Court Opinion

ID: 4453784
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-07 15:07:44.100992+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:25:25.544851
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                         SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                         APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                         DOCKET NO. A-3119-17T4

MARIA NAPOLITANO,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

MSS VENDING, INC., and
TONY HUDSON,

          Defendants-Appellants,

and

GIUSEPPE NAPOLITANO,

     Defendant-Respondent.
____________________________

                    Argued September 10, 2019 – Decided November 7, 2019

                    Before Judges Messano, Ostrer and Vernoia.

                    On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                    Division, Middlesex County, Docket Nos. L-5330-14
                    and L-3916-14.

                    Jeffrey John Czuba argued the cause for appellants
                    (Hoagland Longo Moran Dunst & Doukas, attorneys;
                    Jeffrey John Czuba, of counsel and on the briefs).
            Nicholas P. Scutari argued the cause for respondent
            Maria Napolitano (Nicholas P. Scutari and Fruhschein
            & Steward, LLC, attorneys; Nicholas P. Scutari, of
            counsel and on the briefs; Carleen M. Steward, on the
            brief).

            Eric G. Kahn argued the cause for amicus curiae New
            Jersey Association for Justice (Javerbaum Wurgaft
            Hicks Kahn Wikstrom & Sinins, attorneys; Eric G.
            Kahn and Annabelle Moskol Steinhacker, of counsel
            and on the brief).

            Stephen Jospeh Foley, Jr. argued the cause for amicus
            curiae New Jersey Defense Association (Campbell
            Foley Delano & Adams, LLC, attorneys; Stephen
            Joseph Foley, Jr., on the brief).

PER CURIAM

      Plaintiff Maria Napolitano was a passenger in a car driven by her father,

Giuseppe Napolitano, when it was struck in the rear by a truck driven by

defendant Tony Hudson and owned by MSS Vending, Inc. Defendant claimed

that after stopping partially in an intersection for a red light, Giuseppe

Napolitano placed his car in reverse and backed into defendant's vehicle.1

Plaintiff sought damages for pain and suffering based on alleged injuries to her

knees, shoulders, and spine. Additionally, plaintiff was insured under a standard

automobile insurance policy that included a $50,000 limit for personal injury

1
   Giuseppe Napolitano settled his claims against defendant but remained a
defendant at trial on his daughter's complaint.
                                                                         A-3119-17T4
                                       2
protection (PIP) benefits. Plaintiff also sought more than $765,000 in medical

expenses that allegedly exceeded policy limits.

      Following the close of discovery, defendant moved to bar plaintiff's

medical expense claim, asserting she failed to identify any witness who

possessed expertise or training in evaluating medical bills and who was

competent to testify as to their reasonableness. Defendant further argued that

the PIP fee schedule adopted by the Department of Banking and Insurance

(DOBI) should be applied to all medical bills, and any recovery should be

limited to the fee schedule amounts for services provided. Although the motion

was opposed, and defendant sought oral argument, the judge denied the motion

without granting argument or issuing any written or oral decision.

      Defendant moved for reconsideration, plaintiff filed opposition, and

defendant again requested oral argument. The judge denied the motion without

argument and, in a brief written statement of reasons, concluded defendant failed

to establish any grounds for reconsideration. Relying on our decision in Haines

v. Taft, 450 N.J. Super. 295 (App. Div. 2017), the judge wrote plaintiff's

"medical expenses exceeding PIP limits were not inadmissible under N.J.S.A.

39:6A-12."

                                                                         A-3119-17T4
                                       3
      The parties took the de bene esse deposition of Dr. Matthew Garfinkel, a

board-certified orthopedic surgeon, who operated on both of plaintiff's knees

and both of her shoulders. Plaintiff's counsel questioned Dr. Garfinkel about

the medical bills associated with his treatment, and defense counsel objected,

noting the bills contained amounts for the anesthesiologist and use of the

surgical facility. Immediately before trial, defendant moved in limine to exclude

those portions of Dr. Garfinkel's testimony regarding the medical bills. The trial

judge, who was not the pre-trial motion judge, denied defendant's request.

