Merrick Med., P.C. v. A Cent. Ins. Co.
The case of Merrick Med., P.C. v A Central Ins. Co. concerned a provider's action to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits from an insurer. The defendant insurer, A Central Insurance Company, moved for summary judgment to dismiss the complaint, asserting that a portion of the claim exceeded the workers' compensation fee schedule and other claims lacked medical necessity. Initially, the Civil Court denied the defendant's motion in part, making CPLR 3212 (g) findings. However, the Appellate Term, Second Department, modified the Civil Court's order. The appellate court concluded that the defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint should have been entirely granted, as the specific claim was properly paid under the fee schedule, and the remaining claims were successfully challenged on medical necessity grounds by the defendant, which the plaintiff failed to rebut.