Opinion
2010-914 N C.
Decided April 6, 2011.
Appeal from an order of the District Court of Nassau County, Third District (Fred J. Hirsh, J.), dated March 22, 2010. The order denied plaintiff's motion to strike defendant's demand for a trial de novo.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs.
PRESENT: TANENBAUM, J.P., MOLIA and LaCAVA, JJ.
In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, the parties participated in a mandatory arbitration proceeding ( see Rules of the Chief Judge [22 NYCRR] part 28). Following the arbitration hearing, the arbitrator found in favor of plaintiff. Thereafter, defendant timely served and filed a demand for a trial de novo ( see Rules of the Chief Judge [ 22 NYCRR] § 28.12). Plaintiff moved to strike the demand, asserting that, while defense counsel had appeared at the arbitration hearing, that appearance was tantamount to a default since defendant had attempted to establish its defense of lack of medical necessity through non-evidentiary submissions of counsel, and had not produced its doctor to testify. As a result, plaintiff contended, defendant was not entitled to demand a trial de novo ( see Rules of the Chief Judge [ 22 NYCRR] § 28.12 [a]). The District Court denied plaintiff's motion to strike defendant's demand for a trial de novo, and this appeal by plaintiff ensued.
The order is affirmed ( see B.Y., M.D., P.C. v Geico Indem. Co. , 30 Misc 3d 132 [A], 2011 NY Slip Op 50036[U] [App Term, 9th 10th Jud Dists 2011]).
Tanenbaum, J.P., Molia and LaCava, JJ., concur.