You are here: / / IN THIS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CASE, AN AFFIDAVIT FROM A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL...
, ,

IN THIS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CASE, AN AFFIDAVIT FROM A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER (LCSW) CONSTITUTED COMPETENT EVIDENCE PLAINTIFF SUFFERS FROM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD), PTSD IS A ‘SERIOUS INJURY’ WITHIN THE MEANING OF INSURANCE LAW 5102 (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined an affidavit from a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) was competent evidence that plaintiff in this traffic accident case suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which is recognized as a “serious injury” within the meaning of Insurance Law 5102 (d):

Under Education Law § 7701 (2), an LCSW can diagnose “mental, emotional, behavioral, addictive and developmental disorders and disabilities” and can administer and interpret tests of psychological functioning, create assessment-based treatment plans and provide “short-term and long-term psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic treatment.” These are functions comparable to those of a psychologist (see Education Law § 7601-a [1], [2]). For licensing purposes, an LCSW must “have at least three years full-time supervised postgraduate clinical social work experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy, and assessment-based treatment plans, or its part-time equivalent, obtained over a continuous period not to exceed six years, under the supervision . . . of a psychiatrist, a licensed psychologist, or [an LCSW] in a facility setting” … . Given the above, we conclude that an LCSW is competent to render an opinion as to whether a person has PTSD for purposes of establishing a serious injury under the Insurance Law. …

Iantorno [the LCSW] averred that she “personally witnessed physical anxiety exhibited by . . . Vergine [plaintiff]. This was visible to me and further validated diagnosis of PTSD.” Such clinical observations qualify as objective medical evidence for purposes of establishing a serious injury … . Iantorno opined that Vergine was significantly limited in her ability to drive and even distressed as a passenger, conditions that impacted her independence and imposed a significant limitation of her psychological function. We find that this submission presents an issue of fact as to whether Vergine sustained causally-related PTSD, constituting a “significant limitation of use of a body function or system” (Insurance Law § 5102 [d]). Vergine v Phillips, 2018 NY Slip Op 08740, Third Dept 12-20-18

 

You might also like
QUESTIONS OF FACT ABOUT THE TIMELINESS OF THE NOTICE OF LIEN, THE CHARACTER OF THE WORK AND EXAGGERATION PRECLUDED SUMMARY DISCHARGE OF THE NOTICE OF LIEN, SUPREME COURT REVERSED (THIRD DEPT).
Family Court Has Power to Issue Judgment for Child Support Arrearages
THE TRUST PROVISION IN THE WILL WAS INVALID FOR LACK OF A BENEFICIARY; SURROGATE’S COURT’S CONSTRUCTION OF THE WILL PROPERLY EXPRESSED THE DECEDENT’S INTENT (THIRD DEPT).
Attack on Plaintiff Upon Leaving Defendant-Lodge’s Premises Not Foreseeable—Landowner Had No Duty to Take Measures to Protect Against the Attack—Evidence Lodge Is Located in a “High Crime” Area Insufficient to Render Such an Attack Foreseeable
Defendant, a County Sheriff, May Not Have Had the Authority to Order the Plaintiff to Leave the Airport/Questions of Fact Raised About Whether Defendant Had Probable Cause to Arrest Plaintiff for Trespass and Disorderly Conduct/Questions of Fact Raised About Whether Excessive Force Was Used and Whether Plaintiff Was Subjected to Retaliation for the Use of Protected Speech
DEFENDANT DEMONSTRATED WATER WAS NOT DIVERTED ONTO PLAINTIFF’S PROPERTY IN BAD FAITH.
Damages in Medical Malpractice Case Paid by Insurer and Hospital—Therefore Doctor, a Defendant in the Medical Malpractice Case, Could Show No Pecuniary Loss—Legal Malpractice Suit by Doctor Must Therefore Be Dismissed
Audit Procedures, Disclosure of Which Could Impede Investigations, Are Exempt from Disclosure

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2025 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ENFORCEABLE CONTRACT TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS, PLAINTIFF... COMPLAINT ALLEGED VALID CAUSES OF ACTION FOR AIDING AND ABETTING FRAUD AND AIDING...