FILED: BRONX COUNTY CLERK 04/03/2018 04:44 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 12
`
`INDEX NO. 23611/2017E
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/03/2018
`
`OF NEW YORK
`
`OF THE STATE
`COURT
`SUPREME
`COUNTY
`OF BRONX
`---------------------------------------------------------------------X
`the
`In the Matter
`of
`the Application
`of
`GOVERNMENT
`EMPLOYEES
`INSURANCE
`COMPANY,
`
`-against-
`
`SHARNETT
`
`WILLIAMS,
`
`—
`----------------------------------------------------------------------X
`
`C O U N S E L O R S :
`
`Petitioner,
`
`Respondent.
`
`Index
`
`No.:
`
`23611/2017E
`
`ORDER WITH
`OF ENTRY
`
`NOTICE
`
`PLEASE
`
`TAKE
`
`NOTICE
`
`that
`
`the within
`
`is a true
`
`copy
`
`of an Order
`
`duly
`
`entered
`
`in the
`
`office
`
`of
`
`the
`
`clerk
`
`of
`
`the Supreme
`
`Court,
`
`Bronx
`
`County
`
`on March
`
`23,
`
`2018.
`
`Dated:
`
`Staten
`April
`
`Island,
`3, 2018
`
`New York
`
`Yours,
`
`etc.,
`
`CONNORS
`
`& CONNORS,
`
`P.C.
`
`By:
`
`J. MCKENNA
`ERIK
`for Petitioner
`Attorneys
`766 Castleton
`Avenue
`NY
`Staten
`
`10310
`
`Island,
`442-1700
`No.: DGE 26341
`File
`
`(718)
`Our
`
`TO:
`
`OF RYAN S. GOLDSTEIN,
`LAW OFFICE
`Attorneys
`for Respondent
`43 Westchester
`Square,
`NY 10461
`239-0239
`
`Suite
`
`2A
`
`Bronx,
`
`(718)
`
`PLLC
`
`AMERICAN
`120 Broadway,
`New York,
`
`ARBITRATION
`15"'
`Floor
`10271
`
`NY
`
`ASSOCIATION
`
`1 of 6
`
`

