Source: http://ny.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20130225_0002380.NY.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-10-23 22:29:32
Document Index: 426747692

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5106', '§ 5106', '§ 5106', '§ 5106', '§ 5106', '§ 5106', '§ 5106', '§ 5601', '§ 3224', '§ 5106']

| Medalliance Medical Health Services v. Allstate Ins. Co.
Medalliance Medical Health Services v. Allstate Ins. Co.
Civil Court of City of New York, Queens County
MEDALLIANCE MEDICAL HEALTH SERVICES a/a/o Anna Oneal, Salvadore Rivera, Plaintiff,v.ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant.
[965 N.Y.S.2d 274] Peter C. Merani, P.C. by William Larkin, New York, for defendant.
Israel, Israel & Purdy, LLP by Justin Skaferowsky, Great Neck, for plaintiff (movant).
CARMEN VELASQUEZ, J.
This is an action by the plaintiff to recover statutory interest and attorney fees on no fault insurance claims that were overdue when they were paid by the defendant. The plaintiff has submitted proof that, on the dates indicated, the following four claims were mailed to the defendant:
(1) March 10, 2009— $71.49 for services rendered to ANA ONEAL
(2) June 11, 2009— $1,392.52 for services rendered to SALVADORE RIVERA
(3) June 25, 2009— $107.64 for services rendered to SALVADORE RIVERA
(4) June 25, 2009— $186.80 for services rendered to SALVADORE RIVERA
The claims were each paid as follows:
Claim (1) was paid by draft dated June 1, 2009 for $71.49
Claim (2) was paid by draft dated July 29, 2009 for $1,392.52
Claim (3) was paid by draft dated August 16, 2009 for $107.64
Claim (4) was paid by draft dated August 10, 2009 for $103.95
" Pursuant to Insurance Law § 5106(a) and 11 NYCRR 65-3.5, insurers are required either to pay or deny a claim for no-fault automobile insurance benefits within 30 days from the date the applicant supplies proof of claim" ( New York & Presby. Hosp. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 30 A.D.3d 492, 493, 819 N.Y.S.2d 268, citing Presbyterian Hosp. v. Maryland Cas. Co., 90 N.Y.2d 274, 278, 660 N.Y.S.2d 536, 683 N.E.2d 1, rearg. denied 90 N.Y.2d 937, 664 N.Y.S.2d 275, 686 N.E.2d 1370; also see New York & Presbyt. Hosp. v. Travelers Prop. Casualty Ins. Co., 37 A.D.3d 683, 830 N.Y.S.2d 734). Based on the proof submitted by the plaintiff on this motion, the claims in this action were paid more than thirty days after they were mailed and received by the defendant. Therefore, the payments of the no fault benefits made [965 N.Y.S.2d 275] by the defendant were overdue ( NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases v. Esurance Ins. Co., 84 A.D.3d 1190, 1191, 923 N.Y.S.2d 686, citing St. Vincent's Hosp. of Richmond v. Government Employees Ins. Co., 50 A.D.3d 1123, 857 N.Y.S.2d 211; Westchester Med. Ctr. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 44 A.D.3d 750, 752, 843 N.Y.S.2d 182; Nyack Hosp. v. Metropolitan Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 16 A.D.3d 564, 791 N.Y.S.2d 658).
" An insurer's failure to pay or deny a claim within 30 days carries substantial consequences. By statute, overdue payments earn monthly interest at a rate of two percent and entitle a claimant to reasonable
attorneys' fees incurred in securing payment of a valid claim (see Insurance Law § 5106 [a] )" ( Hosp. for Joint Diseases v. Travelers Prop. Cas. Ins. Co., 9 N.Y.3d 312, 317-318, 849 N.Y.S.2d 473, 879 N.E.2d 1291; citing Presbyterian Hosp. v. Maryland Cas. Co., 90 N.Y.2d at 278, 660 N.Y.S.2d 536, 683 N.E.2d 1).
