Opinion
# 2017-015-276 Claim No. 124387
11-06-2017
RAYMOND BROWN v. THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Raymond Brown, Pro Se Honorable Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General By: Douglas R. Kemp, Esq. Assistant Attorney General
Synopsis
Pro se inmate claim alleging injuries from exposure to a germicidal cleaner was dismissed as claimant failed to present expert opinion that exposure could have caused the injuries complained of.
Case information
| UID: | 2017-015-276 |
| Claimant(s): | RAYMOND BROWN |
| Claimant short name: | BROWN |
| Footnote (claimant name) : | |
| Defendant(s): | THE STATE OF NEW YORK |
| Footnote (defendant name) : | |
| Third-party claimant(s): | |
| Third-party defendant(s): | |
| Claim number(s): | 124387 |
| Motion number(s): | |
| Cross-motion number(s): | |
| Judge: | FRANCIS T. COLLINS |
| Claimant's attorney: | Raymond Brown, Pro Se |
| Defendant's attorney: | Honorable Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General By: Douglas R. Kemp, Esq. Assistant Attorney General |
| Third-party defendant's attorney: | |
| Signature date: | November 6, 2017 |
| City: | Saratoga Springs |
| Comments: | |
| Official citation: | |
| Appellate results: | |
| See also (multicaptioned case) |
Decision
The claim alleges the claimant was injured as a result of his exposure to a germicidal cleaner at Great Meadow Correctional Facility (Great Meadow) on October 28, 2013. A trial of this matter was held on September 14, 2017.
The claimant testified that on October 28, 2013 he and the rest of his company were seated eating lunch in the mess hall at Great Meadow. Another inmate was attacked and cut by a sharp object which resulted in blood "all over" the area where the claimant was seated eating his lunch. The inmates were instructed to remain in their seats while two inmates were assigned to clean the spilled blood, during which they sprayed a green colored germicidal cleaner.
Quotation is taken from the trial recording. --------
After the claimant and his company were released to the yard for recreation he began to feel dizzy and experienced difficulty breathing, headache, vomiting and burning eyes. The claimant was taken to the infirmary on a stretcher where he was examined by a nurse for a brief period and then sent to his cell. Claimant attended emergency sick call the next morning where he was given ibuprofen and again returned to his cell. He returned to the infirmary on several occasions thereafter but was unsatisfied with the treatment provided. According to the claimant, he was never properly examined or treated for his symptoms and was returned to his cell rather than being held at the infirmary overnight for observation.
On cross-examination claimant acknowledged that he failed to present expert testimony regarding the effect of the germicidal cleaner used in cleaning the blood spill on the claimant's health. According to the claimant, he identified the particular germicidal cleaner which he alleges caused his injuries by speaking to one of the inmates assigned to clean up the blood spill in the mess hall.
In cases such as this, alleging injuries from exposure to toxic chemicals, a claimant cannot prevail absent expert opinion evidence demonstrating that he or she was exposed to a toxin capable of causing the particular injuries suffered, and that the claimant was exposed to levels of the toxin sufficient to produce such injuries (Sean R. v BMW of N. Am., LLC, 26 NY3d 801, 808 [2016]). No expert testimony was presented in this case. Moreover, nothing in the product literature, received in evidence as Exhibit 7, indicates the cleaner was used improperly. As a result, the claim must be dismissed as a matter of law.
Accordingly, the claim is dismissed.
Let judgment be entered accordingly.
November 6, 2017
Saratoga Springs, New York
FRANCIS T. COLLINS
Judge of the Court of Claims