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Rear-End Collision: No Rational Process By Which Jury Could Have Found Plaintiff Negligent

The Second Department determined there was no rational process by which the jury could have found the plaintiff negligent in a rear-end collision case.  Plaintiff’s CPLR 4401 motion for judgment as a matter of law should have been granted. The plaintiff was stopped to allow a pedestrian, who had run in front of the vehicle, to cross.  The defendant acknowledged that he took his eyes off the road briefly to look at the pedestrians and then struck the rear of plaintiff’s car:

” A rear-end collision with a stopped or stopping vehicle creates a prima facie case of negligence with respect to the operator of the moving vehicle and imposes a duty on that operator to rebut the inference of negligence by providing a nonnegligent explanation for the collision'” … . Moreover, although the issue of comparative fault generally presents a question of fact …, that issue should be submitted to a jury “only where there is a triable issue of fact as to whether the frontmost driver also operated his or her vehicle in a negligent manner” … .

Here, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the defendant, there is no rational process by which the jury could find that the defendant had a nonnegligent explanation for the accident, or that the plaintiff was, to any extent, at fault in the happening of the accident. Clarke v Phillps, 2013 NY Slip Op 08585, 2nd Dept 12-26-13

 

“Wheel Stop” in Parking Lot Does Not Present an Unreasonable Risk of Harm

In this slip and fall case, the Second Department determined that a “wheel stop” or concrete divider in a parking lot is an open and obvious condition that does not present an unreasonable risk of harm:

While a landowner has a duty to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe manner for its patrons …, there is no duty to protect or warn against an open and obvious condition that is not inherently dangerous … . Generally “[a] wheel stop or concrete parking lot divider which is clearly visible presents no unreasonable risk of harm” … . Bellini v Gypsy Magic Enters Inc, 2013 NY Slip Op 08581, 2nd Dept 12-26-13

 

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Defendant-Doctor in a Medical Malpractice Action May Be Questioned (by the Plaintiff) As an Expert About His Own Treatment of Plaintiff

The Third Department determined (1) the defendant doctor in a medical malpractice action can be deposed as an expert (by the plaintiff)  with respect to his treatment (the doctor was asked whether the treatment as described in the records deviated from the standard of care); (2) the defendant doctor must answer the question whether he has given any statements to a quality assurance committee, even though the statements themselves would be privileged; (3) substantial changes to deposition testimony in an errata sheet would be allowed, but, based on the substantive nature of the changes, further deposition of the witness was appropriate as well.  With respect to questioning the defendant doctor as an expert about his own treatment, the court wrote:

In the context of a medical malpractice action, the Court of Appeals has held that “a plaintiff . . . is entitled to call the defendant doctor to the stand and question him [or her] both as to his [or her] factual knowledge of the case (that is, as to his [or her] examination, diagnosis, treatment and the like) and, if he [or she] be so qualified, as an expert for the purpose of establishing the generally accepted medical practice in the community” … .  Thus, although “one defendant physician may not be examined before trial about the professional quality of the services rendered by a codefendant physician if the questions bear solely on the alleged negligence of the codefendant and not on the practice of the witness[,] [w]here . . . the opinion sought refers to the treatment rendered by the witness, the fact that it may also refer to the services of a codefendant does not excuse the defendant witness from [being deposed] as an expert” … . Lieblich … v Saint Peter’s Hospital of the City of Albany…, 516736, 3rd Dept 12-19-13

 

“Equitable Medical Monitoring” Cause of Action Rejected; Plaintiffs, Who Had No Signs of Cancer from Heavy Smoking, Were Not Entitled to Bring an Action to Cover the Costs of CT Scans to Periodically Check for Cancer

In a full-fledged opinion by Judge Pigott, with two dissenting judges, the Court of Appeals determined New York does not recognize a “medical monitoring” cause of action.  The plaintiffs were all heavy smokers.  None of the plaintiffs is currently sick.  The lawsuit sought damages to pay for “medical monitoring” (low dose CT scans “LDCT”) as a way to ensure early diagnosis of cancer:

Plaintiffs do not claim to have suffered physical injury or damage to property.  They assert, rather, that they are at an “increased risk” for developing lung cancer and would benefit from LDCT monitoring, which they claim would allow them to discover the existence of cancers at an earlier stage, leading to earlier treatment.