`

`FILED: BRONX COUNTY CLERK 04/03/2018 04:44 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 12
`
`INDEX NO. 23611/2017E
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/03/2018
`
`[FILED
`NYSCEF
`
`BRONX
`:
`NO.
`DOC.
`
`9
`
`I
`
`COUNTY
`
`CLERK
`
`03
`
`/23
`
`2018
`
`01:
`
`33
`
`PM
`
`INDEX
`
`NO.
`
`23611/2017E
`
`RECEIVED
`
`NYSCEF:
`
`03/23/2018
`
`SUPREME
`COUNTY
`PART
`
`8
`
`COORT OF THE STATE
`OF BRONX
`
`OF NEW YORK
`
`Index
`Motion
`Motion
`
`23611/2017E
`No.:
`No.:
`Calendar
`Date:
`Return
`
`7
`08/14/17
`
`.
`
`In the Matter
`GOVERNMENT
`COMPANY
`
`of
`
`the Application
`EMPLOYEES
`
`of
`the
`INSURANCE
`
`Petitioner,
`
`SHARNETT
`
`WILLIAMS,
`
`Respondent,
`
`ORDER
`
`DECISION/
`Present:
`Hon.
`Justice
`
`A. Miles
`Donald
`Court
`Supreme
`
`Recitation,
`notice
`this
`
`as required
`of petition
`
`by Rule
`2219(a)
`arbitration:
`to stay
`
`of
`
`the C.P,L.R.,
`
`of
`
`the papers
`
`considered
`
`in the review
`
`of
`
`Papers
`..........,,..................
`Annexed
`Exhibits
`of Petition
`Notice
`and
`.....................................................
`in Opposition
`Affirmation
`Affirmation...................................................................
`
`Reply
`
`Numbered
`1
`2
`3
`
`Petitioner
`
`moves
`
`for
`
`an order,
`
`pursuant
`
`to CPLR §7503(c),
`
`permanently
`
`staying
`
`the
`
`arbitration
`
`initiated
`
`by
`
`respondent,
`
`or
`
`in the alternative,
`
`a temporary
`
`stay
`
`of arbitration
`
`until
`
`such
`
`time
`
`as petitioner
`
`has had
`
`an opportunity
`
`to conduct
`
`discovery
`
`permitted
`
`pursuant
`
`to the
`
`insurance
`
`contract.
`
`For
`
`the
`
`reasons
`
`set
`
`forth
`
`below,
`
`the petition
`
`is granted
`
`to the following
`
`extent.'
`extent:
`
`The
`
`the petitioner's
`
`was
`
`injured
`
`on June
`
`respondent
`
`Sharnett
`
`Williams,
`
`insured,
`
`allegedly
`
`12, 2014,
`
`as a result
`
`of an accident
`
`which
`
`occurred
`
`on the Sprain
`
`Brook
`
`Parkway
`
`North,
`
`near
`
`Jackson
`
`Avenue,
`
`Town
`
`of Greenburg
`
`in Westchester
`
`County,
`
`New York.
`
`In reporting
`
`the
`
`accident
`
`to petitioner,
`
`the respondent
`
`stated
`
`that
`
`she swerved
`
`to avoid
`
`another
`
`vehicle
`
`and struck
`
`the guardrail.
`
`The
`
`respondent
`
`demanded
`
`arbitration
`
`against
`
`petitioner
`
`Government
`
`Employees
`
`Insurance
`
`Company
`
`(hereinafter
`
`referred
`
`to as "GEICO")
`
`for
`
`benefits
`
`under
`
`the uninsured
`
`motorists
`
`coverage
`
`afforded
`
`by the GEICO
`
`policy.
`
`GEICO
`
`now seeks
`
`a permanent
`
`stay
`
`of
`
`arbitration,
`
`asserting
`
`that
`
`the respondent
`
`did
`
`not make
`
`contact
`
`with
`
`the offending
`
`vehicle,
`
`a
`
`condition
`
`precedent
`
`to arbitration.
`
`Petitioner
`
`further
`
`contends
`
`that
`
`respondent
`
`did
`
`not provide
`
`any
`
`details
`
`regarding
`
`the accident
`
`or
`
`the respondent's
`
`alleged
`
`injuries,
`
`and as such
`
`has not
`
`complied
`
`Page
`
`1 of
`
`3
`
`2 of 6
`2 of
`4
`
`

