Opinion
Index No. 107835/2010
10-21-2011
UNITRIN AUTO & HOME INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff v. AMD CHIROPRACTIC, P.C., OLGA BARD ACUPUNCTURE, P.C., BEDFORD MEDICAL CARE, P.C., CMS MEDICAL SUPPLY, INC., COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION P.C., DYNAMIC MEDICAL IMAGING, P.C., FEMA MEDICAL SUPPLY, INC., GABA MEDICAL, P.C., GOODWILL ACUPUNCTURE, P.C., IMMEDIATE IMAGING, P.C., MAGIC TOUCH PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., NEW AGE ORTHOPEDIC REHABILITATION CENTER, P.C., PARK RADIOLOGY, P.C., PERSONAL TOUCH MEDICAL, P.C., KHALIKA AYESHA ROWE, SUPERIOR HEALTH CHIROPRACTIC, P.C., and TOHIR MUMINOV, Defendants
DECISION AND ORDER
LUCY BILLINGS, J.S.C.:
Plaintiff seeks a judgment declaring that plaintiff owes no duty to compensate defendants pursuant to New York Insurance Law § 5103 for expenses incurred from a collision August 18, 2009, in Kings County, when a motor vehicle owned by a nonparty and insured by plaintiff, struck defendant Muminov, a pedestrian. Plaintiff moves for a default judgment against defendants. C.P.L.R. § 3215(e). Although plaintiff served the summons and complaint on the corporate defendants July 16, 2 010, and mailed them the required second copies, C.P.L.R. § 3215(g)(4), and served the summons and complaint on defendant Muminov July 17, 2010, and on defendant Rowe August 14, 2010, defendants failed to answer.
Plaintiff's witness attests that the corporate defendants submitted claims for medical diagnostic and treatment expenses due to the August 2009 collision, as assignees of the individual defendants' benefits under plaintiff's insurance policy. See Fair Price Med. Supply Corp. v. Travelers Indem. Co,, 10 N.Y.3d 556, 563 (2008); Hospital for Joint Diseases v. Travelers Prop. Cas. Ins, Co., 9 N.Y.3d 312, 317 (2007). As assignees, these defendants may claim benefits only to the extent that the assignor individual defendants are entitled to benefits. Matter of International Ribbon Mills, 36 N.Y.2d 121, 126 (1975); Madison Liquidity Invs. 119, LLC v. Griffith, 57 A.D.3d 438, 440 (1st Dep't 2008); Condren, Walker & Co. v. Portnov, 48 A.D.3d 331 (1st Dep't 2008); Trisingh Enters, v. Kessler, 249 A.D.2d 45, 46 (1st Dep't 1998).
Plaintiff's witness also attests that plaintiff notified all defendants of requested examinations under oath, substantiated by the notices themselves, and that the corporate defendants did not appear for the examinations. These defendants' noncooperation constitutes a failure of a condition precedent to insurance benefits for the motor vehicle collision to any parties potentially entitled to benefits under Insurance Law § 5103 or their assignees. 11 N.Y.C.R.R. § 65-1.1(a). See N.Y. Ins. Law § 5103(d) and (h); Unitrin Advantage Ins. Co. v. Bayshore Physical Therapy.' PLLC, 82 A.D.3d 559, 560 (1st Dep't 2011); Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C. v. Progressive Cas. Ins, Co., 35 A.D.3d 720, 721 (2d Dep't 2006).
Consequently, the court grants plaintiff's motion for a default judgment against all defendants. C.P.L.R. § 3215; American Tr. Ins. Co. v. Wilfred, 296 A.D.2d 360, 361 (1st Dep't 2002); Utica First Ins. Co. v. Santagata, 66 A.D.3d 876, 878 (2d Dep't 2009); Lancer Ins. Co. v. Whitfield. 61 A.D.3d 724, 725 (2d Dep't 2009); Travelers Indem. Co, of Am. v. Pullini Water Servs., Inc,, 35 A.D.3d 846, 847 (2d Dep't 2006). The court adjudges and declares that plaintiff is not obligated to compensate defendants for expenses related to the collision August 18, 2009. C.P.L.R. § 3001; American Tr. Ins, Co. v. Wilfred, 296 A.D.2d at 361-62; Travelers Indem. Co. of Am. v. Pullini Water Servs., Inc., 3 5 A.D.3d at 846-47. See Unitrin Advantage Ins. Co. v. Bayshore Physical Therapy, PLLC, 82 A.D.3d at 560. This decision constitutes the court's order and judgment.
LUCY BILLINGS, J.S.C.