ALTHOUGH THE ALLEGATION PLAINTIFF STOPPED SUDDENLY DOES NOT REBUT THE PRESUMPTION THE REAR DRIVER WAS NEGLIGENT IN A REAR-END COLLISION, THE REAR-DRIVER’S ALLEGATION THE PLAINTIFF STOPPED SUDDENLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON CREATES A QUESTION OF FACT ON THE ISSUE OF PLAINTIFF’S COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined defendants’ claim that plaintiff stopped suddenly for no apparent reason supported defendant’s comparative-negligence affirmative defense in this rear-end collision case:

The Supreme Court should have denied that branch of the plaintiff’s motion which was for summary judgment dismissing the defendants’ affirmative defense alleging comparative negligence. In support of his motion, the plaintiff submitted his affidavit, in which he averred that his vehicle, after having been stopped at an intersection for approximately 20 to 30 seconds, was struck in the rear by the defendants’ vehicle. Thus, the plaintiff established, prima facie, that he was not at fault in the happening of the accident … . In opposition, however, the defendants raised a triable issue of fact as to whether the plaintiff was comparatively at fault in the happening of the accident because he stopped suddenly for no apparent reason … . Martinez v Colonna, 2024 NY Slip Op 05971, Second Dept 11-27-24

Practice Point: In a rear-end collision, defendant’s allegation plaintiff stopped suddenly does not rebut the presumption defendant was negligent. But defendant’s allegation plaintiff stopped suddenly for no apparent reason raises a question of fact in support of defendant’s comparative-negligence affirmative defense.