      In addition to her own testimony and Dr. Garfinkel's videotaped

deposition, plaintiff produced the expert testimony of Dr. Paresh Rijsinghani, a

radiologist; Dr. Michael Robinson, a chiropractor; Dr. Wayne Fleischhacker, a

board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist; and Dr. Marc

Cohen, a board-certified spine surgeon. Defendant testified and also offered the

videotaped deposition of Dr. Steven Fried, an orthopedic doctor.2

      The jury concluded defendant was negligent, Giuseppe Napolitano was

not, and defendant's negligence was a proximate cause of the accident. It

2
  We have not been furnished with a copy of Dr. Fried's testimony, but we gather
from defense counsel's closing argument that Dr. Fried opined plaintiff's injuries
were pre-existing and not aggravated by this accident, or degenerative in nature.
The judge ultimately ruled Mr. Napolitano was "unavailable" and the parties
read portions of his deposition testimony for the jury.
                                                                          A-3119-17T4
                                        4
awarded plaintiff $75,000 in damages for pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment

of life, and $383,000 for unpaid medical expenses, half the amount plaintiff

claimed. Defendant moved for a new trial, which the judge denied. This appeal

followed.

                                        I.

      Defendant argues that the judge's failure to grant oral argument on his

motion to bar plaintiff's claim for medical expenses, and the judge's failure to

provide a statement of reasons for her decision, requires reversal. Defendant

also contends that the actual testimony adduced at trial on the claim for medical

expenses was incompetent because it lacked "a [p]roper [f]oundation" and was

supported by only "[n]et [o]pinions[.]" As a corollary, defendant argues DOBI's

fee schedule provided a "[c]onclusive [r]easonableness [m]ethodology[,]" and

the trial court erred by refusing to limit plaintiff's claim to the amounts payable

to providers pursuant to the fee schedule. Lastly, defendant contends the judge's

decision to tell the jury defendant was insured was prejudicial and requires

reversal. We permitted the New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ) and the

New Jersey Defense Association (NJDA) to appear as amici curiae.

      While the appeal was pending, the Court issued its decision in Haines v.

Taft, 237 N.J. 271 (2019). At the time, N.J.S.A. 39:6A-12 provided in relevant

                                                                           A-3119-17T4
                                        5
part: "Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the right of recovery,

against the tortfeasor, of uncompensated economic loss sustained by the injured

party." "Economic loss" was and remains defined as "uncompensated loss of

income or property, or other uncompensated expenses, including, but not limited

to, medical expenses." N.J.S.A. 39:6A-2(k) (emphasis added). In reversing our

earlier judgment, the Court held that "interpreting [N.J.S.A. 39:6A-12] to allow

the admission of evidence of medical expenses falling between the insured's PIP

policy limit and the $250,000 PIP statutory ceiling transgresses the overall

legislative design of the No-Fault Law to 'reduc[e] court congestion[,] . . .

lower[] the cost of automobile insurance[,]' and most importantly, avoid fault-

based suits in a no-fault system[.]" Id. at 292 (first four alterations in original)

(citing Roig v. Kelsey, 135 N.J. 500, 516 (1994)). We asked the parties to

address the impact of the Court's holding on the issues in this case.

      The landscape shifted again before we heard oral argument.                The

Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, Senate Bill No. 2432 on August

15, 2019, which took effect immediately and "appl[ied] to causes of action

pending on that date or filed on or after that date." L. 2019, c. 244 § 2 (Chapter

244). Chapter 244 was a direct response to the Court's decision in Haines, and

amended N.J.S.A. 39:6A-12 by providing:

                                                                            A-3119-17T4
                                         6
                   Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit
            the right of recovery, against the tortfeasor, of
            uncompensated economic loss as defined by [N.J.S.A.
            39:6A-2(k)], including all uncompensated medical
            expenses not covered by the personal injury protection
            limits applicable to the injured party and sustained by
            the injured party. All medical expenses that exceed, or
            are unpaid or uncovered by any injured party's medical
            expense benefits [PIP] limits, regardless of any health
            insurance coverage, are claimable by any injured party
            as against all liable parties, including any self-funded
            health care plans that assert valid liens.

