Opinion
2013-12-24
Richard AVILES, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. Katty VILLAPANDO, et al., Defendants–Respondents.
Stillman & Stillman, P.C., Bronx (Robert A. Birnbaum of counsel), for appellant. Richard T. Lau & Associates, Jericho (Linda Meisler of counsel), for respondents.
Stillman & Stillman, P.C., Bronx (Robert A. Birnbaum of counsel), for appellant. Richard T. Lau & Associates, Jericho (Linda Meisler of counsel), for respondents.
MAZZARELLI, J.P., SWEENY, MOSKOWITZ, FREEDMAN, CLARK, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Ben R. Barbato, J.), entered April 5, 2012, which granted defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the threshold issue of serious injury within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5102(d), unanimously reversed, on the law, without costs, and the motion denied.
Defendants established prima facie through the affirmed reports of their expert physician and radiologist that the 25–year–old plaintiff had fully recovered from any sprains or strains sustained to his cervical and lumbar spine as a result of the accident, and that the MRI films of the allegedly injured body parts revealed a chronic preexisting condition and no radiographic evidence of trauma or causally relatedinjury. The MRI reports prepared by plaintiff's radiologist following the accident confirmed the presence of diffuse degenerative disc disease, as well as bulging discs.
However, in opposition, plaintiff raised an issue of fact by submitting affirmations by the chiropractor who treated him after his accident and a radiologist. The chiropractor stated that plaintiff had significant measurable limitations in range of motion shortly after the accident, and upon recent examination. Regarding the evidence of plaintiff's preexisting degenerative changes, the chiropractor concluded that plaintiff was asymptomatic before the accident and, based on his examination of plaintiff and review of his medical records, that plaintiff's injuries were significant, and causally related to the accident, and not merely a preexisting, degenerative condition ( see Perl v. Meher, 18 N.Y.3d 208, 218–219, 936 N.Y.S.2d 655, 960 N.E.2d 424 [2011]; McIntosh v. Sisters Servants of Mary, 105 A.D.3d 672, 965 N.Y.S.2d 403 [1st Dept.2013] ). Plaintiff's radiologist concurred that the MRIs showed degenerative changes that may occur as a result of aging, but disagreed that there was no radiographic evidence of traumatic injury.