Insurance Law § 5106(a), provides as follows:
Payments of first party benefits and additional first party benefits shall be made as the loss is incurred. Such benefits are overdue if not paid within thirty days after the claimant supplies proof of the fact and amount of loss sustained. If proof is not supplied as to the entire claim, the amount which is supported by proof is overdue if not paid within thirty days after such proof is supplied. All overdue payments shall bear interest at the rate of two percent per month. If a valid claim or portion was overdue, the claimant shall also be entitled to recover his attorney's reasonable fee, for services necessarily performed in connection with securing payment of the overdue claim, subject to limitations promulgated by the superintendent in regulations.
11 NYCRR 65-3.9(a), applicable to interest on overdue payments, provides as follows:
All overdue mandatory and additional personal injury protection benefits due an applicant or assignee shall bear interest at a rate of two percent per month, calculated on a pro-rata basis using a 30-day month. When payment is made on an overdue claim, any interest calculated to be due in an amount exceeding $5 shall be paid to the applicant or the applicant's assignee without demand therefor.
11 NYCRR 65-3.10(a), applicable to attorney's fees, provides as follows: An applicant or an assignee shall be entitled to recover their attorney's fees, for services necessarily performed in connection with securing payment, if a valid claim or portion thereof was denied or overdue. If such a claim was initially denied and subsequently paid by the insurer, the attorney's fee shall be $80. If such a claim was overdue but not denied, the attorney's fee shall be equal to 20 percent of the amount of the first-party benefits and any additional first-party benefits plus interest payable pursuant to section 65-3.9 of this Subpart, subject to a Page 352
maximum fee of $60.
The overdue interest on plaintiff's claims for $71.49, $107.64, $103.95 was less than five dollars and was not paid by the defendant. The overdue interest on the claim for $1,392.52, which exceeded five dollars, was also not paid. Demands for payment of the overdue interest and attorney fees were mailed to the defendant shortly after the claim payments were received, as indicated in plaintiff's opposing papers. This action to recover the overdue interest and attorney fees was then commenced by the filing of the summons and complaint on November 5, 2009 and personal service upon the defendant on November 10, [965 N.Y.S.2d 276] 2009.[1]
Defendant's claim that overdue interest is to be calculated on a 30-day month basis and not on a daily basis, has no merit. The Court of Appeals in Presbyterian Hosp. v. Maryland Cas. Co., 90 N.Y.2d at 278, 660 N.Y.S.2d 536, 683 N.E.2d 1, stated that:
Pursuant to both the Insurance Law and the regulations promulgated by the Superintendent of Insurance, an insurer is required to either pay or deny a claim for no-fault automobile insurance benefits within 30 days from the date an applicant supplies proof of claim ( see, Insurance Law § 5106[a]; 11 NYCRR 65.15[g][3] ). Failure to pay benefits within the 30-day requirement renders benefits " overdue," and all overdue payments bear interest at a rate of 2% per month (Insurance Law § 5106[a]; 11 NYCRR 65.15[h] ). Additionally, a claimant is entitled to recover attorney's fees where a " valid claim or portion" was denied or overdue (Insurance Law § 5106[a]; 11 NYCRR 65.15[I] ).
This language makes it clear that overdue interest applies to " all overdue payments." Moreover, the instruction in 11 NYCRR 65-3.9[a] that interest is to be " calculated on a pro-rata basis using a 30-day month" explains the manner of determining the daily rate of interest based on a monthly interest rate of two percent per month, rather than restricting collection to a monthly amount. The statute, regulations and case law confirm that overdue interest is a payment to be imposed on a daily basis, with attorney fees, when a claim for no fault benefits is Page 353
not paid within 30 days of submission of the claim ( see New York & Presbyt. Hosp. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 30 A.D.3d at 494, 819 N.Y.S.2d 268; Hempstead Gen. Hosp. v. Insurance Co. of N. Am., 208 A.D.2d 501, 617 N.Y.S.2d 478; Corona Hgts. Med., P.C. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 32 Misc.3d 8, 927 N.Y.S.2d 278).
On this motion and cross motion, as well as other motions that are pending, the issue is whether the plaintiff is entitled to recover overdue interest when it does not exceed the sum of five dollars indicated in 11 NYCRR 65-3.9(a). The defendant contends that the regulation limits overdue interest to an amount exceeding five dollars that is to be paid, without demand, upon payment of the overdue claim. The plaintiff claims that the regulation does not preclude the applicant fro demanding overdue interest below five dollars. There are prior orders in Civil Court, Queens County that have decided this issue in cases involving different parties. These orders, some of which are signed by this Court, have held that collection of overdue interest of less than five dollars is not precluded by regulation 11 NYCRR 65-3.9(a).
According to the Governor's Memorandum approving the no fault system, its primary aims " were to ensure prompt compensation for losses incurred by accident victims without regard to fault or negligence, to reduce the burden on the courts and to provide substantial premium savings to New York motorists" ( Medical Soc'y v. Serio, 100 N.Y.2d 854, 860, 768 N.Y.S.2d 423, 800 N.E.2d 728). The Superintendent of Insurance was given the responsibility for administering the Insurance Law " with the power to fill in the interstices in the legislative product by [965 N.Y.S.2d 277] prescribing rules and regulations consistent with the enabling legislation" ( Nicholas v. Kahn, 47 N.Y.2d 24, 31, 416 N.Y.S.2d 565, 389 N.E.2d 1086). As a result, the Court of Appeals has long held that the Superintendent's " interpretation, if not irrational or unreasonable, will be upheld in deference to his special competence and expertise with respect to the insurance industry, unless it runs counter to the clear wording of a statutory provision" ( LMK Psychological Servs., P.C. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 12 N.Y.3d 217, 223, 879 N.Y.S.2d 14, 906 N.E.2d 1046, citing Matter of New York Pub. Interest Research Group v. New York State Dept. of Ins., 66 N.Y.2d 444, 448, 497 N.Y.S.2d 645, 488 N.E.2d 466). However, " courts are not required to embrace a regulatory construction that conflicts with the plain meaning of the promulgated language" ( Matter of Visiting Nurse Serv. Of N.Y. Home Care v. New York State Dept. of Health, 5 N.Y.3d 499, 506, 806 N.Y.S.2d 465, 840 N.E.2d 577; citing Page 354
427 W. 51st St. Owners Corp. v. Div. of Hous. & Comty. Renewal, 3 N.Y.3d 337, 342, 786 N.Y.S.2d 416, 819 N.E.2d 1032; also see Kurcsics v. Merchants Mut. Ins. Co. 49 N.Y.2d 451, 459, 426 N.Y.S.2d 454, 403 N.E.2d 159; East Acupuncture, P.C. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 61 A.D.3d 202, 209, 873 N.Y.S.2d 335). Legislative intent is the great and controlling principle in statutory construction and the proper judicial function is to discern and apply the will of the Legislature ( Mowczan v. Bacon, 92 N.Y.2d 281, 285, 680 N.Y.S.2d 431, 703 N.E.2d 242; Scotto v. Dinkins, 85 N.Y.2d 209, 214, 623 N.Y.S.2d 809, 647 N.E.2d 1317; Sutka v. Conners, 73 N.Y.2d 395, 403, 541 N.Y.S.2d 191, 538 N.E.2d 1012).
" The interest which accrues on overdue no-fault benefits at a rate of two percent per month is a statutory penalty designed to encourage prompt adjustments of claims and inflict a punitive economic sanction on those insurers who do not comply ( citations omitted )" ( East Acupuncture, P.C. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 61 A.D.3d at 210, 873 N.Y.S.2d 335). The construction of 11 NYCRR 65-3.9(a), that is advocated by the defendant, would preclude overdue interest of less than five dollars. This would conflict with the statutory language of Insurance Law § 5106(a) which imposes interest on " all overdue payments." The change would also tend to increase the delay in compensating low cost medical benefits that accumulate minimal overdue interest. Such a construction of the statute conflicts with its primary aims and violates the legislative intent.
The legislature was entitled to enact a limitation on the overdue interest in Insurance Law § 5601(a), as it did by expressly eliminating interest of " less then two dollars" in Insurance Law § 3224-a(c)(1). However, the legislature did not exempt the overdue interest of less than five dollars, that is sought by the defendant. The Superintendent of Insurance also did not preclude the collection of overdue interest that is less than five dollars, if it is demanded. This Court will not now prevent the collection of such interest.
Accordingly, the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment is granted and the plaintiff is awarded judgment, pursuant to Insurance Law § 5106(a), for the overdue interest and attorney fees alleged in the complaint. The defendant's cross motion to dismiss the action is denied.
This constitutes the opinion, decision and order of the Court.