Complete Radiology, P.C. v GEICO Ins. Co.

[*1] Complete Radiology, P.C. v GEICO Ins. Co. 2010 NY Slip Op 52158(U) [29 Misc 3d 142(A)] Decided on December 10, 2010 Appellate Term, Second Department Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and will not be published in the printed Official Reports.

Decided on December 10, 2010
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
APPELLATE TERM: 2nd, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS
PRESENT: : PESCE, P.J., GOLIA and STEINHARDT, JJ
2009-2050 Q C.

Complete Radiology, P.C. as Assignee of JEANENE McGREGOR, Respondent,

against

GEICO Insurance Company, Appellant.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Rudolph E. Greco, Jr., J.), entered July 24, 2009. The order, insofar as appealed from, denied defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed, without costs, and defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is granted.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff moved for summary judgment and defendant cross-moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The Civil Court found that plaintiff had established
its prima facie case, that defendant had demonstrated that it had timely denied plaintiff's claim and that the sole issue for trial was the medical necessity of the services rendered to plaintiff's assignor. Defendant appeals from so much of the order as denied its cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

In support of its cross motion, defendant submitted, among other things, an affirmed medical peer review report, which set forth a factual basis and medical rationale for the doctor's determination that there was a lack of medical necessity for the medical services at issue. Defendant's showing that such services were not medically necessary was unrebutted by plaintiff.

In light of the foregoing, and the Civil Court's CPLR 3212 (g) finding that defendant "established that it issued a timely and proper denial," a finding which plaintiff does not dispute, [*2]defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint should have been granted (see Delta Diagnostic Radiology, 24 Misc 3d 136[A], 2009 NY Slip Op 51502[U] [App Term, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2009]; Delta Diagnostic Radiology, P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co., 18 Misc 3d 128[A], 2007 NY Slip Op 52455[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2007]; A. Khodadadi Radiology, P.C. v NY Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 16 Misc 3d 131[A], 2007 NY Slip Op 51342[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2007]).

Pesce, P.J., Golia and Steinhardt, JJ., concur.
Decision Date: December 10, 2010