DEANS v. PITTMAN (2005)

Plaintiff commenced this action seeking damages for injuries she sustained when her vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle owned and operated by defendant.   Defendant admitted liability prior to trial, and a trial was conducted on the issue of damages only.   Defendant appeals from a judgment entered upon a jury verdict awarding plaintiff damages in the amount of $100,000 for past pain and suffering and $250,000 for future pain and suffering.   We reject the contention of defendant that Supreme Court erred in denying his motion to set aside the award of damages as excessive and against the weight of the evidence.   In view of the evidence concerning the nature and consequences of plaintiff's injuries, we conclude that the amount of damages awarded does not deviate materially from what would be reasonable compensation (see CPLR 5501[c];  Gubala v. Gee, 302 A.D.2d 911, 912, 754 N.Y.S.2d 504;  Strangio v. New York Power Auth. [Appeal No. 2], 275 A.D.2d 945, 713 N.Y.S.2d 613;  cf. Thompson v. Hickey, 283 A.D.2d 939, 940, 724 N.Y.S.2d 241).   Furthermore, it cannot be said that “the preponderance of the evidence in favor of the moving party is so great that the verdict could not have been reached upon any fair interpretation of the evidence” (Dannick v. County of Onondaga, 191 A.D.2d 963, 964, 595 N.Y.S.2d 575).

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from be and the same hereby is unanimously affirmed without costs.

MEMORANDUM: