Opinion
Index No. 160348/2020 Motion Seq. No. 001
06-30-2022
STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff, v. BLISS ACUPUNCTURE, P.C., BV PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., CITY WIDE HEALTH FACILITY, INC., COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION, P.C., ELITE DRUGS AND SURGICAL, ENS MEDICAL, P.C., FLORID LEISURE ACUPUNCTURE, P.C., GRAND MEDICAL SUPPLY CORP., HYUN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., INEWREHAB PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., INJE PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., INSTA DRUGS, INC., JORDON FERSEL, M.D., P.C., JOSEPH A. RAIA, M.D., P.C., LZ MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC, MIN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., PERFORMANCE CHIROPRACTIC, P.C., QUEENS BOULEVARDCHIROPRACTIC, P.C., STEPHEN MATRANGOLO, D.C., P.C., SUESSERMAN CHIROPRACTIC, P.C., BERNADETTE MAYERS, N.P., DIMITRI BAZIN, P.A., MARINA GADABORSHEV, D.C., RENANMACIAS,M.D., LAMEL JEFFERY, ANTHONY EDWARDS Defendants.
Unpublished Opinion
PRESENT: HON. VERNA L. SAUNDERS, JSC, Justice.
DECISION + ORDER ON MOTION
HON. VERNA L. SAUNDERS, JSC
The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 001) 46,47,48,49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54,55,56,57,58,59,60 were read on this motion to/for DEFAULT JUDGMENT.
In this action seeking a declaratory judgment, plaintiff moves, pursuant to CPLR 3215, for a default judgment against defendants BLISS ACUPUNCTURE, P.C., BV PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION, P.C., ENS MEDICAL, P.C., FLORID LEISURE ACUPUNCTURE, P.C., HYUN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., INEW REHAB PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., INJE PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., JORDON FERSEL, M.D., P.C., JOSEPH A. RAIA, M.D., P.C., LZ MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC, MIN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., QUEENS BOULEVARD CHIROPRACTIC, P.C, SUESSERMAN CHIROPRACTIC, P.C, DIMITRI BAZIN, PA., and LAMEL JEFFERY (NYSCEF Doc. No. 46, notice of motion).
Despite service of the motion papers, (NYSCEF Doc. No. 57, proof of service) the instant application is not opposed.
CPLR 3215(a) provides, in pertinent part, that when "a defendant has failed to appear, plead or proceed to trial ... the plaintiff may seek a default judgment..." To establish his/her/their entitlement to a default judgment, the movant must demonstrate proof of service of the summons and complaint, proof of the facts constituting the claim and proof of the default. (See PV Holding Corp. v AB Quality Health Supply Corp., 2020 NY Slip op 07725[U] at * 1 [1st Dept 2020]; Gantt v North Shore-LIJ Health Sys., 140 A.D.3d 417, 317 [1st Dept 2016].) An application for a default judgment must be supported by either an affidavit of facts made by one with personal knowledge of the facts surrounding the claim or a complaint verified by a person with actual knowledge of the facts surrounding the claim. (See Zelnick v Biderman Indus. U.S.A., Inc., 242 A.D.2d 227, 229 [1st Dept 1997]; Hazim v Winter, 234 A.D.2d 422, 422 [2d Dept 1996].
"Pursuant to the Insurance Regulations, an insurer may request that an eligible injured party appear for an EUO to verify the no-fault claim, and may deny no-fault benefits if the eligible injured party fails to appear for the EUO" since "[c]ompliance with an EUO request is a condition precedent to no-fault coverage." (Country-Wide Ins. Co. v Ospina, 2019 NY Slip Op 30444[U], *7 [Sup Ct, NY County 2019] [citation omitted].) "To establish the failure of the party to appear for duly scheduled EUOs, the insurer must establish as a matter of law that it twice duly demanded an examination under oath, that the party twice failed to appear and that the insurer issued a timely denial." (Country-Wide Ins. Co. v Ospina, 2019 NY Slip Op 30444[U] at *8; see Interboro Ins. Co. v Clennon, 113 A.D.3d 596, 597 [2d Dept 2014].) "It is also incumbent upon the insurer to submit proof by someone with personal knowledge of the non-appearance." (Country-Wide Ins. Co. v Ospina, 2019 NY Slip Op 30444[U] at *10.)
Here, the affidavits of service establish that the defaulting defendants were served with the pleadings (NYSCEF Doc. No. 49, affidavits of service) and that additional copies of the pleadings were mailed as required by 3215(g)(4). (NYSCEF Doc. No. 56, notice of default). Plaintiff also annexes proof of non-military status of the claimant defendant LAMEL JEFFREY (NYSCEF Doc. No. 55). To date, BLISS ACUPUNCTURE, P.C, BV PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION, P.C, ENS MEDICAL, P.C, FLORID LEISURE ACUPUNCTURE, P.C, HYUN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, INEW REHAB PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, INJE PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, JORDON FERSEL, M.D., P.C, JOSEPH A. RAIA, M.D., P.C, LZ MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC, MIN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, QUEENS BOULEVARD CHIROPRACTIC, P.C, SUESSERMAN CHIROPRACTIC, P.C, DIMITRI BAZIN, P.A., and LAMEL JEFFERY have failed to answer, appear, or obtain an order from the court extending the time to do so, and the time to answer or otherwise appear has expired.
As to the facts constituting the claim, plaintiff submits, inter alia, the police report (NYSCEF Doc. No. 50); the letters providing notice to claimants LAMEL JEFFERY and ANTHONY EDWARDS of their schedule examinations under oath and the respective transcripts of the missed examinations under oath (NYSCEF Doc. No. 52); the affidavit of Timothy Dacey, Claim Specialist, who attests that claimants failed to appear for two properly scheduled EUO's (NYSCEF Doc. No. 47); and proof that the denials of each of claimant's claims were timely (NYSCEF Doc. No. 51,53-54; claim denials; 11 NYCRR 65-3.8). Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED that plaintiffs motion seeking a default judgment against LAMEL JEFFREY (NYSCEF Doc. No. 55). To date, BLISS ACUPUNCTURE, P.C., BV PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION, P.C., ENS MEDICAL, P.C., FLORID LEISURE ACUPUNCTURE, P.C., HYUN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., INEW REHAB PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., INJE PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., JORDON FERSEL, M.D., P.C., JOSEPH A. RAIA, M.D., P.C., LZ MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC, MIN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C., QUEENS BOULEVARD CHIROPRACTIC, P.C, SUESSERMAN CHIROPRACTIC, P.C, DIMITRI BAZIN, P.A., and LAMEL JEFFERY is granted; and it is further
ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECLARED that plaintiff has no duty to pay any no-fault benefits in the form of sums, monies, damages, awards or benefits to BLISS ACUPUNCTURE, P.C, BV PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION, P.C, ENS MEDICAL, P.C, FLORID LEISURE ACUPUNCTURE, P.C, HYUN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, INEW REHAB PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, INJE PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, JORDON FERSEL, M.D., P.C, JOSEPH A. RAIA, M.D., P.C, LZ MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC, MIN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, QUEENS BOULEVARD CHIROPRACTIC, P.C, SUESSERMAN CHIROPRACTIC, P.C, DIMITRI BAZIN, P.A., and LAMEL JEFFERY their agents, employees, assignees or heirs arising out of any current or future proceeding, including without limitation, arbitrations and lawsuits seeking to recover no-fault benefits with respect to the claims submitted in connection with the December 21, 2019 collision referenced in the complaint; and it is further
ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECLARED that all no-fault lawsuits, arbitrations, including uninsured motorist, awards, and claims filed by BLISS ACUPUNCTURE, P.C, BV PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION, P.C, ENS MEDICAL, P.C, FLORID LEISURE ACUPUNCTURE, P.C, HYUN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, INEW REHAB PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, INJE PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, JORDON FERSEL, M.D., P.C, JOSEPH A. RAIA, M.D., P.C, LZ MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC, MIN PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C, QUEENS BOULEVARD CHIROPRACTIC, P.C, SUESSERMAN CHIROPRACTIC, P.C, DIMITRI BAZIN, P.A., and LAMEL JEFFERY arising from or related to the claims submitted in connection with the December 21, 2019 collision referenced in the complaint are hereby stayed; and it is further
ORDERED that this judgment shall have no effect as to the appearing and/or remaining defendants; and it is further
ORDERED that, within twenty (20) days after this decision and order is uploaded to NYSCEF, counsel for plaintiffs shall serve a copy of this decision and order, with notice of entry, upon defendants, as well as, the Clerk of the Court, who shall enter judgment accordingly; and it is further
ORDERED that service upon the Clerk of the Court shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Protocol on Courthouse and County Clerk Procedures for Electronically Filed Cases (accessible at the "E-Filing" page on the court's website at the address www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh).