Shubbuck v. Conners

939 N.E.2d 137, 15 N.Y.3d 871

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be modified, with costs to defendants, by remitting the matter to Supreme Court for further proceedings in accordance with this memorandum and, as so modified, affirmed.

Plaintiff’s own testimony, without more, was insufficient to establish by a reasonable certainty his loss of future wages as a result of the accident. In this case, the W-2 forms and tax returns that plaintiff introduced demonstrated his yearly income post-accident but they were not probative of a reduction in future wages as a result of the accident because they did not compare his pre- and post-accident income nor compare his post-accident income with the income of similarly situated employees in plaintiffs company. Accordingly, there is “no valid line of reasoning and permissible inferences which could possibly lead rational [people] to the conclusion reached by the jury on the basis of the evidence presented at trial” (Cohen v Hallmark Cards, 45 NY2d 493, 499 [1978]).

Chief Judge Lippman and Judges Ciparick, Graffeo, Read, Smith, Pigott and Jones concur in memorandum.

On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.11 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.11), order modified, etc.