`

`FILED: BRONX COUNTY CLERK 04/03/2018 04:44 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 12
`
`INDEX NO. 23611/2017E
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/03/2018
`
`FILED
`NYSCEF
`
`BRONX
`:
`DOC.
`NO.
`
`9
`
`COUNTY
`
`CLERK
`
`0 3 /23
`
`/2
`
`018
`
`01:
`
`33
`
`PM
`
`INDEX
`
`NO.
`
`23 611/2017E
`
`RECEIVED
`
`NYSCEF:
`
`03/23/2018
`
`with
`
`the requirements
`
`for
`
`a valid
`
`demand
`
`for
`
`arbitration.
`
`Alternatively,
`
`GEICO
`
`seeks
`
`a temporary
`
`stay,
`
`pending
`
`completion
`
`of discovery.
`
`It
`
`is well
`
`settled
`
`that
`
`in a proceeding
`
`in which
`
`an insurer
`
`is seeking
`
`a stay
`
`of uninsured
`
`motorist
`
`arbitration,
`
`the
`
`petitioning
`
`insurer
`
`"bears
`
`the initial
`
`burden
`
`of proving
`
`that
`
`the offending
`
`vehicle
`
`was
`
`in fact
`
`insured
`
`at
`
`Tichman,
`
`185 A.D.2d
`
`884,
`
`885
`
`the time
`of
`(2nd Dept.
`
`accident."
`
`the
`
`Matter
`
`of Eagle
`
`Insurance
`
`Company
`
`v.
`
`1992).
`
`In other words
`
`the petitioning
`
`insurer
`
`must
`
`establish
`
`a prima
`
`facie
`
`case of coverage
`
`for
`
`the adverse
`
`or offending
`
`vehicle.
`
`In support
`
`of
`
`its application,
`
`the petitioner
`
`submits
`
`a copy
`
`of
`
`the respondent's
`
`request
`
`for
`
`uninsured
`
`motorist
`
`arbitration,
`
`dated
`
`April
`
`10, 2017
`
`and which
`
`appears
`
`to be prepared
`
`and
`
`is
`
`signed
`
`by respondent's
`
`counsel.
`
`Petitioner
`
`maintains
`
`that
`
`the respondent
`
`in reporting
`
`the accident
`
`to petitioner,
`
`stated
`
`that
`
`she swerved
`
`to avoid
`
`another
`
`vehicle
`
`and
`
`struck
`
`the
`
`guardrail
`
`and that
`
`she did
`
`not make
`
`contact
`
`with
`
`the
`
`allegedly
`
`uninsured
`
`vehicle.
`
`The
`
`respondent
`
`has opposed
`
`the
`
`application
`
`for
`
`a permanent
`
`stay
`
`of arbitration
`
`and submits
`
`a copy
`
`of
`
`the police
`
`accident
`
`report,
`
`that
`
`should
`
`be stayed
`
`for
`
`of discovery.
`
`contending
`
`the matter
`
`temporarily
`
`to allow
`
`completion
`
`In its reply
`
`papers,
`
`Petitioner
`
`points
`
`to the respondent
`
`counsel's
`
`affirmation
`
`in opposition
`
`in maintaining
`
`that Respondent
`
`has admitted
`
`that
`
`her
`
`vehicle
`
`had no contact
`
`whatsoever
`
`with
`
`the
`
`alleged
`
`uninsured
`
`vehicle.
`
`Petitioner
`
`also
`
`argues
`
`that
`
`respondent
`
`has not
`
`refuted
`
`or even
`
`addressed
`
`her
`
`failure
`
`to provide
`
`information
`
`as to any
`
`alleged
`
`injuries
`
`or
`
`the precise
`
`circumstances
`
`surrounding
`
`the underlying
`
`accident.
`
`Physical
`
`contact
`
`between
`
`the insured
`
`vehicle
`
`and an unidentified,
`
`uninsured
`
`or under
`
`insured
`
`vehicle
`
`is a condition
`
`precedent
`
`to arbitration
`
`under
`
`an insurance
`
`policy's
`
`uninsured
`
`motorist
`
`endorsement
`
`( See,
`
`Insurance
`
`Law
`
`§ 5217).
`
`The
`
`burden
`
`is on the respondent
`
`to show,
`
`at
`
`least prima
`
`physical
`
`facie,
`
`that
`
`actual
`
`contact
`
`occurred.
`
`The
`
`insured
`
`has
`
`the burden
`
`of
`
`establishing
`
`that
`
`the loss
`
`sustained
`
`was
`
`caused
`
`by an uninsured
`
`vehicle,
`
`namely
`
`that
`
`physical
`
`contact
`
`occurred,
`
`that
`
`the identity
`
`of
`
`the owner
`
`and operator
`
`of
`
`the offending
`
`vehicle
`
`could
`
`not
`
`be
`
`ascertained,
`
`and that
`
`the
`
`insured's
`
`efforts
`
`to ascertain
`
`such
`
`identity
`
`were
`
`reasonable.
`
`(Nova
`
`Cas.
`
`Co.
`
`v. Musco,
`
`48 A.D.
`
`3d 572
`
`[2nd
`
`Dept.
`
`2008]).
`
`Petitioner
`
`has
`
`failed
`
`to establish
`
`by admissible
`
`evidence
`
`a prima
`
`facie
`
`case
`
`for
`
`a
`
`permanent
`
`stay
`
`of arbitration.
`
`While
`
`Petitioner
`
`points
`
`out
`
`the deficiencies
`
`of
`
`respondent's
`
`Page
`
`2 of
`
`3
`
`3 of 6
`of
`3
`4
`
`

