Appeal Lost Due to Failure to Provide an Adequate Record
Post 4810
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In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the defendant Myrtle 6, LLC, appealed from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Lawrence S. Knipel, J.). The order, insofar as appealed from, denied those branches of the motion of the defendant Myrtle 6, LLC to stay the trial ,to vacate the note of issue, and to compel discovery.
The Appellate Court, in Jay Bing v. Myrtle 6, LLC, 2024 NY Slip Op 02516, No. 2022-03586, Index No. 519239/16, Supreme Court of New York, Second Department (May 8, 2024) resolved the appeal after finding the record on appeal to be inadequate.
FACTS
The plaintiff commenced this action against the defendant Myrtle 6, LLC and another defendant to recover damages for personal injuries. The defendant moved to stay the action, vacate the note of issue, and compel discovery. The Supreme Court issued a stay of trial and granted leave for the defendant to amend its answer and allege various fraud defenses.
The defendant alleged that there was a related criminal case pending against the plaintiff’s previous attorney in connection to an insurance fraud scheme. Although the defendant’s affirmation in support of its motion stated that the details of the fraud scheme were outlined in prior motions with exhibits, none of the prior motions or exhibits were included in the record on appeal.
In an order after oral arguments the Supreme Court inter alia, denied those branches of the defendant’s motion which were to stay the trial, to vacate the note of issue, and to compel discovery.
ANALYSIS
It is the obligation of the person seeking to appeal a judgment, the appellant, to assemble a proper record on appeal. Generally speaking, a
n appellant’s record on appeal must contain all of the relevant papers before the Supreme Court. In New York and every other state, appeals that are not based upon complete and proper records must be dismissed.
The appellate court observed that the record provided to it by the appellant was inadequate for meaningful appellate review. The appellant failed to include all relevant documents that were before the Supreme Court (the trial court). The record failed to include the exhibits allegedly demonstrating that the plaintiff’s former counsel was involved in a fraud scheme. Since these omissions have rendered meaningful appellate review of the court’s order virtually impossible, the appeal must be dismissed.
ZALMA OPINION
When a plaintiff’s lawyer is under arrest for insurance fraud the right of an injured party to establish a claim against the defendant becomes problematic. The appeal of the order could have been effective but failed because the record on appeal was inadequate. The Appellant is not without a remedy, the defendants can sue their lawyers for malpractice.
(c) 2024 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Happy Law Day
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 9 – May 1, 2026
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-may-1-2026-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-2tywc, see the video at at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 9 – May 1, 2026
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 30th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year and is written by Barry Zalma.
DOJ Creates National Fraud Enforcement Division
Will the Feds Take on Insurance Fraud? Possibly as Part of a National Anti-Fraud Effort
On April 7, 2026, the Acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, issued a memorandum establishing the Department of Justice National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED). The memo describes an ambitious, but perhaps redundant, vision for this ...
When Abalone Died As a Result of Multiple Causes The Efficient Proximate Cause Requires Payment
Post number 5345
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In American Abalone Farms, LLC v. Star Insurance Company et al., H052643, California Court of Appeals, Sixth District (April 27, 2026) the Court of Appeals dealt with an insurance coverage issue that required application of the efficient proximate cause doctrine.
FACTS
American Abalone Farms, LLC ("American Abalone" ) operates an aquaculture farm in Santa Cruz County, California, raising abalone in tanks. In August 2020, the CZU Lightning Complex Fires led to a prolonged power outage and road closures near the farm. As a result, the farm’s water pumps failed, causing the death of most of the ...
Breach of a Specific Condition Precedent Is a Complete Defense
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In United Services Automobile Association and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. Anthony Wenzell, 2026 CO 25 (Colo. Apr. 27, 2026) Anthony Wenzell was rear-ended in a car accident. He had a significant prior 2014 accident that required back surgery.
Wenzell claimed underinsured-motorist (UIM) benefits under three policies: (1) the tortfeasor’s liability policy, (2) his own primary UIM policy with State Farm, and (3) an excess UIM policy issued by USAA (under his brother’s policy, which contained an “other insurance” clause making USAA’s coverage excess over any collectible insurance).
After receiving the claims, both USAA and State Farm repeatedly requested that Wenzell execute comprehensive medical-release authorizations so they could obtain his full medical records and ...
It is Fraud to Make the Same Claim Twice
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Chutzpah: After Being Paid for a New Roof Insured Makes Second Claim For Same Damages
Post number 5347
No One is Entitled to be Paid for the Same Loss Twice
In Mohammed Ali Khalili v. State Farm Lloyds, No. 14-25-00611-CV, Court of Appeals of Texas (April 30, 2026) Khalili maintained a State Farm Lloyds homeowners insurance policy for decades. In 2008 he filed a roof-damage claim; State Farm paid him to replace the entire roof (shingles and gutters). Khalili never replaced the roof and repeated his claim.
BACKGROUND
In 2021 he filed a second roof claim. State Farm’s inspectors found the roof “very old” with extensive non-storm-related damage. The claim was denied because (1) the damage did not exceed the deductible and (2) State Farm had already paid for a full roof replacement.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
State Farm filed motion for summary...
It is Fraud to Make the Same Claim Twice
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fraud-make-same-claim-twice-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-c4g8c and at https://zalma.com/blog.
Chutzpah: After Being Paid for a New Roof Insured Makes Second Claim For Same Damages
Post number 5347
No One is Entitled to be Paid for the Same Loss Twice
In Mohammed Ali Khalili v. State Farm Lloyds, No. 14-25-00611-CV, Court of Appeals of Texas (April 30, 2026) Khalili maintained a State Farm Lloyds homeowners insurance policy for decades. In 2008 he filed a roof-damage claim; State Farm paid him to replace the entire roof (shingles and gutters). Khalili never replaced the roof and repeated his claim.
BACKGROUND
In 2021 he filed a second roof claim. State Farm’s inspectors found the roof “very old” with extensive non-storm-related damage. The claim was denied because (1) the damage did not exceed the deductible and (2) State Farm had already paid for a full roof replacement.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
State Farm filed motion for summary...
What Must be Done after Notice of a Claim is Received by the Insurer
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A first party property policy does not insure property: it insures a person, partnership, corporation or other entity against the risk of loss of the property. Before an insured can make a claim for indemnity under a policy of first party property insurance the insured must prove that there was damage to property the risk of loss of which was insured by the policy. The obligation imposed on the insured ...
