SHUR, M.D. v. UNITRIN ADVANTAGE INSURANCE COMPANY, 56 Misc.3d 136(A)
Peer and IME doctors will now have to examine the the operative and MRI reports when they deny surgeries.
The proponent of a summary judgment motion must make a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, tendering sufficient evidence to eliminate any material issues of fact from the case” (Winegrad v. New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 N.Y.2d 851, 853 [1985]). The failure to make such a prima facie showing requires a denial of the motion, regardless of the sufficiency of the opposing papers (see id.). Here, the affirmed report of the doctor who had performed an independent medical examination (IME) of the assignor contained contradictory statements (see e.g. Black v. County of Dutchess, 87 AD3d 1097 [2011]; Coscia v. 938 Trading Corp., 283 A.D.2d 538 [2001] ) as to whether the injury to plaintiff’s assignor’s right knee was “partially causally related to” the accident at issue or caused by “preexisting degenerative changes.” Furthermore, an MRI report that was reviewed by the IME doctor did not set forth an impression of degenerative changes. Nor did the IME doctor indicate that he had examined an operative report on the arthroscopy at issue. Thus, contrary to the determination of the District Court, defendant failed to make a prima facie showing of lack of causation. Consequently, defendant’s motion should have been denied.