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Ryan v. Ratchuk

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Nov 15, 1995
221 A.D.2d 1021 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)

Opinion

November 15, 1995

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Erie County, Rath, Jr., J.

Present — Green, J.P., Lawton, Fallon, Doerr and Balio, JJ.


Order unanimously affirmed without costs. Memorandum: Supreme Court properly granted summary judgment in favor of third-party defendant, Lorraine Stegura. The evidence is uncontroverted that plaintiff, while riding a bicycle, was cut off by a vehicle, causing him to cross over into Stegura's lane of traffic, and to collide with Stegura's vehicle. By establishing that the head-on collision was caused solely by plaintiff having crossed over into her lane of traffic, Stegura established a complete defense to the third-party action, which sought damages for injuries arising out of the collision (see, Moshier v Phoenix Cent. School Dist., 199 A.D.2d 1019, affd 83 N.Y.2d 947). In response, defendant-third-party plaintiff, Dennis Ratchuk, failed to offer any proof in admissible form that Stegura could have done anything to avoid the collision (see, Moshier v Phoenix Cent. School Dist., supra; see also, Gouchie v Gill, 198 A.D.2d 862).

The court properly denied Ratchuk's motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff's complaint. A material issue of fact exists whether Ratchuk's vehicle was involved in the accident.

Finally, the court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to impose costs, attorneys' fees and sanctions against Ratchuk, and we decline to do so.


Summaries of

Ryan v. Ratchuk

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Nov 15, 1995
221 A.D.2d 1021 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
Case details for

Ryan v. Ratchuk

Case Details

Full title:MICHAEL RYAN, Respondent, v. DENNIS RATCHUK, Appellant. (Appeal No. 1.)

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

Date published: Nov 15, 1995

Citations

221 A.D.2d 1021 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
635 N.Y.S.2d 378

Citing Cases

Ryan v. Ratchuk

Order unanimously affirmed without costs. Same Memorandum as in Ryan v Ratchuk ( 221 A.D.2d 1021 [decided…