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Insurer Did Not Demonstrate, as a Matter of Law, the Denials of Claims Were Timely and Properly Mailed—Summary Judgment In Favor of Insurer Should Not Have Been Granted

Supreme Court granted plaintiff insurer’s motion for summary judgment, declaring that the plaintiff was not obligated to pay no-fault claims submitted by the defendant because the defendant was unable to verify the validity of the claims. The Second Department reversed, finding that the plaintiff did not demonstrate, as a matter of law, that the denials had been timely and properly mailed to the defendant. The relevant proof requirements were described:

Generally, “proof that an item was properly mailed gives rise to a rebuttable presumption that the item was received by the addressee” … . ” The presumption may be created by either proof of actual mailing or proof of a standard office practice or procedure designed to ensure that items are properly addressed and mailed'” … . However, in order for the presumption to arise, office practice must be geared so as to ensure the likelihood that a denial of claim is always properly addressed and mailed … . “Denial of receipt by the insured[ ], standing alone, is insufficient to rebut the presumption” … .

Here, the plaintiffs failed to establish, prima facie, that they timely and properly mailed the denial of claim forms to the defendant. The affidavit of Joseph M. Andre … asserted that … all items were mailed through an automated system, and explained how documents were identified. However, Andre did not state, in his affidavit, how the envelopes were addressed so as to ensure that the address was correct or whether the envelope was addressed by the automated system or by an employee. He also did not state how and when the envelopes, once sealed, weighed, and affixed with postage using the automated system, were transferred to the care and custody of the United States Postal Service or some other carrier or messenger service to be delivered. Therefore, Andre’s affidavit was insufficient to establish, as a matter of law, that the denial of claim forms were timely and properly mailed to the defendant… . Progressive Cas. Ins. Co. v Infinite Ortho Prods., Inc., 2015 NY Slip Op 03340, 2nd Dept 4-22-15

 

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