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Coleman v. Pizza Hut of America, Inc.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jan 21, 1997
235 A.D.2d 451 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)

Opinion

January 21, 1997.

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the plaintiff appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (O'Connell, J.), dated July 13, 1995, which, upon a jury verdict, is in favor of the defendant dismissing the complaint.

Before: Miller, J. P., Santucci, Joy and Krausman, JJ.


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

Contrary to the plaintiffs contention, we find that the trial court properly instructed the jury on the emergency doctrine ( see, Kuci v Manhattan Bronx Surface Tr. Operating Auth., 88 NY2d 923, 924). The testimony of the driver of the vehicle owned by the defendant Pizza Hut of America, Inc. (hereinafter Pizza Hut), testified that the plaintiff suddenly and unexpectedly appeared from the front of a parked van and ran in front of the Pizza Hut vehicle. In light of the additional testimony that the Pizza Hut driver was proceeding at a reasonable and prudent speed, the jury reasonably could have concluded that the accident was unavoidable ( see, Sonntag v Dor-Vac Corp., 192 AD2d 594). Where, as here, some reasonable view of the evidence establishes that an actor was confronted by a sudden and unforeseen occurrence not of the actor's own making, then the reasonableness of the conduct in the face of the emergency is for the jury ( Kuci v Manhattan Bronx Surface Tr. Operating Auth., supra).

The plaintiffs remaining contentions are either unpreserved for appellate review or without merit.


Summaries of

Coleman v. Pizza Hut of America, Inc.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jan 21, 1997
235 A.D.2d 451 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)
Case details for

Coleman v. Pizza Hut of America, Inc.

Case Details

Full title:SANDY COLEMAN, Appellant, v. PIZZA HUT OF AMERICA, INC., Respondent

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Jan 21, 1997

Citations

235 A.D.2d 451 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)
652 N.Y.S.2d 1006

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