Fernandez v Duran

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Fernandez v Duran 2011 NY Slip Op 32836(U) October 7, 2011 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: 106167/2010 Judge: George J. Silver Republished from New York State Unified Court System's E-Courts Service. Search E-Courts (http://www.nycourts.gov/ecourts) for any additional information on this case. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. [* 1] 4NEDON 10114~2011 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - NEW YORK COUNTY PRESENT: Hon. Georqe J. Silver -, Justice ~ PART 22 ~ RElNA FERNANDEZ 10616712010 INDEX NO. vs. MOTION DATE SALVADOR DURAN and MAGALY DURAN MOTION SEQ. NO. 001 , , MOTION CAL. NO. The following papers, numbered 1 to 3 were read on this motion tolfor S U M M A R Y JUDGMENT- Notice of MotionlOrder to Show Cause - Affidavits- Exhibits F\ Answering Affidavits - Exhibits Replying Affidavits, Cross Motion 3 Upon the foregoing papers, it i ordered that this motion s NEW YORK 1 )e h i d ants S a1vado r aiid Mag a 1y I Iura11 (eo11ect i vc I y r>e G w ? ?fi%b!$~u%~ik% CPLR $32 12 li)r an order graritiiig suiniiiary judgiiieiit and dismissing Plaintill Rcina Fcmandez s ( Plaintift ) complaint 011 the grounds that Plaintiff did not sustain an injury that :lualifics as scrious as deliried by New Yor-k Insurance I,aw $5 102(d). r lai~itifl alle~cs his in Vcriiied Hill ol' Partich-s that, as a restill or thc accident, shc sustaincd n serious injury including right knee posteronicdial mciiiscal tear with surgery, C6-C7 and 1,4-L5 disc bulges, -ight niiklc ligament tears, partial tear of right wrist ligament, partial tear of right haiid tcndon, :ight shoulder partial rotator culT tear and lumbar radiculopnthy. Ilndcr New Yor-k Insurance !,aw $ S 102(d), a serious injuiy is clciined as a pcr-sonal injury which rcsults in death; ~ismcmbermcnt; sigiiificanl disiiguremcnt; a fracture; loss ol a fctus; pemiancnt l o s s of iisc of a 7ody organ, menibcr, fuunclion or system; perniancnt consequcnlial limitation 01. iisc of a body xgan or memhcr; sigiiitycant limilation of use o1 a body function or system; or a ~nedically ktermiiied iii,juiy or impair-rnent of a ion-pcrinaiieiit naturc which prcvcnts the injured person Yoin peri oriiiing substniilially a1 I of tlic inalerial acts which constitute such person s usual aiid :uslornary daily activities for not less than ninety days during the ~ i i hundred eighty clays e mmcdintely following tlic occ1irreiicc of the injury or impairment. [A] dcl t.ndant can establish that I a ] plaintifrs iii-juries arc iiot serious within h c mcaning )l TrisuranceLaw $ 5 103 (d) by submitting tlic aftidavits or afthmations of medical experts who :saiiiined the plaintill. and concliicie that no ol7jective riicdical iindings siipport tlic plain[ii t s laim ( ( . h o , s , s ~ i z m 7 if WriLqh/, AD2d 79, 83-84 1 1 st T k p l 20001). Ifthis initial bur-chi j s meL, 268 the burdcn S h i h to tlic plaintiff to COMC forward with evidencc 10 overco~iic dcfciidant s the iibiiiissioiis by demonstrating ;I triablc issuc ol hct that a scrious injury was sustained within the neaning of the Insiu-ance 1,aw (id at 84). I hcPliaintill is required to prcseni noncoiiclI.isory spci-t evidcncc suilicicnt to support a tinding not only that the allcgcd iiijury is serious within i e meaning ol $ S I02(d), but also that the iri-juiywas caiisally relakd to the accident ( Vu/cn/iri1 omillii, 59 AD3d 184 [lst Dcpt 2004,l). I. Check one: ...................................................... 2. Check if appropriate:..................... 3. Check if approprlate: ...................................... NON-FINAL DISPOSITION $1 GRANTED DENIED L 1 GRANTED IN PART k.-1SETTLE ORDER 1 SUBMITORDER OTHER [* 2] In s~ipport this motion, lkfcudaiits submit Plainti ITS treating records lYom Dr. Urial1 ol' 1 Idiel. lh.I lal'tcl trcatcd l)laiii~ill.oii ai-ouricl Octohcr 24, 3007 l'or pain managcmcnt or regmliiig woikrelatrd iii.jLiries. JHc slatcs that Plaintill' was involved in ;i worli-relatcd xcident 011 June 6, 2005 and dcvelopccl scvci'c neck and lower back pniii. L)r. I lafjcl rcports that Plaiiitifl' goes to physical 11ierapy oiicc ; week. Radiologic cvaluatioii and EMGs wcrc pcrforiiicd on i Dcccnihcr 16, 2005 and li-)iiiicl 1 S / S 1 radiculopalhy. An MRI llic lunihar spine Ibmd iiiild degenerative changes at L3-L4 and ;in s-ray of the lumbar spine revealed degeiierativc disc disease at 1 ,.?