Key Takeaway
Court rules declaratory judgment on no-fault coverage is res judicata only for specific accident dates listed, not all claims by the same parties.
This article is part of our ongoing declaratory judgment action coverage, with 424 published articles analyzing declaratory judgment action issues across New York State. Attorney Jason Tenenbaum brings 24+ years of hands-on experience to this analysis, drawing from his work on more than 1,000 appeals, over 100,000 no-fault cases, and recovery of over $100 million for clients throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. For personalized legal advice about how these principles apply to your specific situation, contact our Long Island office at (516) 750-0595 for a free consultation.
Eagle Surgical Supply, Inc. v AIG Ins. Co., 2013 NY Slip Op 51449(U)(App. Term 2d Dept. 2013)
“By order dated September 29, 2008, the Civil Court granted plaintiff’s motion, finding that defendant had failed to rebut plaintiff’s prima facie case, and awarded plaintiff the principal sum of $502.63.”
“On June 3, 2010, the Supreme Court awarded defendant a default declaratory judgment which found, among other things, that since plaintiff and its assignor had “violated their respective obligation [sic] to appear for an examination under oath … has no duty to defend or indemnify the … for any claims of personal injury, no-fault, UM or SUM benefits” for motor vehicle accidents occurring on specified dates.”
“The instant Civil Court action was commenced to recover no-fault benefits for services plaintiff had provided to its assignor for injuries the assignor had sustained in a motor vehicle accident on May 31, 2007. The declaratory judgment states that it applies to 28 incidents, and lists the dates of the incidents. However, May 31, 2007 is not included in the declaratory judgment action among the dates set forth therein. Therefore, defendant has not shown that plaintiff, by entering judgment in the Civil Court action, seeks to relitigate claims or causes of action arising out of the same transaction or series of transactions (see Matter of Hunter, 4 AD3d at 269).”
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“Res judicata, or claim preclusion, is invoked when a party, or those in privity with the party, seek to relitigate a disposition on the merits of claims or causes of action arising out of the same transaction or series of transactions which were raised or could have been raised in the prior litigation (see Matter of Hunter, 4 NY3d 260, 269 ; Schuylkill Fuel Corp. v Nieberg Realty Corp., 250 NY 304, 306-307 ). The instant Civil Court action was commenced to recover no-fault benefits for services plaintiff had provided to its assignor for injuries the assignor had sustained in a motor vehicle accident on May 31, 2007. The declaratory judgment states that it applies to 28 incidents, and lists the dates of the incidents. However, May 31, 2007 is not included in the declaratory judgment action among the dates set forth therein. Therefore, defendant has not shown that plaintiff, by entering judgment in the Civil Court action, seeks to relitigate claims or causes of action arising out of the same transaction or series of transactions”
It appears that the subsequently filed declaratory judgment action would have collaterally estopped plaintiff and allowed the vacatur of the Civil Court action had it listed the May 31, 2007 date of loss in its complaint…
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- Denial of Claims
Legal Update (February 2026): Since this 2013 decision, New York’s no-fault regulations and declaratory judgment procedures may have been modified through regulatory amendments or court rule changes. Practitioners should verify current res judicata standards and declaratory judgment scope provisions, as procedural requirements for EUO compliance and coverage determinations may have evolved.
Legal Context
Why This Matters for Your Case
New York law is among the most complex and nuanced in the country, with distinct procedural rules, substantive doctrines, and court systems that differ significantly from other jurisdictions. The Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) governs every stage of civil litigation, from service of process through trial and appeal. The Appellate Division, Appellate Term, and Court of Appeals create a rich and ever-evolving body of case law that practitioners must follow.
Attorney Jason Tenenbaum has practiced across these areas for over 24 years, writing more than 1,000 appellate briefs and publishing over 2,353 legal articles that attorneys and clients rely on for guidance. The analysis in this article reflects real courtroom experience — from motion practice in Civil Court and Supreme Court to oral arguments before the Appellate Division — and a deep understanding of how New York courts actually apply the law in practice.
About This Topic
Declaratory Judgment Actions in Insurance Law
Declaratory judgment actions under CPLR 3001 allow insurers and claimants to obtain a judicial determination of their rights under an insurance policy before or during the course of litigation. In the no-fault context, carriers frequently seek declaratory judgments on coverage, fraud, and policy procurement issues. These articles analyze the procedural requirements, strategic considerations, and substantive standards governing declaratory judgment practice in New York insurance disputes.
424 published articles in Declaratory Judgment Action
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Disclaimer: This article is published by the Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this content. The legal principles discussed may not apply to your specific situation, and the law may have changed since this article was last updated.
New York law varies by jurisdiction — court decisions in one Appellate Division department may not be followed in another, and local court rules in Nassau County Supreme Court differ from those in Suffolk County Supreme Court, Kings County Civil Court, or Queens County Supreme Court. The Appellate Division, Second Department (which covers Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island) and the Appellate Term (which hears appeals from lower courts) each have distinct procedural requirements and precedents that affect litigation strategy.
If you need legal help with a declaratory judgment action matter, contact our office at (516) 750-0595 for a free consultation. We serve clients throughout Long Island (Huntington, Babylon, Islip, Brookhaven, Smithtown, Riverhead, Southampton, East Hampton), Nassau County (Hempstead, Garden City, Mineola, Great Neck, Manhasset, Freeport, Long Beach, Rockville Centre, Valley Stream, Westbury, Hicksville, Massapequa), Suffolk County (Hauppauge, Deer Park, Bay Shore, Central Islip, Patchogue, Brentwood), Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Westchester County. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
