PHILADELPHIA – A Bucks County chiropractor has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against a New York-based insurance provider, due to its alleged refusal to compensate the medical costs expended by one of the company’s insureds and also, his patient.
Michael A. Piszel, D.C. (doing business as “Graham Chiropractic”) of Southampton filed suit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on March 27 versus Hiscox Insurance Company, Inc. of New York City.
On a date prior to March 6, 2017, the suit states Hiscox Insurance Company issued a policy to Ilona Garoza – a policy the suit alleges was in full effect when Garoza was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Philadelphia at a later, unspecified time, and was caused to suffer injury. The accident necessitated Garoza to seek and undergo medical and rehabilitative services, which she did from Piszel.
Garoza and Piszel then submitted an application to Hiscox Insurance Company for proper notice of the nature and extent of the covered losses, and Piszel followed up by occasionally sending the defendant written demands for payment of benefits, with reasonable proof of the amount in question, $25,174.
However, the suit states that the defendant, despite repeated demand, has not provided any payment of Garoza’s benefits coverage to Piszel whatsoever. Further, Piszel states that he is entitled to an annual interest rate of 12 percent on the unpaid benefits and treble damages, in addition to payment of his attorney’s fees and legal costs.
For breach of contract, the plaintiff is seeking damages not in excess of $50,000, plus 12 percent annual interest, treble damages, attorney’s fees and costs of suit.
The plaintiff is represented by Steven L. Rovner of Rovner Allen Rovner Zimmerman & Nash, in Feasterville.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 180303184
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com