Key Takeaway
Delaware insurance law applied to NY court case involving out-of-state policy, accident location, and $15K coverage limits in no-fault claim dispute.
Flatbush Chiropractic, P.C. v GEICO Ins. Co., 2013 NY Slip Op 51104(U)(App. Term 2d Dept. 2013)
(1) Choice of Law
“Defendant sufficiently established that the relevant policy is a Delaware insurance policy, which was issued to a Delaware resident for an automobile registered in Delaware. Furthermore, the NF-2 form, which was signed by plaintiff’s assignor and proffered by defendant as an exhibit, revealed that the accident had occurred in Delaware. In view of Delaware’s significant contacts with the contract (see Matter of Eagle Ins. Co. v Singletary, 279 AD2d 56, 60 ), the application of Delaware law to the substantive issues is proper (see Matter of Allstate Ins. Co. [*2], 81 NY2d 219, 223 ; Auten v Auten, 308 NY 155, 160-161 ). Delaware law requires minimum compensation for, among other things, medical expenses in the amount of $15,000 for one person in any one accident”
(2) Prima facie case
“As defendant has made a prima facie showing, through the affidavits of its claims and underwriting employees, and through the submission of documentary evidence, that the policy had a $15,000 medical expenses coverage limit and that it had been exhausted (see New York and Presbyt. Hosp. v Allstate Ins. Co., 28 AD3d 528 ), defendant established its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law.”
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