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ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO QUESTION PLAINTIFF’S CAR HYDROPLANED AND SLID INTO DEFENDANT’S LANE, DEFENDANT INCLUDED PLAINTIFF’S DEPOSITION TESTIMONY IN HIS MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT WHICH RAISED A QUESTION OF FACT ABOUT HOW LONG PLAINTIFF’S CAR WAS IN DEFENDANT’S LANE BEFORE IT WAS STRUCK (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendant’s own motion papers, which included the deposition testimony of plaintiffs, raised questions of fact about whether the emergency doctrine applied in this car accident case. Plaintiff testified her car hydroplaned on rain water and slid into the oncoming lane where her car was struck by defendant’s. Plaintiff testified he car came to a complete stop for as much as 20 seconds before the collision. Defendant alleged he had no time to brake when plaintiff’s car entered his lane:

“[I]n order for a driver to be entitled to summary judgment based upon the emergency doctrine, he or she must demonstrate, as a matter of law, that the emergency situation with which he or she was confronted was not of his or her own making and that his or her reaction was reasonable under the circumstances such that he or she could not have done anything to avoid the collision” … . There is no question that an emergency situation may arise “when a car going in the opposite direction crosses into the driver’s lane” … . Nevertheless, “summary judgment is only appropriate where it is established that the driver invoking the doctrine ‘did not contribute to the creation of the emergency situation, and that his or her reaction was reasonable under the circumstances such that he or she could not have done anything to avoid the collision’ ” … . Lee v Helsley, 2024 NY Slip Op 03213, Third Dept 6-13-24

Practice Point: If a party includes the opposing party’s deposition testimony in a summary judgment motion and the opposing party’s testimony raises a question of fact, summary judgment will be denied without the need to consider the opposing papers.

 

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