RENDERED: JANUARY 27, 2023; 10:00 A.M. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Commonwealth of Kentucky Court of Appeals
NO. 2022-CA-0413-MR
COSTA RWAGASORE APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE ANN BAILEY SMITH, JUDGE ACTION NO. 21-CI-006453
GRANGE PROPERTY & CASUALTY APPELLEE INSURANCE CO.
OPINION AFFIRMING
** ** ** ** **
BEFORE: ACREE, COMBS, AND ECKERLE, JUDGES.
COMBS, JUDGE: This case arises from an insurance dispute in which the insurer
sought a medical examination of the claimant. Costa Rwagasore appeals from an
order of the Jefferson Circuit Court granting the petition of Grange Property and
Casualty Insurance Company (Grange) to appear for a medical examination by a
physician of its choice as a part of its investigation of Rwagasore’s insurance
claim. Rwagasore argues that Grange failed to present evidence showing “good cause” in support of its petition as required by the provisions of Kentucky’s Motor
Vehicle Reparations Act (MVRA), KRS1 304.39-010 et seq. KRS 304.39-270(1).
After our review, we affirm the court’s order requiring Rwagasore to appear for the
examination.
On October 19, 2020, Rwagasore was driving his Nissan Sentra
southbound on Hurstbourne Parkway in Louisville. While he was stopped at a
traffic signal, his vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle that immediately fled the
scene. The accident report prepared by an officer of the Jeffersontown Police
Department indicated: “no injuries, no pictures taken and no vehicles were
towed.” Eleven days later, Rwagasore sought treatment at a medical clinic. He
complained of pain in his back, chest, neck, shoulder, left knee, right leg, and right
foot. Ultimately, Rwagasore received extensive medical care and treatment from
numerous medical providers. He sought insurance coverage under the basic
reparations benefits provisions of Grange’s policy.
Upon evaluating the claim, Grange suspected that the injuries
allegedly sustained were not caused by the motor vehicle accident. After
reviewing medical records submitted by Rwagasore, Grange requested a recorded
statement, which Rwagasore provided on February 1, 2021. Based on this
statement, Grange requested that Rwagasore participate in an examination under
1 Kentucky Revised Statutes.
-2- oath. On May 26, 2021, Rwagasore participated in the examination under oath.
Grange then requested an expert peer review of Rwagasore’s medical records.
After it received the results of the peer review of the records, Grange filed a
petition pursuant to the provisions of KRS 304.39-270 requesting the court to order
Rwagasore to appear for a medical examination.
Grange argued that Rwagasore put his physical condition at issue and
that a real dispute surrounded whether the allegedly significant injuries arose from
the minor motor vehicle accident. It observed that Rwagasore had an extensive
medical history of pre-existing issues with his right knee; that he had been
involved in four prior motor vehicle accidents in a short span of time; that his
alleged injuries appeared inconsistent with the nature of the motor vehicle accident
of October 2020; and that a peer review of his medical records indicated that an
examination of the medical records alone was insufficient to determine the cause
of the alleged injuries or the necessity of the care and treatment provided. Grange
sought an order requiring Rwagasore to submit to a limited physical examination
in an effort to establish the nature of the loss -- if any. Rwagasore filed a written
response challenging Grange’s request.
Following a hearing, the trial court found that Grange had
demonstrated good cause to warrant a physical examination pursuant to the statute
and ordered the examination. The court ordered Rwagasore to appear for an
-3- examination to be conducted by Dr. Michael Best at his office on Breckenridge
Lane in Louisville within thirty (30) days. The examination was limited to the
injuries allegedly sustained as a result of the motor vehicle accident of October
2020. This appeal followed.
On appeal, Rwagasore contends that the circuit court erred by
ordering him to submit to a physical examination because Grange failed to show
that it had utilized less intrusive means of evaluating his claim and failed to show
that an in-person physical examination was warranted.
The provisions of KRS 304.39-210 require Grange to conduct a
reasonable investigation and to pay claims after receiving proof of the fact and
amount of loss. As part of the insurer’s investigation, KRS 304.39-270(1) provides
as follows:
If the mental or physical condition of a person is material to a claim for past or future basic or added reparation benefits, the reparation obligor may petition the circuit court for an order directing the person to submit to a mental or physical examination by a physician. Upon notice to the person to be examined and all persons having an interest, the court may make the order for good cause shown. The order shall specify the time, place, manner, conditions, scope of the examination, and the physician by whom it is to be made.
