ANSAR v. (and related actions). (2001)

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the plaintiffs appeal, as limited by their brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Rappaport, J.), dated September 25, 2000, as denied their cross motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with one bill of costs payable to the respondents appearing separately and filing separate briefs.

While standing behind the plaintiff Altaf Chaudhary's taxicab, which he had stopped on a blind curve in the left lane of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to change a flat tire, the plaintiffs were struck by a vehicle owned by the defendant ELRAC, Inc., d/b/a Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and operated by the defendant John E. Mandel.   The plaintiffs were then struck again by Mandel's vehicle when it was struck from behind by a vehicle operated by the defendant Aaron Goldring and owned by the defendant Moshe Hecht.

Contrary to the plaintiffs' contention, the Supreme Court properly denied their motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability.   Triable issues of fact exist as to whether the defendant drivers were negligent and whether the plaintiffs were free from negligence (see, Rios v. Nicoletta, 119 A.D.2d 562, 500 N.Y.S.2d 730;  see also, Perla v. New York Daily News, 123 A.D.2d 349, 350, 506 N.Y.S.2d 361).