Summary
In Sokol v Lazar, 106 AD3d 512 (1st Dept 2013), the 58 year old plaintiff underwent a bunionectomy, and the jury awarded $300,000 for past pain and suffering, and $600,000 for future pain and suffering of 25.5 years, which award for future damages, was reduced by the First Department to $450,000.
Summary of this case from Rubinstein v. CohenOpinion
2013-05-14
Carol SOKOL, Plaintiff–Respondent, v. Paul A. LAZAR, DPM, Defendant–Appellant.
Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP, Valhalla (Jacqueline Mandell of counsel), for appellant. Sanocki, Newman & Turret, LLP, New York (David B. Turret of counsel), for respondent.
Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP, Valhalla (Jacqueline Mandell of counsel), for appellant. Sanocki, Newman & Turret, LLP, New York (David B. Turret of counsel), for respondent.
TOM, J.P., ACOSTA, SAXE, FREEDMAN, FEINMAN, JJ.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Alice Schlesinger, J.), entered September 18, 2012, after a jury trial, in plaintiff's favor, unanimously modified, on the facts, to vacate the award for future pain and suffering and to direct a new trial on that issue, unless plaintiff stipulates, within 30 days of service of a copy of this order with notice of entry, to a reduction of the award for future pain and suffering from $600,000 to $450,000 and to entry of an amended judgment in accordance therewith, and otherwise affirmed, without costs. Appeal from order, same court and Justice, entered July 11, 2012, which denied defendant's posttrial motion to set aside the jury's verdict on damages for future pain and suffering, unanimously dismissed, without costs, as subsumed in the appeal from the judgment.
Plaintiff, who was 57 years old at the time of the trial, sustained injuries to her right foot as a result of defendant podiatrist's negligent performance of a bunionectomy. Under the circumstances, we find that the award for future pain and suffering deviates materially from reasonable compensation to the extent indicated (CPLR 5501[c]; compare Pouso v. City of New York, 22 A.D.3d 395, 804 N.Y.S.2d 24 [1st Dept. 2005];Hixson v. Cotton–Hanlon, Inc., 60 A.D.3d 1297, 875 N.Y.S.2d 361 [4th Dept. 2009] ).