            [L. 2019, c. 244, § 1 (emphasis added).]

      On the same day, the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, Senate

Bill No. 3963, L. 2019, c. 245 (Chapter 245), with an effective date of August

1, 2019. Chapter 245 amended N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4.6(a), by requiring DOBI to

"promulgate medical fee schedules . . . for the reimbursement of health care

providers . . . for payment of unreimbursed medical expenses that are admissible

as uncompensated economic loss pursuant to [N.J.S.A. 39:6A-12]." L. 2019, c.

245 § 1. In relevant part, Chapter 245 also further amended N.J.S.A. 39:6A-12

by subjecting any claim for "unreimbursed medical expenses[,]" as opposed to

uncompensated medical expenses, "not covered by the [PIP] limits applicable to

the injured party and sustained by the injured party, including the value of any

deductibles and copayments incurred through a driver's secondary insurance

coverage and medical liens asserted by a health insurance company related to

                                                                         A-3119-17T4
                                        7
the treatment of injuries sustained in the accident . . . to the current automobile

medical fee schedules established pursuant to [N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4.6]." Id. at § 2.

Chapter 245 applies to all automobile accidents that occurred on or after August

1, 2019. Id. at § 3.

      At oral argument, defendant clarified that he was not relying on the Court's

decision in Haines, and he, along with NJDA, agreed with plaintiff and NJAJ

that Chapter 244 applies, since this action was "pending" direct appeal on

August 15, 2019. The parties and amici also do not dispute that by its terms

Chapter 245 does not apply, since the accident occurred before August 1, 2019.

      Defendant, however, reiterates his primary arguments that the motion

judge's failure to provide oral argument and adequate reasons for denying his

pre-trial attempt to bar plaintiff's claim for medical expenses requires reversal,

plaintiff's evidence of unpaid medical expenses was premised on the

inadmissible net opinions of the various treating doctors               and their

unauthenticated billings, and DOBI's fee schedule is essentially presumptive

evidence of reasonableness.      NJDA frames the issue as whether the trial

testimony, which essentially permitted the doctors to state the gross amount of

their bills, permitted plaintiff to mischaracterize the bills as "unpaid," when in

                                                                           A-3119-17T4
                                        8
fact there may have been payments made to, and accepted by, those providers

by plaintiff's PIP insurer or some other insurer.

      Initially, we do not condone the motion judge's failure to accord defendant

oral argument, or her entry of an order devoid of any written or oral statement

of reasons. Rule 1:6-2(d) grants oral argument "as of right" for all civil motions

except those involving pre-trial discovery or the calendar. Rule 1:6-2(f) requires

the judge to indicate on the order whether her findings of fact and conclusions

of law that explain her disposition of the motion were oral or written, and when

they were rendered. As noted, the motion judge did neither when she denied

defendant's motion to bar plaintiff's claim for medical expenses. See Raspantini

v. Arocho, 364 N.J. Super. 528, 531–32 (App. Div. 2003) ("While a request for

oral argument respecting a substantive motion may be denied, the reason for the

denial of the request, in that circumstance, should itself be set forth on the

record.") (citations omitted).

      Nevertheless, we are convinced these errors were not "clearly capable of

producing an unjust result," the standard governing our review for harmful error.

R. 2:10-2. That is so because at trial defendant had the opportunity and did

vigorously challenge the admissibility of evidence supporting plaintiff's claim

for medical expenses under then-existing N.J.S.A. 39:6A-12.

