FAILURE TO ATTEND INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS SET UP BY NO-FAULT CARRIER IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE TO COVERAGE (FIRST DEPT).
The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined no-fault claimants’ failure to attend independent medical examinations (IME’s) was a absolute defense to coverage:
When an individual submits a personal injury claim for motor vehicle no-fault benefits, the insurance company may request that the individual submit to an IME, and if the individual fails to appear for that IME, it “constitutes a breach of a condition precedent vitiating coverage” … . Here, plaintiff established its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by submitting the letters sent to each claimant notifying them about the date, time, and location of the initially scheduled IME and a second scheduled IME and affidavits of service for these letters. Plaintiff also submitted affidavits from each medical professional assigned to conduct the scheduled IME, with each stating that the medical professional was in his or her office at the date and time of the scheduled IME, the respective claimant failed to appear, the appointment was kept open until the end of the day, and at the end of the day, the medical professional filled out the affidavit acknowledging the nonappearance.
Because Hereford sent the notices scheduling the IMEs prior to the receipt of each of the claims, the notification requirements for verification requests under 11 NYCRR 65-3.5 and 65-3.6 do not apply … . Furthermore, plaintiff was not required “to demonstrate that the claims were timely disclaimed since the failure to attend medical exams was an absolute coverage defense” … . Hereford Ins. Co. v Lida’s Med. Supply, Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 03226, First Dept 5-3-18
INSURANCE LAW (FAILURE TO ATTEND INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS SET UP BY NO-FAULT CARRIER IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE TO COVERAGE (FIRST DEPT))/NO-FAULT INSURANCE (FAILURE TO ATTEND INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS SET UP BY NO-FAULT CARRIER IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE TO COVERAGE (FIRST DEPT))/INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS (IME) (FAILURE TO ATTEND INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS SET UP BY NO-FAULT CARRIER IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE TO COVERAGE (FIRST DEPT))/IME (FAILURE TO ATTEND INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS SET UP BY NO-FAULT CARRIER IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE TO COVERAGE (FIRST DEPT))