Opinion
December 31, 1997
Present — Green, J. P., Pine, Wisner, Callahan and Fallon, JJ.
Order unanimously affirmed with costs. Memorandum: Supreme Court properly denied defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that plaintiff did not sustain a serious injury under Insurance Law § 5102 (d). Although defendant met her initial burden, plaintiff submitted the affidavits of her treating physicians and thereby raised triable issues of fact whether she sustained a permanent consequential limitation of use of her back and neck or a significant limitation of use of her back and neck ( see, Stanavich v. Pakenas, 190 A.D.2d 184, 186-187, lv denied 82 N.Y.2d 659; see also, Larrabee v. State of New York, 216 A.D.2d 772, 773). One treating physician diagnosed plaintiff as suffering from chronic and severe cervical, dorsal and lumbosacral sprain with radiating pain, and intermittent paresthesias in her arms and legs, all directly and causally related to the motor vehicle accident at issue. Among the objective medical findings by the treating physicians are trigger points and spasms in plaintiff's back ( see, Larrabee v. State of New York, supra, at 773). Two of the treating physicians opined that plaintiff's injuries rendered plaintiff permanently disabled and unable to perform her profession as a chambermaid and housekeeper. Those findings of permanency are supported by medical evidence, and the results of the physicians' examinations are sufficient to raise a triable issue of fact whether the limitation of use of plaintiffs back is more than "`minor, mild or slight'" ( Gaddy v. Eyler, 79 N.Y.2d 955, 957, quoting Licari v. Elliott, 57 N.Y.2d 230, 236). Thus, summary judgment is inappropriate on this record ( see, Thomas v. Hulslander, 233 A.D.2d 567; see also, Lopez v. Senatore, 65 N.Y.2d 1017, 1020). (Appeal from Order of Supreme Court, Jefferson County, Gilbert, J. — Summary Judgment.)