MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER v. AUTO ONE INSURANCE COMPANY (2008)

In an action to recover no-fault medical benefits under two insurance contracts, the defendant appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (McCarty, J.), dated February 28, 2008, which denied its motion pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1) to vacate a judgment of the same court dated September 18, 2007, entered upon its default in appearing or answering the complaint, which was in favor of the plaintiffs and against it in the principal sum of $43,030.53.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

The Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the defendant's motion pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1) to vacate a judgment entered upon its default in appearing or answering the complaint since it failed to demonstrate a reasonable excuse for the default (see Eugene Di Lorenzo, Inc. v. A.C. Dutton Lbr. Co., 67 N.Y.2d 138, 141, 501 N.Y.S.2d 8, 492 N.E.2d 116;  Giovanelli v. Rivera, 23 A.D.3d 616, 804 N.Y.S.2d 817).   The plaintiffs established that they effectuated service upon the defendant through delivery of the summons and complaint upon the Assistant Deputy Superintendent and Chief of Insurance (see Insurance Law § 1212;  Hospital for Joint Diseases v. Lincoln Gen. Ins. Co., 55 A.D.3d 543, 865 N.Y.S.2d 297;  New York & Presbyt. Hosp. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 29 A.D.3d 968, 815 N.Y.S.2d 478;  Kaperonis v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 254 A.D.2d 334, 678 N.Y.S.2d 298;  see also CPLR 311 [a][1] ).   The defendant did not contend that the address on file with the Superintendent of Insurance was incorrect, and the mere denial of receipt of the summons and complaint was insufficient to rebut the presumption of proper service created by the affidavit of service (see Commissioners of State Ins. Fund v. Nobre, Inc., 29 A.D.3d 511, 816 N.Y.S.2d 493;  Carrenard v. Mass, 11 A.D.3d 501, 782 N.Y.S.2d 810;  Truscello v. Olympia Constr., 294 A.D.2d 350, 351, 741 N.Y.S.2d 709).   Even if the defendant's motion were treated as one made pursuant to CPLR 317 (see Eugene Di Lorenzo, Inc. v. A.C. Dutton Lbr. Co., 67 N.Y.2d 138, 143, 501 N.Y.S.2d 8, 492 N.E.2d 116;  Mann-Tell Realty Corp. v. Cappadora Realty Corp., 184 A.D.2d 497, 498, 586 N.Y.S.2d 755), the defendant failed to meet its burden of showing that it did not receive actual notice of the summons in time to defend the action (see General Motors Acceptance Corp. v. Grade A Auto Body, Inc., 21 A.D.3d 447, 799 N.Y.S.2d 748;  cf. Hospital for Joint Diseases v. Lincoln Gen. Ins. Co., 55 A.D.3d 543, 865 N.Y.S.2d 297).