While the statute expressly permits an insurer to require a claimant to submit to a
medical examination, it cannot compel the examination without a showing of
-4- “good cause.” Grant v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 896 S.W.2d 24 (Ky. App.
1995).
In Miller v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company, 909 S.W.2d
339 (Ky. App. 1995), we held that “good cause” is more than a mere suspicion that
the insured’s care was unnecessary or unreasonable. Instead, the insurer must
present some proof that it has taken measures to determine the validity or extent of
the insured’s injuries that were less intrusive than an unwanted medical
examination. Id. In Miller, the insurer submitted to the trial court an affidavit by
its adjuster setting out its general suspicion about the claim. We concluded that the
affidavit, by itself, was insufficient to show good cause to require the examination.
Absent any specific evidence supporting its suspicions, we concluded that the
insurer failed to establish good cause to require a medical examination. Id. at 343.
However, in White v. Allstate Insurance Company, 265 S.W.3d 254
(Ky. App. 2007), we held that the insurer had shown good cause to require its
insured to submit to a medical examination. In White, the insurer retained a
medical expert to perform a peer review of the insureds’ medical records. The
expert concluded that the medical records failed to indicate a nexus between the
care provided and the motor vehicle accident; failed to document the medical
necessity of the care and treatment; and failed to provide a treatment plan. We
-5- concluded that the expert’s report was sufficient to establish good cause to compel
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RENDERED: JANUARY 27, 2023; 10:00 A.M. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Commonwealth of Kentucky Court of Appeals
NO. 2022-CA-0413-MR
COSTA RWAGASORE APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE ANN BAILEY SMITH, JUDGE ACTION NO. 21-CI-006453
GRANGE PROPERTY & CASUALTY APPELLEE INSURANCE CO.
OPINION AFFIRMING
** ** ** ** **
BEFORE: ACREE, COMBS, AND ECKERLE, JUDGES.
COMBS, JUDGE: This case arises from an insurance dispute in which the insurer
sought a medical examination of the claimant. Costa Rwagasore appeals from an
order of the Jefferson Circuit Court granting the petition of Grange Property and
Casualty Insurance Company (Grange) to appear for a medical examination by a
physician of its choice as a part of its investigation of Rwagasore’s insurance
claim. Rwagasore argues that Grange failed to present evidence showing “good cause” in support of its petition as required by the provisions of Kentucky’s Motor
Vehicle Reparations Act (MVRA), KRS1 304.39-010 et seq. KRS 304.39-270(1).
After our review, we affirm the court’s order requiring Rwagasore to appear for the
examination.
On October 19, 2020, Rwagasore was driving his Nissan Sentra
southbound on Hurstbourne Parkway in Louisville. While he was stopped at a
traffic signal, his vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle that immediately fled the
scene. The accident report prepared by an officer of the Jeffersontown Police
Department indicated: “no injuries, no pictures taken and no vehicles were
towed.” Eleven days later, Rwagasore sought treatment at a medical clinic. He
complained of pain in his back, chest, neck, shoulder, left knee, right leg, and right
foot. Ultimately, Rwagasore received extensive medical care and treatment from
numerous medical providers. He sought insurance coverage under the basic
reparations benefits provisions of Grange’s policy.
Upon evaluating the claim, Grange suspected that the injuries
allegedly sustained were not caused by the motor vehicle accident. After
reviewing medical records submitted by Rwagasore, Grange requested a recorded
statement, which Rwagasore provided on February 1, 2021. Based on this
statement, Grange requested that Rwagasore participate in an examination under
1 Kentucky Revised Statutes.
-2- oath. On May 26, 2021, Rwagasore participated in the examination under oath.
Grange then requested an expert peer review of Rwagasore’s medical records.
After it received the results of the peer review of the records, Grange filed a
petition pursuant to the provisions of KRS 304.39-270 requesting the court to order
Rwagasore to appear for a medical examination.
Grange argued that Rwagasore put his physical condition at issue and
that a real dispute surrounded whether the allegedly significant injuries arose from
the minor motor vehicle accident. It observed that Rwagasore had an extensive
medical history of pre-existing issues with his right knee; that he had been
involved in four prior motor vehicle accidents in a short span of time; that his
alleged injuries appeared inconsistent with the nature of the motor vehicle accident
of October 2020; and that a peer review of his medical records indicated that an
examination of the medical records alone was insufficient to determine the cause
of the alleged injuries or the necessity of the care and treatment provided. Grange
sought an order requiring Rwagasore to submit to a limited physical examination
in an effort to establish the nature of the loss -- if any. Rwagasore filed a written
response challenging Grange’s request.
