Synergy Med. v Praetorian Ins. Co. |
2013 NY Slip Op 51047(U) [40 Misc 3d 127(A)] |
Decided on July 2, 2013 |
Appellate Term, First Department |
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law ยง 431. |
This opinion is uncorrected and will not be published in the printed Official Reports. |
Defendant appeals from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Bronx
County (Raul Cruz, J.), entered January 10, 2011, which denied its motion for summary
judgment dismissing the complaint.
Per Curiam.
Order (Raul Cruz, J.), entered January 10, 2011, reversed, with $10 costs, motion granted and complaint dismissed. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment accordingly.
The defendant-insurer made a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a
matter of law by submitting, inter alia, a chiropractor's sworn peer review report which
set forth a factual basis and medical rationale for his stated conclusion that the medical
services giving rise to plaintiff's claim for first-party no-fault benefits were not medically
necessary. Notably, defendant's peer reviewer explained in some detail that the
manipulation under anesthesia ("MUA") procedures performed at plaintiff's facility were
not medically necessary according to the standards of protocol followed by the National
Academy of MUA physicians. In opposition, plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue. The
unsworn operative reports of plaintiff's principal submitted with plaintiff's attorney's
affirmation were without probative value (see Grasso v Angerami, 79 NY2d 813
[1991]). In any event, even if considered, the conclusory, fill-in-the-blanks findings set
forth therein were insufficient to withstand summary judgment (see CPT Med. Servs., P.C. v New
York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 18 Misc 3d 87 [2007]).
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.
I concur I concurI concur.
Decision Date: July 02, 2013