                                                                          A-3119-17T4
                                        9
      We also reject defendant's contention that the DOBI fee schedule

contained presumptively reasonable amounts for medical services, and

plaintiff's claim was therefore limited to those amounts. When this case was

tried, N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4.6(a) provided that DOBI shall "promulgate medical fee

schedules on a regional basis for the reimbursement of health care providers

providing services or equipment for medical expense benefits for which payment

is to be made by an automobile insurer under [PIP] coverage . . . [or] by an

insurer under medical expense benefits coverage[.] " (emphasis added); see also

N.J.A.C. 11:3-29.1(b) (implementing the provisions of N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4.6 to

establish fee schedules "for the reimbursement . . . to be made by automobile

insurers under PIP coverage[.]").     The regulation makes clear that the fee

schedules do not apply to "[o]ther coverages contained in an automobile . . .

insurance policy[,]" or to "[a]ny other kind of insurance[.]" N.J.A.C. 11:3-

29.1(d)(1) and (2). At the time of the trial in this case, and because the accident

occurred prior to August 1, 2019, the DOBI fee schedules did not apply to claims

for medical expenses in excess of those paid under plaintiff's PIP coverage.

      Chapter 245 amended the statute for all accidents that occurred after

August 1, 2019, and essentially adopted defendant's argument by making the

DOBI fee schedule applicable to "payment of unreimbursed medical expenses

                                                                           A-3119-17T4
                                       10
that are admissible as uncompensated economic loss pursuant to [N.J.S.A.

39:6A-12]." However, it is undisputed that Chapter 245 does not apply to this

case.

        We turn our attention then to defendant's substantive challenge to the

award of economic damages to plaintiff. Pursuant to Chapter 244, plaintiff was

entitled to recover from defendant "uncompensated economic loss . . . including

all uncompensated medical expenses not covered by the [PIP] limits applicable

to the injured party and sustained by the injured party." N.J.S.A. 39:6A-12. "All

medical expenses that exceed, or are unpaid or [are] uncovered by any injured

party's medical expense benefits [PIP] limits . . . are claimable . . . as against all

liable parties . . . ." Ibid. (emphasis added).

        It is axiomatic that "[u]nder the common law, a person injured by the

negligent acts of another had an unqualified right to the recovery of medical

expenses from the wrongdoer." Haines, 237 N.J. at 297 (J. Albin, dissenting)

(citing Sotomayor v. Vasquez, 109 N.J. 258, 261 (1988)); Schroeder v. Perkel,

87 N.J. 53, 69–70 (1981); see also Model Jury Charges (Civil), 8.11A, "Damages

Charges — General, Medical Expenses (Non-Auto)" (approved Dec. 1996)

("The amount of payment is the fair and reasonable value of such medical

expenses."). We recognize the cases defendant cites in arguing the testimony of

                                                                              A-3119-17T4
                                         11
plaintiff's treating doctors failed to supply an adequate foundation for the

admission of plaintiff's medical bills into evidence. See, e.g., Sallo v. Sabatino,

146 N.J. Super. 416, 418 (App. Div. 1976) (affirming the trial court 's refusal to

admit the plaintiffs' hospital bills because they failed to properly show that "the

treatment was necessary and the charges [were] reasonable"); Hackensack Hosp.

v. Tiajoloff, 85 N.J. Super. 417, 419–20 (App. Div. 1964) (finding that when the

reasonableness of medical bills is at issue, "the books of account alone usually

cannot supply that proof").

      However, here, all the testifying doctors were asked to examine the

medical bills and state whether the treatments provided were necessary and the

costs associated with those treatments reasonable.             For example, Dr.

Rijsinghani, the radiologist, identified a bill for five MRIs performed on plaintiff

at a cost of $2000 each. He explained that the amount charged was based upon

"the geographic area . . . and the type of services . . . rendered[,]" and that the

charges were "customary fees in [his] industry." He further explained that he

knew "many people in the industry" and "what the customary charges [we]re."

Cross-examination only further solidified the doctor's conclusions based upon

personal knowledge and experience.

