Linton v. Gonzales

110 A.D.3d 534, 974 N.Y.S.2d 350

This text of 110 A.D.3d 534 (Linton v. Gonzales) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Linton v. Gonzales, 110 A.D.3d 534, 974 N.Y.S.2d 350 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Paviola A. Soto, J.), entered on or about March 19, 2013, which denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint alleging serious injuries under Insurance Law § 5102 (d), unanimously reversed, on the law, without costs, and the motion granted. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment dismissing the complaint.

Defendants made a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. They submitted the report of their expert orthopedic surgeon who, based on an examination of plaintiff and review of her medical records and MRI film, concluded that her shoulder symptoms were not caused by the subject accident but were secondary to degeneration, chronic impingement, and diabetes (McDuffie v Rodriguez, 72 AD3d 568 [1st Dept 2010]). The surgeon also stated that plaintiffs emergency room records and EMS reports noted no complaints of pain in the shoulder.

In opposition, plaintiff failed to provide any contemporaneous objective evidence of injuries to the left shoulder sufficient to raise an issue as to causation (see Perl v Meher, 18 NY3d 208, 217-218 [2011]; Jean v Kabaya, 63 AD3d 509, 510 [1st Dept 2009]). Reports from her chiropractor and neurologist show only treatment to the spine, and make no mention of any left [535]*535shoulder injuries. Although the affirmation and reports of plaintiffs orthopedic surgeon show range of motion limitations, positive impingement sign, and a tear in the left shoulder, he did not evaluate the left shoulder until about eight months after the accident, which is insufficient to raise an issue as to causation (Rosa v Mejia, 95 AD3d 402, 403-404 [1st Dept 2012]; Soho v Konate, 85 AD3d 522, 523 [1st Dept 2011]).

Given the lack of evidence of causation, plaintiff cannot establish her 90/180-day injury claim (see Barry v Arias, 94 AD3d 499, 500 [1st Dept 2012]). Concur — Acosta, J.P., Saxe, Renwick, DeGrasse and Richter, JJ.

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Related

Perl v. Meher
960 N.E.2d 424 (New York Court of Appeals, 2011)
Jean v. Kabaya
63 A.D.3d 509 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2009)
McDuffie v. Rodriguez
72 A.D.3d 568 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2010)
Soho v. Konate
85 A.D.3d 522 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2011)
Barry v. Arias
94 A.D.3d 499 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2012)
Rosa v. Mejia
95 A.D.3d 402 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2012)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
110 A.D.3d 534, 974 N.Y.S.2d 350, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/linton-v-gonzales-nyappdiv-2013.