Opinion
2013-09-27
James B. CLARKE, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. Carol DANGELO, Raymond Dangelo and Lori Gayhart Zecchino, Defendants–Respondents.
Thomas J. Rzepka, Rochester, for Plaintiff–Appellant. Law Offices of Destin C. Santacrose, Buffalo (Elise L. Cassar of Counsel), for Defendants–Respondents Carol Dangelo and Raymond Dangelo.
Thomas J. Rzepka, Rochester, for Plaintiff–Appellant. Law Offices of Destin C. Santacrose, Buffalo (Elise L. Cassar of Counsel), for Defendants–Respondents Carol Dangelo and Raymond Dangelo.
Law Offices of Foster, Foster & Zambito, LLP, Spencerport (Charles N. Zambito of Counsel), for Defendant–Respondent Lori Gayhart Zecchino.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., FAHEY, SCONIERS, AND VALENTINO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
[1] Plaintiff commenced this action seeking damages for injuries he allegedly sustained in a three-vehicle collision. In his bill of particulars, plaintiff alleged that he sustained a serious injury under the permanent loss of use, permanent consequential limitation of use, significant limitation of use, and 90/180–day categories set forth in Insurance Law § 5102(d). Supreme Court properly granted defendants' respective motion and cross motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint and cross claims against them on the ground that plaintiff did not sustain a serious injury within the meaning of the statute. Plaintiff does not raise any issue on appeal regarding the permanent loss of use category, and he has therefore abandoned any contention with respect thereto ( see Smith v. Reeves, 96 A.D.3d 1550, 1551, 946 N.Y.S.2d 750;Austin v. Rent A Ctr. E., Inc., 90 A.D.3d 1542, 1543, 935 N.Y.S.2d 767).
Defendants met their burden with respect to the permanent consequential limitation of use and significant limitation of use categories by submitting the affirmed report of the physician who examined plaintiff on behalf of defendants. That physician concluded that plaintiff sustained only sprain/strain injuries in the accident, which had resolved ( see Scheer v. Koubek, 70 N.Y.2d 678, 679, 518 N.Y.S.2d 788, 512 N.E.2d 309;Rabolt v. Park, 50 A.D.3d 995, 995, 858 N.Y.S.2d 197), and that the conditions revealed in the diagnostic imaging tests were preexisting degenerative changes that were not causally related to the accident ( see Pommells v. Perez, 4 N.Y.3d 566, 579, 797 N.Y.S.2d 380, 830 N.E.2d 278). Contrary to plaintiff's contention, the affidavit of his treating neurologist failed to address that evidence, “except in conclusory terms, and thus was insufficient to raise a triable issue of fact” ( Caldwell v. Grant [appeal No. 2], 31 A.D.3d 1154, 1155, 818 N.Y.S.2d 700).
Finally, although the court in its decision improperly shifted the initial burden of proof on the motion and cross motion to plaintiff with regard to the 90/180–day category ( see generally Williams v. Howe, 297 A.D.2d 671, 672, 747 N.Y.S.2d 251), we nevertheless conclude that defendants met their burden concerning that category by submitting plaintiff's deposition testimony establishing that he was not prevented “from performing substantially all of the material acts which constitute [his] usual and customary daily activities” for at least 90 out of the 180 days immediately following the accident, and plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact (Insurance Law § 5102[d]; see Delk v. Johnson, 92 A.D.3d 1234, 1235, 938 N.Y.S.2d 401;Robinson v. Polasky, 32 A.D.3d 1215, 1216, 822 N.Y.S.2d 183).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.