Chiropractor’s Collection Efforts Rejected
October 30, 2014A chiropractor provided treatment to a patient injured in a car accident and, in return, the patient assigned her right to any proceeds from a settlement, judgment, or verdict. The patient settled her claim with the other driver’s insurance company, but, instead of sending the payment directly to the chiropractor, the insurance company paid the patient. The chiropractor then sued the insurance company directly, seeking the amount it had paid to the patient. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the insurance company and the chiropractor appealed.
The Court of Appeals affirmed, rejecting the chiropractor’s argument that it was an “account debtor” under the UCC because there had been no finding of liability. Rather, the parties had settled and therefore there had been no determination of liability, so the chiropractor was not an account debtor.