Following a hearing, the trial court found that Grange had
demonstrated good cause to warrant a physical examination pursuant to the statute
and ordered the examination. The court ordered Rwagasore to appear for an
-3- examination to be conducted by Dr. Michael Best at his office on Breckenridge
Lane in Louisville within thirty (30) days. The examination was limited to the
injuries allegedly sustained as a result of the motor vehicle accident of October
2020. This appeal followed.
On appeal, Rwagasore contends that the circuit court erred by
ordering him to submit to a physical examination because Grange failed to show
that it had utilized less intrusive means of evaluating his claim and failed to show
that an in-person physical examination was warranted.
The provisions of KRS 304.39-210 require Grange to conduct a
reasonable investigation and to pay claims after receiving proof of the fact and
amount of loss. As part of the insurer’s investigation, KRS 304.39-270(1) provides
as follows:
If the mental or physical condition of a person is material to a claim for past or future basic or added reparation benefits, the reparation obligor may petition the circuit court for an order directing the person to submit to a mental or physical examination by a physician. Upon notice to the person to be examined and all persons having an interest, the court may make the order for good cause shown. The order shall specify the time, place, manner, conditions, scope of the examination, and the physician by whom it is to be made.
While the statute expressly permits an insurer to require a claimant to submit to a
medical examination, it cannot compel the examination without a showing of
-4- “good cause.” Grant v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 896 S.W.2d 24 (Ky. App.
1995).
In Miller v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company, 909 S.W.2d
339 (Ky. App. 1995), we held that “good cause” is more than a mere suspicion that
the insured’s care was unnecessary or unreasonable. Instead, the insurer must
present some proof that it has taken measures to determine the validity or extent of
the insured’s injuries that were less intrusive than an unwanted medical
examination. Id. In Miller, the insurer submitted to the trial court an affidavit by
its adjuster setting out its general suspicion about the claim. We concluded that the
affidavit, by itself, was insufficient to show good cause to require the examination.
Absent any specific evidence supporting its suspicions, we concluded that the
insurer failed to establish good cause to require a medical examination. Id. at 343.
However, in White v. Allstate Insurance Company, 265 S.W.3d 254
(Ky. App. 2007), we held that the insurer had shown good cause to require its
insured to submit to a medical examination. In White, the insurer retained a
medical expert to perform a peer review of the insureds’ medical records. The
expert concluded that the medical records failed to indicate a nexus between the
care provided and the motor vehicle accident; failed to document the medical
necessity of the care and treatment; and failed to provide a treatment plan. We
-5- concluded that the expert’s report was sufficient to establish good cause to compel
the insured to attend the medical examination.
In this case, Grange employed numerous measures to evaluate
Rwagasore’s claim before it petitioned the court to compel him to appear for a
physical examination. In its petition, Grange set forth specific reasons supporting
its suspicions concerning the nature of Rwagasore’s treatment and care and
explained to the trial court how the physical examination could be expected to
address its suspicions about the cause of his alleged injuries. Following his review
of the available medical records, Dr. Best reported to Grange as follows:
Clearly, with this multiplicity of patient complaints, especially a past history of chronic regional pain syndrome[,] the only objective means by which this patient can be evaluated is with a hands-on physical examination with functional testing. A simple records review, without examining the patient, would fail to adequately identify pathology and need for treatment. We could not adequately determine the cause of a gap in treatment, the necessity of 30 physical therapy visits and whether all treatment was provided secondary to the effects of the motor vehicle accident. Therefore, an independent medical evaluation with functional capacity testing should be performed in order to adequately assess this patient’s injuries.
Grange amply explained the basis of its doubts concerning the nature
of Rwagasore’s alleged injuries and cited evidence sufficient to place causation at
issue. Moreover, as noted above, a peer review of the insured’s medical records by
an independent medical expert may be sufficient to establish good cause for a
-6- physical examination. White, 265 S.W.3d at 255. Under the circumstances of this
case, Grange satisfied its burden to show good cause. Therefore, the trial court did
not err by ordering Rwagasore to submit to the medical examination sought by
Grange.
We affirm the order of the Jefferson Circuit Court.
ALL CONCUR.
BRIEF FOR APPELLANT: BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:
Aaron Michael Murphy Eric S. Rice Louisville, Kentucky Daniel S. Gumm R. Christian Garrison Louisville, Kentucky
-7-