Court Opinion

ID: 4357066
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-09 10:07:44.718318+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:27:06.836819
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                            COURT OF APPEALS

EMMANUEL MCCUNE JR.,                                                 UNPUBLISHED
                                                                     January 8, 2019
               Plaintiff-Appellant,
and

NORTHLAND RADIOLOGY, INC.,
EXCELLENT PAIN CONSULTANTS, INC., and
EVOKE MEDICAL SERVICES, INC.,

               Intervening Plaintiffs,

v                                                                    No. 340476
                                                                     Wayne Circuit Court
ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY,                                          LC No. 16-006823-NF

               Defendant-Appellee.

Before: MURRAY, C.J., and SHAPIRO and RIORDAN, JJ.

SHAPIRO, J. (concurring).

         I concur in the result because the evidence leaves no doubt that plaintiff did not inform
defendant of his 2014 auto accident and injuries resulting from it. Given that he was engaged in
litigation regarding the 2014 accident at the time he made the instant claim and has not proffered
any reason for the failure to disclose it, I conclude that a reasonable jury would have to find that
plaintiff made an intentional misrepresentation. In other words, there is unrebutted evidence that
plaintiff knowingly, i.e., intentionally, failed to provide requested information of his prior
accident and the corresponding injuries.

        I disagree, however, with several aspects of the majority opinion. The majority largely
focuses on differences between plaintiff’s deposition testimony and the crash and EMS reports.
Specifically, there was a discrepancy between the testimony and the reports as to where the
ambulance picked plaintiff up. Yet this is of little, if any, material consequence and there is no
evidence that plaintiff’s statement was made with intent to defraud rather than due to confusion
or lack of memory following a traumatic event. The same can be said about the other
inconsistences pertaining to details of the accident. The purpose of the statute excluding
coverage when there is fraud is to prevent and punish real fraud, not to create a “gotcha”
situation by which an insurer can avoid coverage simply by producing some evidence of a
possible misstatement by a claimant who had no fraudulent intent; it certainly was not intended

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to allow insurers to monitor every action and word of an insured and then to proclaim the
existence of fraud where any inconsistency is found.

       Nor do I find that plaintiff’s social media postings demonstrate, at least beyond a
question of fact, that he was engaged in any other material misrepresentations. For instance, a
video shows plaintiff walking for a very few minutes, which he has never claimed he cannot do.
Only plaintiff’s face is visible and there is no evidence of his gait or the presence or absence of a
cane or brace. And plaintiff testified that he does not always use such devices. For those
reasons, the video is not evidence, let alone conclusive evidence, that plaintiff misrepresented his
condition.

        Defendant also points to plaintiff’s statement in a social media posting that he received a
raise. However, there is no information about the nature of that work, e.g., whether it was
physically demanding, the hours involved, etc. More to the point, plaintiff has not made a wage-
loss claim. Plaintiff also posted a photograph of some equipment with a comment that he is at
“the gym.” This is not conclusive evidence of anything. Plaintiff explained that the location was
his physical therapy clinic and, in any event, going to a gym does not demonstrate a lack of
injury.

        I also disagree with the majority’s view that fraudulent intent need not be shown. The
requirements to prove fraud are well settled and have been applied in cases of all types for
decades. See e.g., Hi-Way Motor Co v Int’l Harvester Co, 398 Mich. 330, 336; 247 NW2d 813
(1976). I see no basis to conclude that these standards should not be applied in this or any no-
fault case. Further, MCL 500.3173a should be read together with MCL 500.4503 given that they
relate to the same subject matter, SBC Health Midwest, Inc v Kentwood, 500 Mich. 65, 539 n 26;
894 NW2d 535 (2017), and that the former expressly refers to the latter, see McCahan v
Brennan, 492 Mich. 730, 741-742; 822 NW2d 747 (2012). Moreover, the terms of MCL
500.3173a require that the claimant knowingly made a false statement material to the claim. I do
not see how this is distinct from the scienter requirement that has always been required to show
fraud. Under the majority’s view, a mere misstatement can result in denial of PIP benefits even
if there is no dispute that the individual was injured in a motor-vehicle accident and received
reasonably necessary care and treatment. Such a harsh interpretation of the statute clearly runs
against the text and purpose of the no-fault act. See Iqbal v Bristol West Ins Group, 278 Mich
App 31, 37; 748 NW2d 574 (2008) (“The purpose of the Michigan no-fault act is to broadly
provide coverage for those injured in motor vehicle accidents without regard to fault.”).

        As alluded to above, the majority appears to suggest that even if there is a question of
material fact, defendant is entitled to summary disposition because it has some evidence to
support its position. The majority barely touches upon plaintiff’s evidence—which includes his
own testimony—and dismisses that evidence based on its view that defendant has stronger
evidence. However, weighing the comparative strength of each side’s evidence is plainly
inconsistent with court rules. It is axiomatic that when deciding a motion for summary
disposition, a court must consider the pleadings, affidavits, depositions, admissions and other
documentary evidence submitted in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, MCR
2.116(G)(5); Joseph v Auto Club Ins Ass’n, 491 Mich. 200, 206; 815 NW2d 412 (2012), and that

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all reasonable inferences are to be drawn in favor of the nonmovant, Dextrom v Wexford Co, 287
Mich. App. 406, 415; 789 NW2d 211 (2010).

        I agree with the majority that plaintiff’s failure to disclose the 2014 accident and injuries
constitutes an intentional misrepresentation. However, I would conclude that the remaining
evidence presents a question of fact as to whether plaintiff committed fraud.

                                                              /s/ Douglas B. Shapiro

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