-I A. A n x-ray of the ccrvical spine revealed 111jlddiscogcnic disease from c'4 tli~~ough and an x-ray of the leli shoulder showed mild dogcncrativc cliangcs (of the C7 acroiii i oc 1av i c ii 1 ;ir j o i t i t . 1Tp o t i exam iiiation, Ilr , I Iaftc I lbiind 1i n i it at i o i i s i 11 I' I ai i i ti fi-' s I 11 111ha r a d cervical spiiic range ol'iiiotion and his impressions wcre liiiiibar m d cervical spine spriiiiis a d lumbar rxliculopatliy. On December 5 , 2007, Ih.I laficl gave thc Plail-itiIt'six trigger point inject i oils. Defkiidants also submit the cxpcit rcport of l l r . Douglas Onis. Llr. [Inis cxmiincd using Plaintiff (311 Novcinbcr- 23, 201 0. I le conducted raiige of~iioti~)ii a goniometer and h i i d no limitations in I'laintiff s motion for her cervical. spine, right shouldci-, riglit wrist, riglit kncc, right ankle, Iuiiihar spine aiid riglit hip. Dr. lJiiis coiicludcd that Plaintiff sustained contusions 01' the right wrist, right knee, right ankle and right hip as well as ccrvical and Iiimbar sprains/strains. IJc iiotcs that she is post-surgery for her riglit kncc and tias mild residuals related t o h e surgery, 15, but no fuiictioiial limitation. 011I~cbrmiy 201 1, Dr. Unis aiiierids his reporl after reviewing additional records. Hc statcs thal Plaiiiti1'l~.indcrwcntni-throscopy of thc left wrist with dcbridcmcnt of a partially torn scapholunate ligament and triangular lil?rocartilage complex on April 14, 21108. Dr. IJnis also iiotes that on April 6, 2009, Plaintiff undcrwcnt a rclcasc of thc a- I pulley for a trigger finger of her left middle finger. Dr. Uiiis concludes that his opinions in his November 23, 201 0 rcport rcmain thc same arid that any evidence ol'riglit shoulder iiiipingeiiieiit thal he lound was unrclatcd to the accident and was dcgcncrative in naturc. A cldit i on al I y , I1cfc1idaiit s su bni i t 1'1 ai ii ti il's depo si t ioii t e s limony . P1aiiit i 11 sllr I ed that she was involved in ;i work-related uccident on Scptcmbcr- 29, 2004, whcrciii slic was iri.jurccl while pushing a paticnt in a whcclchair. As a resull ofthis accident, Plaintiff stated that she had prohlciiis with her righl knee, riglit ankle, left hand, right hip aiid lower back. Due lo this accidcnt, Plaintiff filcd for workcrs' compensation aiid disability. Plaintiff also testified that SIIC was in-jured oii .lune I;, 2005 while assisting a patient usc tlic bathroom at work. She stated that as a result of this incident, she hurt her neck mid back. Plaintiffs injuries wcre such thal she was still treating wlicii she was involved in November 23, 2009 motor vehicle accident tliat is thc basis lbr this action. I'laintiff identilied Ihe ai+casof iii.jury she was k i n g trcatcd for-prior to this acciclciit as hcr neck, back, left Iiancl, left wrist and whole right side including her shoulder. Defendants liirtlier submit October 38, 2009 workcr-'s conipciisatioii r c m r d s frc)iii I)r. Orsuvillc (Mxitu that indicate that Plaintiff was considered complclcly disabled (a moiih prior to the present accident) due to injuries sustained in a April 20, 2005 accident. I>efcnclaiits Iiavc inct their prinicr,fiicie b m k n arid further liavc shown that Plaintiff's irijurics as lo her back, right linee, neck, riglit ankle and right shouldcr inay bc the result 01. preexisting injuries (,see Arroyo it Mor.ri.r, 85 A.D.3d 679, 201 1 WL 3567961 llst Dept 201 I]: ~t.,vic ,/o,s&, 2006 N Y slil, C J ~ 1 2 9 ) . 1' ~ I n order lo rebut dcfcndant's p-inirr,ftrcic cnsc, 171aiiitifI'inust xuhrnit ohjcctivc iiicclical evidence cstabljsliing that ilie claiincd injuries wcre ca~ised the accident, and "provide hy objective evidcncc of the cstciit or degree ol'the alleged physical limitatioiis resulting I-i.oln thc Index No.: 106 I67/20 IO Page 2 of 5 [* 3] In opposition to I>efcndant's motion, I'laintiffsubriiits tlio expert I-cports o l l h . Ixric .Iac o bsoii, I 1r, 01.s Iv i I I c C ii b ;It II and 11 'I '11 omis KO1b . A ddi 1i ona 1 1y, P 1ai 11I i ff sii h i i t s I110 i r. certified medical records o f Dr. Eric Jacobson and Dr. David Capiola, o