EXCEL PRODUCTS INC v. AMERIPRISE AUTO HOME (2021)

ORDERED that the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed, with $30 costs, and defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is granted.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that plaintiff's assignor had failed to appear for duly scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs), and plaintiff cross-moved for summary judgment. Defendant appeals from so much of an order of the Civil Court as denied defendant's motion.

To establish its prima facie entitlement to summary judgment dismissing a complaint on the ground that a provider's assignor had failed to appear for an EUO, an insurer must demonstrate, as a matter of law, that it had twice duly demanded an EUO from assignor, that the assignor had twice failed to appear, and that the insurer had issued a timely denial of the claims (see Interboro Ins. Co. v Clennon, 113 AD3d 596, 597 [2014]; Parisien v Metlife Auto & Home, 54 Misc 3d 143[A], 2017 NY Slip Op 50208[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2017]; Palafox PT, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 49 Misc 3d 144[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 51653[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]). A review of the record establishes that defendant's papers established proper mailing of the EUO scheduling letters and the denial of claim forms, as well as the failure of plaintiff's assignor to appear for the EUOs. As a result, defendant established its prima facie entitlement to summary judgment dismissing the complaint (see Interboro Ins. Co. v Clennon, 113 AD3d at 597). Defendant did not need to toll its time to pay or deny the claims at issue, as they were denied within 30 days of defendant's receipt of same, and the EUOs had been scheduled prior to defendant's receipt of plaintiff's claims. Consequently, plaintiff's contention that defendant needed, but failed, to demonstrate that the EUO scheduling letters were timely mailed after defendant's receipt of the NF-2 form lacks merit and is contrary to Insurance Law article 51 and the regulations promulgated thereunder (see City Anesthesia Healthcare, P.C. v Erie Ins. Co. of NY, 70 Misc 3d 141[A], 2021 NY Slip Op 50135[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2021]; 11 NYCRR 65-3.5 [a], [d]; Appendix 13). In view of the foregoing, plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact in opposition to defendant's prima facie showing.

Accordingly, the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed and defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is granted.

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