`

`FILED: BRONX COUNTY CLERK 04/03/2018 04:44 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 12
`
`INDEX NO. 23611/2017E
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/03/2018
`
`BRONX
`LED :
`FI
`NO.
`NYSCEF
`DOC.
`
`9
`
`COUNTY
`
`CLERK
`
`03
`
`/ 23
`
`2018
`
`01:
`
`33
`
`PM)
`
`INDEX
`
`NO.
`
`23611/2017E
`
`RECEIVED
`
`NYSCEF:
`
`03/23/2018
`
`demand
`
`for
`
`arbitration,
`
`particularly,
`
`the lack
`
`of any
`
`sworn
`
`affidavit
`
`or statement
`
`by respondent
`
`herself,
`
`surrounding
`
`the
`
`circumstances
`
`of
`
`the accident,
`
`petitioner
`
`somehow
`
`maintains
`
`that
`
`respondent
`
`admits
`
`that
`
`there was
`
`absolutely
`
`no physical
`
`contact
`
`with
`
`the alleged
`
`offending
`
`vehicle.
`
`a framed
`
`should
`
`be conducted
`
`on this
`
`issue.
`
`At
`
`the very
`
`least,
`
`issue
`
`hearing
`
`Accordingly,
`
`it
`
`is hereby
`
`ORDERED
`
`that
`
`petitioner's
`
`application
`
`to the extent
`
`it seeks
`
`to permanently
`
`stay
`
`respondent's
`
`uninsured
`
`motorist
`
`proceeding,
`
`is denied;
`
`and it
`
`is further
`
`ORDERED
`
`that
`
`the subject
`
`arbitration
`
`is temporarily
`
`stayed
`
`for ninety
`
`(90)
`
`days,
`
`pending
`
`a framed
`
`issue
`
`hearing
`
`as to whether
`
`there was
`
`any physical
`
`contact
`
`between
`
`respondent's
`
`vehicle
`
`and the offending
`
`vehicle;
`
`and
`
`it
`
`is further
`
`that
`
`the parties
`
`are directed
`
`to appear
`
`for
`
`a framed
`
`issue
`
`ORDERED,
`
`hearing
`
`on Monday,
`
`May
`
`14, 2018
`
`at 11:00
`
`a.m.
`
`in Room 706, Part
`
`8 of
`
`the New York
`
`State
`
`Supreme
`
`Court,
`
`Bronx
`
`County
`
`vehicle
`
`in order
`
`to resolve
`
`the
`
`issue whether
`
`there was
`
`any physical
`
`contact
`
`between
`
`respondent's
`
`and the offending
`
`vehicle;
`
`and
`
`it
`
`is further
`
`ORDERED
`
`that
`
`petitioner
`
`shall
`
`provide
`
`respondent
`
`Sharnett
`
`Williams
`
`with
`
`HIPAA
`
`compliant
`
`authorizations,
`
`within
`
`twenty
`
`(20)
`
`days
`
`of entry
`
`of
`
`this
`
`order,
`
`which
`
`respondent
`
`shall
`
`sign
`
`to physical
`
`and return
`
`to petitioner,
`
`and
`
`submit
`
`examination
`
`and
`
`an examination
`
`under
`
`oath
`
`within
`
`sixty
`
`(60)
`
`days
`
`thereafter;
`
`and
`
`it
`
`is further
`
`ORDERED
`
`that
`
`petitioner
`
`shall
`
`serve
`
`a copy
`
`of
`
`this
`
`order
`
`with
`
`notice
`
`of entry
`
`upon
`
`respondent
`
`within
`
`twenty
`
`(20)
`
`days
`
`of entry
`
`of
`
`the order.
`
`This
`
`constitutes
`
`the decision
`
`and order
`
`of
`
`the Court.
`
`NAR
`
`15
`
`2018
`
`DATE
`
`HON. DONA
`
`D A. MILES,
`
`JSC,
`
`Page
`
`3 of
`
`3
`
`4 of 6
`4
`4 of
`
`

