STATEMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO PLAINTIFF PROPERLY REDACTED FROM HOSPITAL RECORDS; EXPERT TESTIMONY DISCLOSED DAYS BEFORE TRIAL PROPERLY PRECLUDED.
In a case with a substantial plaintiff’s verdict, the First Department noted the statement that the driver “made an illegal left turn,” which was attributed to the plaintiff, was properly redacted from the hospital records. It was not clear the plaintiff made the statement. Even if she did, plaintiff was not the driver so it was not a statement against plaintiff’s interest. The statement was not made for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment. And the statement does not relate to a matter of fact (“illegal” is a conclusion of law). The First Department further noted that the trial court’s preclusion of testimony by defendants’ experts was not an abuse of discretion. The defendants served their disclosures only days before the trial:
The trial court providently exercised its discretion in precluding testimony from defendants’ biomechanical and accident reconstruction experts because defendants served their disclosures only days before the scheduled trial date. We see no reason to disturb the trial court’s exercise of discretion in precluding this testimony … , whether applying a “good cause” standard … or a “willful or prejudicial” standard … . We also see no reason to disturb the trial court’s exercise of discretion in precluding testimony regarding a seatbelt defense … . Coleman v New York City Tr. Auth., 2015 NY Slip Op 08906, 1st Dept 12-3-15
NEGLIGENCE (ADMISSIBILITY OF STATEMENTS IN HOSPITAL RECORDS)/EVIDENCE (ADMISSIBILITY OF STATEMENTS IN HOSPITAL RECORDS)/HOSPITAL RECORDS (ADMISSIBILITY OF STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN)/EXPERT TESTIMONY (LATE NOTICE, PROPERLY PRECLUDED)/EVIDENCE (PRECLUSION OF EXPERT TESTIMONY PROPER, LATE DISCLOSURE)