Gibbs v. United States

886 F. Supp. 239, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6735, 1995 WL 307622
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedMay 15, 1995
DocketNo. 94-CV-0203
StatusPublished

This text of 886 F. Supp. 239 (Gibbs v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gibbs v. United States, 886 F. Supp. 239, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6735, 1995 WL 307622 (N.D.N.Y. 1995).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER

McAVOY, CMef Judge.

I. Background:

TMs action seeMng damages for personal injuries under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 2671 et seq., came before the Court for a bench trial on April 3, 1995. Plaintiffs cause of action stems from the October 27, 1990 collision wMch occurred at Ticonderoga, New York, between an automobile owned by the United States Postal Service and operated by Ken Olcott, an employee of same, and plaintiff Darnel W. Gibbs who was riding his bicycle. The Court now makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law as a result of the evidence at trial.

II. Findings of Fact:

1) . On October 27, 1990, Ken Olcott was an employee of the Umted States Post Office and was stationed.at the Umted States Post Office in Ticonderoga, New York. Mr. Olcott was driving a postal vehicle and delivering mail m Ticonderoga on that day.

2) . Montcalm street in Ticonderoga is a two lane, east-west public street with one lane designated for travel in each direction. At approximately 11:00 a.m. Mr. Olcott was parked facing west on the north side of Montcalm street between Lake George Avenue to the west and Champlain Avenue to east.

3) . On the south side of Montcalm, directly opposite Olcott’s parking spot, was an alley between two buildings. The alley intersected the south side of Montcalm slightly [240]*240west of its center point between Lake George and Champlain Avenues. The alley afforded passage from Montcalm to Algonkin Street, the next street south.

4) . At this time a large truck was parked on the south side of Montcalm just west of its junction with the alley, in an area designated for vehicle parking between the eastbound traffic lane of Montcalm and the sidewalk. The effect of the truck’s positioning was such that the driver of a vehicle entering the alley could not see pedestrians on the southern sidewalk of Montcalm as they approached the alley from west to east. Nor could pedestrians travelling east on Montcalm toward the alley see any vehicle entering the alley from Montcalm until that vehicle had crossed the sidewalk in front of the parked truck.

5) . Upon resuming his vehicle sometime before noon, Olcott made a left hand turn directly across both lanes of Montcalm seeking to pass through the alley from Montcalm to Algonkin to continue his mail route.

6) . As Olcott entered the alley plaintiff Daniel W. Gibbs, then ten years old, was travelling on his bicycle on the southern sidewalk of Montcalm approaching the alley from east to west. By his own testimony Gibbs was “coasting,” not pedalling his bicycle, intending to cross over the alley’s opening and continue west. Plaintiff could not estimate how fast he was travelling as he approached the alley.

7) . Olcott’s vehicle which passed in front of the parked truck as it crossed the sidewalk to enter the alley suddenly appeared in front of plaintiff as he began to cross the alley. Plaintiffs bicycle collided with the right rear of Olcott’s vehicle.

8) . Plaintiffs testimony established that he tried to look around the truck but could not and that he never saw Olcott’s vehicle prior to its appearance in front of him. Plaintiff also testified that he never considered getting off and walking the bicycle. Upon cross-examination plaintiff testified that as he approached the front of the truck and the alley opening he looked neither left nor right although he had seen vehicles in the alley before. Plaintiff further testified that he had no time to brake or change direction when the postal vehicle appeared in front of him.

9) . Oleott’s testimony established that as he entered the alley his view of the sidewalk was blocked by the truck so that he could not see approaching pedestrians. Mr. Olcott allowed that by looking under the truck he could have seen pedestrians approaching the alley on the far side of the truck but he did not do so. Mr. Olcott also testified that from the point when he begun the left hand turn until his entry into the alley he never applied the brakes or removed his foot from the accelerator, but that his vehicle at all times was travelling slowly. He approximated his speed at no greater than three miles per hour. Mr. Olcott never looked to the right or sounded his horn as he crossed over the sidewalk towards the alley opening. Finally, Mr. Olcott testified that he never saw the plaintiff until after hearing the collision at the right rear of the postal vehicle.

10) . Plaintiff testified that after the collision he was in severe pain from his chin and mouth. Plaintiff’s teeth were loose in his mouth and he spat the pieces onto the ground. Plaintiff, assisted by Mr. Olcott, walked to a nearby store. Plaintiffs parents arrived shortly thereafter and he was removed to a local hospital where he received stitches in his chin. He later saw that his front top and bottom teeth were loose and broken. It was ultimately determined that five of plaintiffs teeth were fractured. Plaintiff testified to experiencing “lots” of pain in his face and mouth for weeks after the accident and could eat only liquids for the following month and a half. Dr. Brennan, whose deposition was introduced at trial, later performed root canals and capped plaintiffs teeth. Plaintiff testified that to this day he cannot eat solid foods such as apples or corn on the cob. The Court observed a sizable red scar on plaintiffs chin.

11) . Plaintiffs mother testified, and plaintiff confirmed, that for a year afterward plaintiffs lip “drooped” which led to plaintiffs drooling and his inability to eat and drink properly. Plaintiff consulted a plastic surgeon, Dr. William C. Brender, who performed surgery to minimize the scarring and “untangle” a nerve which was disturbed by [241]*241the initial stitching of plaintiffs chin laceration. Brender’s surgery was successful in repairing the nerve and removing the droop from plaintiffs lip although Brender’s deposition indicates that plaintiff retains some palsy in his lip. Dr. Brender performed a second, dermabrasive procedure to minimize the scarring with plaintiff under general anesthesia. Dr. Brender also maintains an ongoing course of therapy in an attempt to minimize plaintiffs scarring. The therapy consists of injections of kenalog directly into the suture line on plaintiffs chin. Plaintiff has endured this treatment three times to date and at least one more is scheduled. Both plaintiffs mother and Dr. Brender’s testimony indicates that this treatment is very painful. Finally, Dr. Brender’s deposition indicates his belief that while plaintiffs scarring and palsy will continue to improve somewhat, they will never be entirely removed.

12). Plaintiff also currently wears braces and has received orthodontic treatment from Dr. David J. Angus, D.M.D., and continues to receive monthly orthodontic treatment from Dr. William J. Brennan. Plaintiffs mother testified that to her knowledge plaintiff had no problems with his teeth prior to the accident. Dr. Angus in his videotaped deposition gave the opinion that plaintiff was functioning fine without orthodontics prior to the accident in question. The Court has considered the government’s objection to the hypothetical which preceded Dr. Angus’ answer in this regard.

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Bluebook (online)
886 F. Supp. 239, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6735, 1995 WL 307622, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gibbs-v-united-states-nynd-1995.