`

`FILED: BRONX COUNTY CLERK 04/03/2018 04:44 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 12
`
`INDEX NO. 23611/2017E
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/03/2018
`
`AFFIDAVIT
`
`OF SERVICE
`
`SS.:
`
`):
`
`)
`
`STATE
`
`OF NEW YORK
`
`COUNTY
`
`OF RICHMOND
`
`says:
`Laura Meyer,
`sworn,
`duly
`being
`On April
`New York.
`and reside
`at Staten
`Island,
`OF ENTRY
`in Supreme
`by electronic
`Court
`filing
`in a post-paid
`in an official
`enclosed
`wrapper,
`U.S. Postal
`Service
`within
`New York
`set
`forth
`after
`each name:
`address
`
`State,
`
`of age
`18 years
`am over
`to the action,
`I am not a party
`NOTICE
`ORDER WITH
`I served
`the within
`3, 2018,
`a true
`thereof
`Bronx
`and by depositing
`copy
`of
`the
`the exclusive
`care and custody
`the last known
`the following
`persons
`at
`
`County
`under
`to each of
`
`depository
`addressed
`
`PLLC
`
`LA
`
`MEYER
`
`TO:
`
`Bronx,
`
`OF RYAN S. GOLDSTEIN,
`LAW OFFICE
`Attorneys
`for Respondent
`43 Westchester
`Square,
`NY 10461
`
`Suite
`
`2A
`
`AMERICAN
`120 Broadway,
`New York,
`
`ARBITRATION
`15th
`FlOOr
`10271
`
`NY
`
`ASSOCIATION
`
`Sworn
`d
`
`to before me this
`2018.
`day of April,
`
`Not
`
`ublic
`
`Notary
`
`PESCE
`ANGELA
`of NewYork
`State
`Public,
`No.01PE6234726
`in Richmond
`Qualified
`
`County
`
`5 of 6
`
`

`

`FILED: BRONX COUNTY CLERK 04/03/2018 04:44 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 12
`
`INDEX NO. 23611/2017E
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/03/2018
`
`Index No.
`SUPREME
`COUNTY
`
`RJI No.
`OF THE STATE
`COURT
`OF BRONX
`
`Hon.
`OF NEW YORK
`
`the Application
`EMPLOYEES
`
`the
`of
`INSURANCE
`
`of
`
`In the Matter
`GOVERNMENT
`COMPANY,
`
`-against-
`
`SHARNETT
`
`WILLIAMS,
`
`Petitioner,
`
`Respondent.
`
`ORDER WITH
`
`NOTICE
`
`OF ENTRY
`
`P.C.
`
`& CONNORS,
`CONNORS
`for Petitioner
`Attorneys
`and Post Office Address,
`766 Castleton
`Avenue
`Staten Island, New York
`10310
`PHONE
`(718) 442-1700
`(718) 442-1717
`FAX
`
`Telephone
`
`Office
`
`Signature
`
`(Rule
`
`130-1.1-a)
`
`Service
`
`of a copy of
`
`the within
`
`Dutud,
`
`Attorney(s)
`==================================================================================
`Please take notice
`
`C
`
`ERIK
`
`J. MCKENNA
`
`is hereby
`
`admitted,
`
`..______________________________________
`for
`
`NOTICE OF ENTRY
`the within
`is a (certified)
`that
`true copy of a
`the clerk of
`the within
`duly entered
`of
`in the office
`O
`NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT
`that an order
`settlement
`to the HON.
`of
`the within
`named court,
`on
`Dated,
`
`at
`
`of which
`
`at
`
`To
`
`named court on
`
`the within
`
`be presented
`is a true copy will
`one of
`the judges
`
`for
`
`M
`
`etc.
`Yours,
`& CONNORS,
`CONNORS
`Attorneys
`for
`Office
`and Post Office Address
`766 CASTLETON
`AVENUE
`NY 10310
`STATEN
`ISLAND,
`
`P.C.
`
`6 of 6
`
`