LOGAN v. CBT (2018)

DECISION & ORDER

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the defendants CBT Para Transit, Inc., and Ramon Beato appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Genine D. Edwards, J.), dated May 12, 2017.  The order denied the motion of those defendants for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all cross claims insofar as asserted against them.

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

On the afternoon of December 11, 2013, the plaintiff was a passenger in an Access–A–Ride van owned by the defendant CBT Para Transit, Inc. (hereinafter CBT), and operated by the defendant Ramon Beato (hereinafter together the CBT defendants).  The CBT vehicle came into contact with a vehicle owned by the defendant Apex Express, Inc. (hereinafter Apex), and operated by the defendant “John Doe” at or near the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 51st Street in Manhattan.  The plaintiff commenced this personal injury action against the defendants.  The CBT defendants moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all cross claims insofar as asserted against them.  The Supreme Court denied the motion.  The CBT defendants appeal.

The CBT defendants established, prima facie, that the operator of the Apex vehicle was solely at fault in the happening of the accident.  Among other things, they submitted an affidavit of Beato, who stated that the CBT vehicle was stopped in heavy traffic when the Apex vehicle was operated in reverse and struck the CBT vehicle (see Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1211[a];  Bukharetsky v. Court St. Off. Supplies, Inc., 82 A.D.3d 812, 813, 918 N.Y.S.2d 367;  Sanabria v. Paduch, 61 A.D.3d 839, 876 N.Y.S.2d 874;  Pragay v. Lavado, 45 A.D.3d 828, 845 N.Y.S.2d 751;  Elefantis v. P.O.P. Displays, Inc., 44 A.D.3d 608, 843 N.Y.S.2d 359;  Ortiz v. Calavera, 26 A.D.3d 319, 810 N.Y.S.2d 479;  Pressner v. Serrano, 260 A.D.2d 458, 459, 688 N.Y.S.2d 227).  In opposition, however, Apex and John Doe submitted the affidavit of Robert Guarino, who stated that he was the driver of the Apex vehicle at the time of the accident.  Guarino's affidavit raised triable issues of fact as to how the accident occurred and whether Beato was at fault in the happening of the accident (see generally Pilgrim v. Vishwanathan, 151 A.D.3d 769, 771, 56 N.Y.S.3d 268;  Pinchevsky v. Lasher, 125 A.D.3d 624, 999 N.Y.S.2d 895;  Lisetskiy v. Weiss, 123 A.D.3d 775, 776, 999 N.Y.S.2d 83;  Elefantis v. P.O.P. Displays, Inc., 44 A.D.3d at 608, 843 N.Y.S.2d 359).  Guarino averred that the Apex vehicle was stopped at the time of the accident and that any contact between the Apex vehicle and the CBT vehicle was caused by Beato when he attempted to maneuver the CBT vehicle around the stopped Apex vehicle.  Contrary to the CBT defendants' contention, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in disregarding the mistake or irregularity in Guarino's out-of-state affidavit with respect to the venue of the affidavit (see CPLR 2001;  cf. Midfirst Bank v. Agho, 121 A.D.3d 343, 351, 991 N.Y.S.2d 623).

Accordingly, we agree with the Supreme Court's determination to deny the CBT defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all cross claims insofar as asserted against them.

MASTRO, J.P., CHAMBERS, SGROI and MALTESE, JJ., concur.