                                                                            A-3119-17T4
                                        12
      Dr. Robinson, the chiropractor, identified a bill for $13,845 for his

services. He explained that he based his billing rate upon prior experience

working for other chiropractors, discussions he had with a "billing and

consulting firm[,]" conversations with other chiropractors, and the Association

of New Jersey Chiropractors.       Dr. Robinson also explained that he bil led

plaintiff $57,959 for physical therapy performed in his office, and that he

formulated the billing amounts for these services in the same manner. On cross-

examination, Dr. Robinson acknowledged that a portion of his bill had been paid

by plaintiff's PIP carrier, and that he accepted much less than the billed amount.

      Dr. Fleischhacker examined bills from his office, the surgical center

where he performed a discogram on plaintiff's spine, and the radiological center

that performed a CAT scan after the surgery. The doctor was part owner of the

surgical center, and described how its bills were formulated in consultation with

"advisors[] and a billing company . . . that charges the usual and customary

rates." He also explained in detail how he relied upon "health care accountants

. . . associations and organizations[,]" as well as a company that "surveys doctors

throughout different areas of the country" to identify his rates.

       On cross-examination, Dr. Fleischhacker acknowledged that his bills

would "get reduced" when submitted to insurance companies in amounts that

                                                                           A-3119-17T4
                                       13
varied from company to company. He was not asked if any of the outstanding

bills were unpaid, and, on re-direct, he testified that his practice would "bill the

patient" for any unpaid balance "if the insurance . . . company [did not] pay the

whole bill[.]"

      Dr. Cohen, who performed spinal fusion revision surgery on plaintiff,

identified a list of billings for his services, the hospital where the sur gery was

performed, and those of other providers associated with the surgery. The doctor

testified he had been performing surgery in conjunction with these providers for

eighteen years, and had personally arranged for some of them to assist in

plaintiff's surgery.    He acknowledged these bills were "reasonable and

customary with respect to the procedures [he performs] on a regular basis." On

cross-examination, Dr. Cohen stated that he did not "accept insurance[,]" but did

not know if the hospital did.

      Lastly, Dr. Garfinkel identified certain bills during his deposition,

including the bills for the surgical centers, which he partially owned, where he

performed the procedures on plaintiff's knees and shoulders, and the

anesthesiologists involved. The doctor identified the charges as "reasonable and

customary."      On cross-examination, Dr. Garfinkel was asked "[w]hat

methodology . . . [he] use[d] to establish that the unpaid medical bills were fair

                                                                            A-3119-17T4
                                        14
and reasonable?" The doctor cited his "many years" of experience, "certain

publications . . . used . . . to evaluate appropriate billing both in-office, as well

as at a surgical treatment," and discussions within his medical group. The doctor

acknowledged that patients were billed the same amounts, without regard to

insurance, although he confirmed he was not always paid the billed amount by

an insurance company.

      Contrary to defendant's repeated assertions before trial, at trial, and before

us at oral argument, whether medical charges reflect the fair and reasonable

value of services rendered does not require the opinion of someone with

expertise in billing practices or approved insurance rates of payment. We have

recognized that "health care providers and health agencies" themselves define

what are the "usual, reasonable and customary" charges for medical services.

Hahnemann Univ. Hosp. v. Dudnick, 292 N.J. Super. 11, 20 (App. Div. 1996).

"One would presume that an amount charged would be reasonable if it is within

a range customarily charged for such services within the community and the

amount charged compares with the amount charged by such physician to other

patients of his receiving similar treatment."       Ibid. (quoting Thermographic

Diagnostics, Inc. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 219 N.J. Super. 208, 229 (Law Div. 1987)).

                                                                             A-3119-17T4
                                        15
      Here, all the medical experts testified regarding their billings and the basis

for the reasonableness of the charges. Defendant vigorously challenged the

reasonableness of the bills, both by noting the doctors were frequently paid less

by insurance companies and lacked personal knowledge of the billing

procedures of associated providers. We acknowledge that some of the billings

were not performed by the doctors who testified, and, therefore, even if

admissible as business records excepted from the hearsay rule, see N.J.R.E.