A threat of future harm is insufficient to impose liability against a defendant in a tort context … .  The requirement that a plaintiff sustain physical harm before being able to recover in tort is a fundamental principle of our state’s tort system … .  The physical harm requirement serves a number of important purposes: it defines the class of persons who actually possess a cause of action, provides a basis for the fact-finder to determine whether a litigant actually possesses a claim, and protects court dockets from being clogged with frivolous and unfounded claims.

Having alleged no physical injury or damage to property in their complaint, plaintiffs’ only potential pathway to relief is for this Court to recognize a new tort, namely, an equitable medical monitoring cause of action. Caronia v Philip Morris USA Inc, 227, CtApp 12-17-13

 

Question of Fact About Resort Owner’s Duty to Maintain Walkways in Winter Despite Claim the Resort Was Closed in the Winter Months

The Third Department determined the claim that a resort was closed in the winter did not relieve the property owner from the duty to maintain the walkways during the winter months.  Plaintiff slipped and fell on a snow-covered walkway.  Condominiums at the resort were accessible year-round:

…[I]t is well settled that “a landowner has a duty to exercise reasonable care in maintaining his [or her] own property in a reasonably safe condition under the circumstances” … .  The nature and scope of a landowner’s duty and the persons to whom such duty is owed are determined by consideration of, among other things, “the likelihood of injury to another from a dangerous condition on the property, . . . the burden of avoiding the risk [as well as] the foreseeability of a potential plaintiff’s presence on the property” … .  “Although a jury determines whether and to what extent a particular duty was breached, it is for the court first to determine whether any duty exists, taking into consideration the reasonable expectations of the parties and society generally” … .

In order to satisfy its burden on summary judgment, defendant was required to present evidence conclusively establishing that its duty to use reasonable care did not extend to plaintiff.  We reject defendant’s argument that it was not required to maintain the walkway on which plaintiff fell because the resort was closed to the public during the winter months.  It is undisputed that there was no gate or other apparatus blocking the public’s access to the resort and, apart from a sign posted on the main hotel door, there was no notice that either the resort property resort, generally, or the subject walkway, in particular, was closed to the public at the time of plaintiff’s accident. Significantly, the condominiums located on the resort property were accessible year-round, with no limitation on visitors.  It is also uncontroverted that defendant did not inspect the walkway in question.  In our view, defendant failed to establish as a matter of law that plaintiff’s use of the path was not reasonably foreseeable… . Drake v Sagbolt LLC, 516967, 3rd Dept 12-12-13

 

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Snow Removal Contractor May Be Liable to Plaintiff in Slip and Fall Action/Question of Fact Whether Failure to Use Low-Temperature Salt Created a Dangerous Condition

The Third Department determined there was a question of fact whether a contractor hired to clear snow and ice created a dangerous condition by not using salt designed for low temperatures:

While a snow removal contractor is generally not liable to injured persons who were not parties to the contract …, plaintiffs argue the recognized exception that extends a duty to noncontracting third parties where the contractor fails to exercise reasonable care in the performance of duties such that he or she “‘launche[s] a force or instrument of harm'” … .

In opposition to the motion for summary judgment, plaintiffs submitted affidavits from experts who opined that, among other things, [defendant’s] application of plain, untreated rock salt to the parking lot on the morning in question was negligent because temperatures, which were below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, were too cold for plain rock salt to be effective.  According to plaintiffs’ experts, by using untreated salt instead of treated, low temperature salt, [defendant] caused snow shoveled from the sidewalk to the parking lot … to melt and then quickly refreeze, creating a layer of ice beneath the snow. There is no dispute that [defendant] had the option of using untreated or treated salt pursuant to the contract and that he had both kinds available.  There was also evidence that [defendant] was aware that snow would be shoveled from the sidewalk onto the parking lot, and [a witness] testified that he had observed salt in the area where plaintiff fell.  This evidence sufficiently raises a question of fact as to whether [defendant] “‘negligently create[d] or exacerbate[d] a dangerous condition'” by using untreated salt, resulting in the formation of the ice on which plaintiff allegedly slipped… .  Belmonte v Guilderland Associates LLC…, 516830, 3rd Dept 12-12-13

 

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Defaulting Defendant Forfeits the Right to Discovery Re: Inquest on Damages

The Second Department determined that a defaulting defendant could not compel plaintiff to submit to an independent medical examination:

Although ” a defaulting defendant is entitled to present testimony and evidence and cross-examine the plaintiff’s witnesses at the inquest on damages,’ a defendant forfeits the right to discovery by defaulting in answering the complaint” … . Contrary to the Supreme Court’s determination, the defendant was not entitled to any further discovery, since its right to discovery was forfeited by its default in answering the complaint .. . Accordingly, the Supreme Court erred in denying the plaintiff’s cross motion for a protective order and directing him to submit to an independent medical examination. Kolonlowski v Daily News LP, 2013 NY Slip Op 08230, 2nd Dept 12-11-13

 

Under the Facts, a Stairwell Partially Covered by a Piece of Wood Was Not an Unreasonably Dangerous Condition

The Second Department determined that a stairwell leading to the basement of defendant’s restaurant, which was partially covered by a piece of wood, did not constitute an unreasonably dangerous condition.  Plaintiff fell down the stairwell after leaving a nearby bar by the back door and climbing over a fence:

A landowner has a duty to maintain his or her premises in a reasonably safe condition to prevent foreseeable injuries … . The scope of such duty is determined in view of all the circumstances, including the likelihood of injury to others, the seriousness of the injury, and the burden of avoiding the risk … . “Absent a hazardous condition or other circumstance giving rise to an obligation to provide exterior lighting for a particular area, landowners are generally not required to illuminate their property during all hours of darkness’”… .

[Defendant] submitted evidence demonstrating that it was not aware of any other prior similar incidents or injuries on its premises and that there was no access between the rear of its premises and the rear portions of the stores situated to the west of it, which included the subject bar. Additionally, [defendant’s] submissions demonstrated that the restaurant was closed at the time of the incident, that the back door of the restaurant was locked, and that none of [defendant’s] employees was at the premises. Thus, [defendant] established, prima facie, that under the circumstances of this case, the basement stairwell partially covered by a piece of wood did not constitute an unreasonably dangerous condition … . In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact. Assefa v Bam, 2013 NY Slip Op 08220, 2nd Dept 12-11-13

 

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Uncovered Baseboard Radiator May Constitute an Unsafe Condition Created by Landlord

The First Department determined there were questions of fact about whether the landlord assumed a duty to cover a baseboard heating unit, whether the landlord created an unsafe condition by removing the baseboard heating unit’s cover, and whether the uncovered unit needed repairs or was defective.  The infant plaintiff, who suffers from mental retardation and cerebral palsy, was burned when her face and hand was in contact with an uncovered baseboard radiator for an unknown period of time.  Nina W v NDI King Ltd Partnership, 2013 NY Slip Op 08202, 1st Dept 12-10-13

 

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Workers’ Compensation Board’s Finding Re: Extent of Disability Should Not Be Given Collateral-Estoppel Effect in Related Negligence Action

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Lippman, determined that collateral-estoppel effect should not be given to a finding by the Workers’ Compensation Board in a related negligence action.  Plaintiff, a delivery person, had been struck by a piece of plywood which fell from a building under construction in 2003.  The Workers’ Compensation Board found that plaintiff’s disability from the accident ceased as of January, 2006. In the related negligence action, the defendant sought to limit plaintiff’s proof of disability to the period prior to January, 2006.  The court held “that there is no identity of issue and that collateral estoppel therefore should not be applied:”

…[D]efendants have failed to meet their burden of establishing that the issue decided in the workers’ compensation proceeding was identical to that presented in this negligence action.  We have observed that the Workers’ Compensation Law “is the State’s most general and comprehensive social program, enacted to provide all injured employees with some scheduled compensation and medical expenses, regardless of fault for ordinary and unqualified employment duties” … .  The purpose of awarding such benefits is to provide funds on an expedited basis that will function as a substitute for an injured employee’s wages … .  We have observed that the term “disability,” as used in the Workers’ Compensation Law, “generally refers to inability to work” … .  In addition, the Board uses the term “disability” in order to make classifications according to degree (total or partial) and duration (temporary or permanent) of an employee’s injury … .  The focus of the act, plainly, is on a claimant’s ability to perform the duties of his or her employment.

By contrast, a negligence action is much broader in scope.  It is intended to make an injured party whole for the enduring consequences of his or her injury — including, as relevant here, lost income and future medical expenses. Necessarily, then, the negligence action is focused on the larger question of the impact of the injury over the course of plaintiff’s lifetime.  Although there is some degree of overlap between the issues being determined in the two proceedings, based on the scope and focus of each type of action, it cannot be said that the issues are identical. Auqui v Seven Thirty One Limited Partnership, 212, CtApp 12-10-13

 

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