BROWN v. CALISI (2024)

DECISION & ORDER

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Dutchess County (Michael G. Hayes, J.), dated January 20, 2023.  The order granted the motion of the defendants Domenic Calisi and Donatella Calisi for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them on the ground that the plaintiff did not sustain a serious injury within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5102(d) as a result of the subject accident.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

The plaintiff commenced this action to recover damages for personal injuries that she allegedly sustained in a motor vehicle accident.  The defendants Domenic Calisi and Donatella Calisi (hereinafter together the defendants) moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them on the ground that the plaintiff did not sustain a serious injury within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5102(d) as a result of the subject accident.  In an order dated January 20, 2023, the Supreme Court granted the motion.  The plaintiff appeals.

The defendants met their prima facie burden of showing that the plaintiff did not sustain a serious injury within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5102(d) as a result of the accident (see Toure v. Avis Rent A Car Sys., 98 N.Y.2d 345, 746 N.Y.S.2d 865, 774 N.E.2d 1197;  Gaddy v. Eyler, 79 N.Y.2d 955, 956–957, 582 N.Y.S.2d 990, 591 N.E.2d 1176).  The defendants submitted competent medical evidence establishing, prima facie, that the alleged injuries to the plaintiff's left shoulder and lumbar region of her spine did not constitute serious injuries under either the permanent consequential limitation of use or significant limitation of use categories of Insurance Law § 5102(d) (see Alford v. Morency, 225 A.D.3d 828, 829, 208 N.Y.S.3d 241;  Staff v. Yshua, 59 A.D.3d 614, 874 N.Y.S.2d 180).  Furthermore, the defendants demonstrated, prima facie, that the plaintiff did not sustain a serious injury under the 90/180–day category of Insurance Law § 5102(d) (see Alford v. Morency, 225 A.D.3d at 829, 208 N.Y.S.3d 241;  Wettstein v. Tucker, 178 A.D.3d 1121, 112 N.Y.S.3d 557).  In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see Alford v. Morency, 225 A.D.3d at 829, 208 N.Y.S.3d 241;  Wettstein v. Tucker, 178 A.D.3d at 1121, 112 N.Y.S.3d 557).

Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them.

BARROS, J.P., MALTESE, WOOTEN and LOVE, JJ., concur.