803(c)(6), contained embedded hearsay. However, that issue is not before us. 3

In short, we conclude the medical providers were competent witnesses who did

not provide "net opinions" regarding the reasonable costs of the medical

treatment and procedures provided to plaintiff.

      Lastly, we address NJDA's assertion that the trial judge permitted plaintiff

to mischaracterize the identified bills as "unpaid," when in fact there may have

been payments made to, and accepted by, those providers by plaintiff's PIP

insurer or some other insurer. As we understand the contention, NJDA asserts

3
  At trial, defendant did assert the bills contained hearsay. However, before us,
defendant argues only that the doctors provided "[n]et [o]pinions" as to the
reasonableness of the bills, and "[e]ven assuming plaintiff . . . call[ed] . . .
providers' office managers or accounting department employees . . . th[ose]
individuals would lack personal knowledge of the foundational predicate . . . :
the reasonable value of the underlying medical services."
                                                                            A-3119-17T4
                                       16
the judge was required to mold the jury's award to credit any payments insurers

made to plaintiff's medical providers, including PIP benefits paid by her

automobile insurer. NJDA cites to "inconsistencies" in the billings contained in

defendant's appendix, and entries on some bills that reflect receipt of payments

from plaintiff's auto insurer and health insurer.

      The record on appeal is quite confusing, and the trial transcripts do not

clarify the evidence actually adduced before the jury. During her testimony,

plaintiff was shown the bills attributed to the testifying doctors.       In each

instance, she testified or acknowledged those were the amounts she owed. 4

Some of the billings in the appendix, which includes the PIP payment ledger, do

reflect receipt of insurance payments on plaintiff's behalf. The PIP payment

ledger likewise reflects some payments to the testifying doctors or their

associated entities.

      N.J.S.A. 39:6A-12 is, at its core, "intended to prevent a double recovery

of damages[,]" Haines, 237 N.J. at 296 (J. Albin, dissenting), as is the collateral

source statute. See N.J.S.A. 2A:15-97.5 However, defendant never disputed

4
  For example, in summation, plaintiff's counsel advised the jury that her claim
was for $765,666 in unpaid medical expenses. However, in her testimony,
plaintiff identified a number of billings totaling more than $900,000 as "unpaid."
5
  N.J.S.A. 2A:15-97 provides:

                                                                           A-3119-17T4
                                       17
that plaintiff's PIP benefits were exhausted. Indeed, the trial testimony revealed

that several of the testifying doctors did not treat plaintiff until after $50,000 in

benefits were paid. More importantly, defendant never argued to the trial judge,

including when he moved for a new trial, that he was entitled to a reduction of

the jury's award of medical expenses. Nor has he made such an argument in his

brief. See Pressler & Verniero, Current N.J. Court Rules, cmt. 5 on R. 2:6-2

(2019) (noting an issue not briefed is waived).

      It is well-settled that "[a]n amicus curiae may not interject new issues, but

must accept the issues as framed and presented by the parties." James v. Arms

Tech., Inc., 359 N.J. Super. 291, 324 (App. Div. 2003) (quoting Fed. Pac. Elec.

                      In any civil action brought for personal injury or
             death, except actions brought pursuant to the provisions
             of . . . [N.J.S.A.] 39:6A-1 et seq.[], if a plaintiff receives
             . . . benefits for the injuries allegedly incurred from any
             other source other than a joint tortfeasor, the benefits,
             other than workers’ compensation benefits or the
             proceeds from a life insurance policy, shall be disclosed
             to the court and the amount thereof which duplicates
             any benefit contained in the award shall be deducted
             from any award recovered by the plaintiff, less any
             premium paid to an insurer directly by the plaintiff or
             by any member of the plaintiff’s family on behalf of the
             plaintiff for the policy period during which the benefits
             are payable. Any party to the action shall be permitted
             to introduce evidence regarding any of the matters
             described in this act.
                                                                              A-3119-17T4
                                         18
Co. v. N.J. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., 334 N.J. Super. 323, 345 (App. Div. 2000)).

Given the lack of clarity in the documentary record, upon which NJDA's

argument is solely predicated, we refuse to remand the matter for further

consideration of the issue now raised.

                                         II.

      Lastly, we address defendant's claim that the judge committed reversible

error by advising the jury defendant was insured.       The issue arose in the

following context.

      As indicated, defense counsel cross-examined plaintiff's doctors as to

whether they had received payments from an insurance carrier, and whether it

was their practice to accept what was paid by a carrier even though it was less

than the billed amount.      Plaintiff's counsel objected, arguing the cross-

examination implied that plaintiff was insured, but defendant was not. He asked

the judge to issue a curative charge pursuant to our holding in Tomeo v. Northern

Valley Swim Club, 201 N.J. Super. 416 (App. Div. 1985).

      Defense counsel explained his cross-examination was intended only to

demonstrate the doctors' bills were inflated and not the reasonable costs of

medical services provided. The judge agreed with plaintiff, finding the cross-

examination unnecessarily injected the issue of insurance into the case. He told

                                                                         A-3119-17T4
                                         19
the jury that defendant was insured, but that the issue of insurance was not

relevant to the jury's decision. The judge repeated the same instruction in his

final charge before deliberations.

      We review the trial court's decision to provide a curative instruction for

an abuse of discretion. State v. Kueny, 411 N.J. Super. 392, 403 (App. Div.

2010). "Accordingly, the trial court's decision . . . should not be disturbed on

appeal unless the decision was 'made without a rational explication, inexplicably

departed from established practices, or rested on an impermissible basis.'"

Estate of Kotsovska v. Liebman, 221 N.J. 568, 588 (2015) (quoting Flagg v.

Essex Cty. Prosecutor, 171 N.J. 561, 571 (2002)).

      In Tomeo, defense counsel told the jury in summation that his client's

swim club was a "family[-]owned organization[,]" described the family

members affiliated with the corporation, and said the plaintiff wanted to take the

defendant's "money[,]. . . possessions[,]. . . [and] house[.]" 201 N.J. Super. at

419. In granting a new trial, we said:

                   When defense counsel creates a false impression
            of no insurance, ordinarily the trial judge should first
            give him the opportunity of correcting that impression
            so that he may explain, if it is the case, that he raised
            the inference inadvertently. Before the incident passes,
            however, the trial judge must be satisfied that the jury
            is unequivocally advised, by counsel or by the court,
            that the defendant is insured but that they are to

                                                                          A-3119-17T4
                                         20
            disregard that fact because it is not relevant to the issues
            they are to determine.

            [Id. at 421 (emphasis added).]

      Here, it was a mistaken exercise of the judge's discretion to have provided

the instructions, because it is clear from the record that the cross-examination

did not create a false impression that defendant was uninsured. Indeed, the judge

never made such a finding, but rather decided to issue the curative charge

because cross-examination raised the issue of insurance in a general sense. In

short, while it was well within the judge's discretion to tell the jury the issue of

insurance coverage was irrelevant, it was a mistaken exercise of that discretion

to advise the jurors that defendant was insured.

      Defendant contends the instructions were prejudicial and brought about

an unjust result, because the jury asked during deliberations whether the billings

reflected the outstanding balance due after insurance payments. However, the

jury's question most likely arose because of defense counsel's cross-

examination, not because of the curative charge. Most importantly, the judge

told the jury more than once, including in response to its question, that

consideration of insurance was irrelevant to its deliberations. We assume the

jury understood and followed these instructions. See, e.g., State v. Herbert, 457

                                                                            A-3119-17T4
                                        21
N.J. Super. 490, 503 (App. Div. 2019) ("The authority is abundant that courts

presume juries follow instructions."). There was no reversible error.

      Affirmed.

                                                                        A-3119-17T4
                                      22