defendant established that, before it had received the claim at issue, it had mailed letters scheduling an initial and follow-up IME (see St. Vincent's Hosp. of Richmond v. Government Empls. Ins. Co. , 50 AD3d 1123 [2008] ). Defendant also established that the assignor had failed to appear for the scheduled IMEs (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C. v. Progressive Cas. Ins. Co. , 35 AD3d 720 [2006] ). Defendant further demonstrated that, upon receipt of the claim at issue, it had timely mailed initial and follow-up requests for written verification (see St. Vincent's Hosp. of Richmond , 50 AD3d 1123 ). Finally, defendant established that, upon receiving the requested verification, it had timely denied the claim at issue based upon the assignor's failure to appear for IMEs (see St. Vincent's Hosp. of Richmond , 50 AD3d 1123 ; Alev Med. Supply, Inc. v. New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co. , 38 Misc 3d 143[A], 2013 NY Slip Op 50258[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2013] ). Plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact in opposition.
Accordingly, the order is reversed, defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is granted and plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment is denied.
PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ., concur.