Opinion
Index EF2019-1315
12-04-2020
SUSAN GORDEN, Plaintiff, v. JANICE A. O'BRIEN, ROBERT C. MEST, WILLIAM E. PLOSS AND JOYCE A. BRYANT, Defendants. RJI No. 55-19-00639
DELL & DEAN, PLLC Attorneys for Plaintiff 1225 Franklin Ave., Suite 450 Garden City, New York 11530 By: Joseph G. Dell, Esq. THE LAW OFFICES OF CRAIG P. CURCIO Attorneys for Defendant Joyce A. Bryant 384 Crystal Run Road., Suite 202 Middletown, New York 10941 By: Deborah Bookwalter, Esq. DeSENA & SWEENEY, LLP Attorneys for Defendants Janice O'Brien and Robert Mest 1500 Lakeland Avenue Bohemia, New York 11716 By: Shawn P. O'Shaughnessy, Esq. LITCHFIELD CAVO. LLP Attorneys for Defendant William Ploss 420 Lexington Ave., Suite 2104 New York, New York 10170 By: Anna M. Hadjitheodosiou, Esq.
Unpublished Opinion
Motion Return Date: August 14, 2020
DELL & DEAN, PLLC Attorneys for Plaintiff 1225 Franklin Ave., Suite 450 Garden City, New York 11530 By: Joseph G. Dell, Esq.
THE LAW OFFICES OF CRAIG P. CURCIO Attorneys for Defendant Joyce A. Bryant 384 Crystal Run Road., Suite 202 Middletown, New York 10941 By: Deborah Bookwalter, Esq.
DeSENA & SWEENEY, LLP Attorneys for Defendants Janice O'Brien and Robert Mest 1500 Lakeland Avenue Bohemia, New York 11716 By: Shawn P. O'Shaughnessy, Esq.
LITCHFIELD CAVO. LLP Attorneys for Defendant William Ploss 420 Lexington Ave., Suite 2104 New York, New York 10170 By: Anna M. Hadjitheodosiou, Esq.
Present: Christopher E. Cahill, JSC
DECISION & ORDER
Christopher E. Cahill Judge
In this "chain reaction" accident which took place on the Long Island Expressway (LIE) on October 23, 2014, defendant Joyce Bryant, who now moves for summary judgment pursuant to CPLR § 3212, testified at her EBL that she was driving in the left lane of the LIE Westbound in heavy traffic. The vehicle in front of her stopped, so she brought her vehicle to a complete stop. Seconds later, she felt an impact from behind, which was the vehicle operated by defendant Ploss in which plaintiff, Susan Gorden, was a passenger. According to the plaintiff, the vehicle in which she was riding was struck from behind by a vehicle owned by defendant Robert C. Mest and operated by defendant Janice A. O'Brien. Ms. O'Brien testified that her vehicle struck the Ploss vehicle from behind because she had been struck from behind by a vehicle that subsequently fled the scene.
In support of her motion for summary judgment, defendant Bryant argues that she is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law as it is undisputed that her vehicle was at a complete stop when it was struck from behind by the Ploss vehicle, and, therefore, Ms. Bryant's operation of her vehicle was not the probable cause of the accident.
After reviewing the parties' submissions, the court concludes that the motion must be granted. It is well established that a rear-end collision with a stopped vehicle establishes a prima facie case of negligence on the moving vehicle and requires the operator of the moving vehicle to explain how the accident occurred (see Ng v Reid, 259 A.D.2d 601 [2d Dept 2010]). There is no evidence that Ms. Bryant came to an abrupt stop which could possibly provide Ploss with an excuse for striking the Bryant vehicle. Indeed, defendant Ploss testified that he observed the Bryant vehicle come to a gradual stop and that he did not observe it move until he came into contact with it.
In reaching this conclusion, the court first finds that there is no prejudice to any of the other defendants or plaintiff in the moving defendant's failure to attach all the pleadings, and it is established that a court may disregard such a failure "if a substantial right of a party is not prejudiced" (CPLR § 2001; Sensible Choice Contracting, LLC v Rodgers, 1643d 705 [2nd Dept 2018]). Second, the court agrees with defendant Bryant that the fact that the plaintiff testified that the accident occurred in the right lane while all of the defendants testified that it occurred in the left lane does not create a material issue of fact. Likewise, plaintiffs assertion that it was raining at that the time is totally immaterial to the issue of Ms. Bryant's liability. Third, Mr. Ploss testified that he had also brought his car to a complete stop behind Ms. Bryant. Fourth, with regard to plaintiffs attempt to characterize the traffic conditions at the time of the accident as "stop and go" based on Ms. Bryant's testimony that "traffic was moving at a slow pace," it does not change the fact that she was struck from behind when the Ploss vehicle was pushed into her vehicle.
In conclusion, there is no evidence that Ms. Bryant stopped suddenly. And as the plaintiff testified that she did not witness the impact with the Bryant vehicle as her eyes were closed, she is in no position to argue otherwise.
The court has considered the remaining arguments of the plaintiff, and of the co-defendants in opposition, and finds them to be without merit.
Accordingly, it is
ORDERED that defendant Bryant's motion is granted in all respects.
This shall constitute the Decision and Order of the court. The original Decision and Order and all other papers are being delivered to the Supreme Court Clerk for transmission to the Ulster County Clerk for filing. The signing of this Decision and Order shall not constitute entry or filing under CPLR § 2220. Counsel is not relieved from the applicable provisions of that rule regarding notice of entry.
SO ORDERED.
Papers considered:
Notice of Motion dated June 26, 2020 with Exhibits A-G, Affirmation in Support of Deborah J. Bookwalter, Esq. dated June 26, 2020;
Affirmation in Opposition of Antonio Marano, Esq. dated August 3, 2020;
Affirmation in Opposition of Shawn P. O'Shaughnessy, Esq. dated July 16, 2020;
Affirmation in Partial Opposition of Anna M. Hadjitheodosiou, Esq. dated September 11, 2020;
Reply Affirmation of Deborah J. Bookwalter, Esq. dated September 17, 2020