Opinion
2011-09-27
Michael TAYLOR, et al., appellants,v.Dorothy TAYLOR, et al., respondents.
Robert K. Young, North Bellmore, N.Y. (Gary J. Young of counsel), for appellants.Cheven, Keely & Hatzis, New York, N.Y. (William B. Stock of counsel), for respondents Dorothy Taylor and Richard Williamson.Andrea G. Sawyers, Melville, N.Y. (Christopher T. Vetro of counsel), for respondent Craig Goodman.
Robert K. Young, North Bellmore, N.Y. (Gary J. Young of counsel), for appellants.Cheven, Keely & Hatzis, New York, N.Y. (William B. Stock of counsel), for respondents Dorothy Taylor and Richard Williamson.Andrea G. Sawyers, Melville, N.Y. (Christopher T. Vetro of counsel), for respondent Craig Goodman.
In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the plaintiffs appeal, as limited by their brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Woodard, J.), dated August 11, 2010, as granted the motion of the defendants Dorothy Taylor and Richard Williamson, and the separate motion of the defendant Craig Goodman, for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against each of them on the ground that the plaintiffs did not sustain a serious injury within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5102(d).
ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, with one bill of costs payable by the defendants appearing separately and filing separate briefs, and the motions for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against each
of the defendants on the ground that the plaintiffs did not sustain a serious injury within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5102(d) are denied.
The defendants failed to meet their respective prima facie burdens of showing that the plaintiffs did not sustain a serious injury within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5102(d) as a result of the subject accident ( see Toure v. Avis Rent A Car Sys., 98 N.Y.2d 345, 746 N.Y.S.2d 865, 774 N.E.2d 1197; Gaddy v. Eyler, 79 N.Y.2d 955, 956–957, 582 N.Y.S.2d 990, 591 N.E.2d 1176).
The defendants all relied on the affirmed medical report of Dr. Kuldip K. Sachdev, a neurologist who examined the plaintiff Donna Speed on October 8, 2009. During that examination, Dr. Sachdev noted significant limitations in the range of motion of the cervical and lumbar regions of Speed's spine, and significant limitations in the range of motion of her left shoulder. Such findings prevented the defendants from meeting their prima facie burdens of showing that Speed did not sustain a serious injury to those regions of her body within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5102(d) as a result of the subject accident ( see Astudillo v. MV Transp., 84 A.D.3d 1289, 923 N.Y.S.2d 722; Rhodes v. Stoddard, 79 A.D.3d 997, 912 N.Y.S.2d 908; Kharzis v. PV Holding Corp., 78 A.D.3d 1122, 912 N.Y.S.2d 114; see also Artis v. Lucas, 84 A.D.3d 845, 921 N.Y.S.2d 910; Rocourt v. Alvelo, 79 A.D.3d 1120, 912 N.Y.S.2d 915; Mondevil v. Kumar, 74 A.D.3d 1295, 903 N.Y.S.2d 248; Smith v. Hartman, 73 A.D.3d 736, 899 N.Y.S.2d 648; Quiceno v. Mendoza, 72 A.D.3d 669, 897 N.Y.S.2d 643; Giacomaro v. Wilson, 58 A.D.3d 802, 872 N.Y.S.2d 180). Moreover, the defendants' respective motion papers failed to address Speed's claim, as set forth in her bill of particulars, that she sustained a medically-determined injury or impairment of a nonpermanent nature which prevented her from performing substantially all of the material acts which constituted her usual and customary activities for not less than 90 of the 180 days immediately following the subject accident ( see Aslam v. Hossain, 83 A.D.3d 749, 920 N.Y.S.2d 674; Reynolds v. Wai Sang Leung, 78 A.D.3d 919, 911 N.Y.S.2d 431; Udochi v. H & S Car Rental Inc., 76 A.D.3d 1011, 908 N.Y.S.2d 93; Strilcic v. Paroly, 75 A.D.3d 542, 903 N.Y.S.2d 905). Speed testified at her deposition that she essentially stopped working after the subject accident on advice of her doctor. The defendants' respective experts did not examine her until at least one year or more after the accident, and did not relate any of their findings to that category of serious injury for the period of time immediately following the subject accident.
As to the plaintiff Michael Taylor, the defendants' respective motion papers also failed to address his claim, as set forth in his bill of particulars, that he sustained a medically-determined injury or impairment of a nonpermanent nature which prevented him from performing substantially all of the material acts which constituted his usual and customary activities for not less than 90 of the 180 days immediately following the subject accident. Taylor alleged in his bill of particulars that he was confined to his home and/or bed from the date of the subject accident. None of those defense experts related any of their findings to the 90/180–day category of serious injury for the period of time immediately following the subject accident.
Since the defendants failed to meet their respective prima facie burdens, it is unnecessary to consider whether the papers submitted by the plaintiffs in opposition were sufficient to raise a triable issue of fact ( see Coscia v. 938 Trading Corp., 283 A.D.2d 538, 725 N.Y.S.2d 349).
Accordingly, the Supreme Court should have denied the motions for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against each of the defendants.