GREENWAY MEDICAL SUPPLY CORP v. DOLLAR RENT CAR (2021)

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 denying its motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and granting plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment.

In support of its motion, defendant submitted an affidavit from its third-party claims examiner which was sufficient to establish, prima facie, defendant's lack of coverage defense (see New Way Med. Supply Corp. v Dollar Rent A Car, 49 Misc 3d 154[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 51794[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]). To the extent the claims examiner's affidavit, which was notarized outside the State of New York, failed to conform to the requirements set forth in CPLR 2309 (c) and Real Property Law § 299-a regarding the submission of a certificate of conformity, the absence of a certificate of conformity is not a fatal defect (see Fuller v Nesbitt, 116 AD3d 999 [2014]; Fredette v Town of Southampton, 95 AD3d 940 [2012]; see also Gonzalez v Perkan Concrete Corp., 110 AD3d 955 [2013]; Smith v Allstate Ins. Co., 38 AD3d 522 [2007]; Active Chiropractic, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co., 43 Misc 3d 134[A], 2014 NY Slip Op 50634[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2014]), as the defect may be disregarded pursuant to CPLR 2001 where a substantial right of a party is not prejudiced (see Midfirst Bank v Agho, 121 AD3d 343 [2014]; Rivers v Birnbaum, 102 AD3d 26 [2012]). In the present case, plaintiff failed to make any showing of prejudice. In opposition to defendant's prima facie showing, plaintiff failed to demonstrate the existence of a triable issue of fact.

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.

ALIOTTA, P.J., TOUSSAINT and GOLIA, JJ., concur.