GREENWAY MEDICAL SUPPLY CORP v. AMERICAN TRANSIT INS CO (2018)

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with $25 costs.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits arising out of an accident which occurred on April 19, 2010, plaintiff moved for summary judgment. Defendant cross-moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that the action is barred by the doctrine of res judicata, in that, by order entered April 3, 2013 on default, the Supreme Court, New York County, found that defendant is not obligated to honor or pay claims for reimbursement to the assignor and provider herein, among others, which had no rights “with respect to the April 20 [sic], 2010 alleged accident.” Plaintiff opposed defendant's cross motion solely on the ground that the Supreme Court's order had no collateral estoppel effect, as it had been entered on default. In reply papers, defendant proffered a subsequent order of the Supreme Court, dated April 2, 2015, which “vacated, resettled and corrected” the April 3, 2013 order to indicate that the date of the accident at issue was April 19, 2010. By order entered October 8, 2015, the Civil Court granted defendant's cross motion based on res judicata and denied plaintiff's motion as academic. Plaintiff argues, for the first time on appeal, that the April 3, 2013 Supreme Court order has no preclusive effect because it applies to an accident on April 20, 2010, whereas the accident at issue in this case occurred on April 19, 2010. Plaintiff further argues that the “revised” April 2, 2015 order should not be considered as it was first submitted in reply papers.

The April 3, 2013 Supreme Court order did not have res judicata effect, as that order was vacated by the April 2, 2015 order. However, the April 2, 2015 order, which was attached to defendant's reply papers, replaced the April 3, 2013 order and set forth the correct accident date of April 19, 2010, and a court “may, in general, take judicial notice of matters of public record” (Headley v. New York City Tr. Auth., 100 AD3d 700, 701 [2012] ). Furthermore, contrary to plaintiff's contention, the April 2, 2015 Supreme Court order is a conclusive final determination, notwithstanding that it was entered on default, and res judicata applies to an order taken by default which has not been vacated (see Lazides v. P & G Enters., 58 AD3d 607 [2009]; Matter of Allstate Ins. Co. v. Williams, 29 AD3d 688 [2006]; Matter of Eagle Ins. Co. v. Facey, 272 AD2d 399 [2000]; Ava Acupuncture P.C. v. NY Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 34 Misc 3d 149[A], 2012 NY Slip Op 50233[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2012] ).

Accordingly, we do not disturb the Civil Court's order granting defendant's cross motion (see EBM Med. Health Care, P.C. v. Republic W. Ins., 38 Misc 3d 1 [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2012] ), as any judgment in favor of plaintiff in the present action would destroy or impair rights or interests established by the judgment in the declaratory judgment action (see Schuylkill Fuel Corp. v. Nieberg Realty Corp., 250 NY 304, 306–307 [1929]; Flushing Traditional Acupuncture, P.C. v. Kemper Ins. Co., 42 Misc 3d 133[A], 2014 NY Slip Op 50052[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2014] ).

Accordingly, the order is affirmed.

ELLIOT, J.P., PESCE and ALIOTTA, JJ., concur.