f Tri-State PMR, and ttic uncerlitkd records from the cnicrgcncy departinciit at New York Presbyterian Hospital. It i s we1 I settled that a plaintiff muy not rcly upon Lmsworii medical evidcricc io clel'cat a del'endant's sunimary judgmcnl niotion as such, thc New York Prcsbytcrian Hospital records will not be considered (.SLY> Miglicrccio 1' M i ~ i / k i 56 AD3d 393, 394 [ I st Dept 2008]: Dr.Jcsz/s 11 Pm/liiw),I; 1 /, AD3d 605, 607 [ I st Dept 2009] [unsworn cincrgcncy roum records and othcr reports had 110 probative value]). . . Dr. Jacobson first lrcatcci Plaintiff on Novcmbcr 25, 2009. At (hat time, he concluctcd rangc of motion using a gonioineler and found limitations in motioii for Plaintiffs right slioiildcr, righl lince, lumbar spinc and right ankle. I IC rcfei-red Plaintiff lor physical therapy and MRIs of thc right wrist and Iiniicl, right shouldcr, right Icncc, ccrvical and lum!mr spinc and right anklc. Dr. .lacobson reports that thc righl anklc MRI revealed a tear ol'the antcrior a d posterior lalot?bular ligaments aiid tlie c,alcanco-libular liganicnl. The right wrist MI4 tilii~ showcd a partial tear of the scapho-lunate ligamenl and flexor tenosynovitis. Dr. .lacobson repoi-tcd that the right hand M1iI rcvealed a partial tear of the flexor tendon at the second metacarpoplialangc~il joint, I-le stated that the right shoulder M I i l showed a partial rotator cuff tcar and that the right kiicc MRT revealed a tear ol'tlic posterior horn of the medial mci~isciis, partial tear o f antcrior crnciatc I i game I1t , med i a I eo I I ilt era 1 I i g mi e17 and 1atera I cc)I I aleral 1i gam cn t . Ih. .3coh sC)II re port cd that t I ttic cervical spine Mlil revealed a Ch-C7 disc buglc and the luiiibar spine Mlil showed ;i 1,4-1,5 disc bulge. Dr. .lacobson stated that Plaintiff uiiclerweiit right lciiee siirgcry un March 23, 201 0. I IC also noted thal she was treated with trigger finger iri]cctions arid was givcii ail Achillcs tendon sheath injectioii into her right ankle when she did not respond to physical ~herapy.1)r. Jwobson 3150 coiiductcd EMCiINCS studies on May 15, 2010 and found right CS, ('6 and C7 radiculopathy. I IC d s o conducled EMWNCV studies on June 10, 20 IO, which rcvcalcd lumbaradiculopathy. I h . Jr.icotison most recently cxamined Plaintifl'on May I 1 , 201 1. At tliai time, tic conducted range 01' motion tcsting and found limitations in Plaintiff's right shoulder, right kncc, lumbar spine, ccrvical spine, and right ankle. 13r. Jacobson addressed Plaintill's prior work related xcidcnts of April 20, 2005 illid June 0, 2005. I le reported that the April 2005 iricidciit irivolvcd PlaintilYs lcft wrist mtl Iiniid, while lhc .luiie 2005 involved back and ncck pain. Ilr. Jncohson stated that Plriintift's neck pain resolvcd altcr May 2006 m d that lumbar MRIs taken in November 3005 rcvculed mild deg2nerative changes at tlie L3-L4 levels with no cvidcricc ol'disc Iicrniatioii. l;ui-tlier7thc April 2006 cervical Mlil tilms sliowed mild spondyosis. Dr. Jacobson strcssud that thcsc rc.c;~~I(s were vaslly different than thc firidings in thc lumhar and ccrvical Mlils laken in I:c!mary 201 0. 1 I C Tndox No. : I 06 167/2010 I%gc 3 01' 5 [* 4] concluded tliat the N o v e m l x r 2009 accidciit cn~ised new iiijiirics to PI:iiiitiff s luiiilxrr aiid cci-vic;~I spine :is well ;IS injuries to Iicr riglit sliodder, right wrist, riglit krice and right aiiklc ~ Morcovcr, nr. .lacobson dircctly rcsponded to Dr. Unis s rcporl and reported that p1iotogrclpIis liom I laiiiti U s right knee surgery oti M:ircIi 23, 20 10 sliowcci traumatic iiijwics, tiot dcgeneralivc fraying. 111.. .Iacobson also c1isagrt.e with Dr. IJnis s findings regarding I lnintiff s right shoiilclcr, stLiting that these injuries wcrc cnusccl by the accident 3s opposed to being dcgciiurative. Dr. . l a ~ o h ~also stales 1ha1 Plaintil f s injuries tu her right ~11~7iilder, oi~ right I.;nce and riglit anlilc wcrc cit~iscd thc accident and arc uiirclatcd to any dcgciicrntioii. by T3r. C ahatu cxiiiiiincd I laintifl aftcr Iicr April 2005 work rclatcd iiljury. He statcd tliat based oii his csaminatiori and x-rays, PhiiitifT was diagnoscd wilh a leIi wrist slmiri/strain, lclt 1 cnlpoiiietacarl,31 joint stixiti/spriiiii rind lcft c:irpal tuiiiiel syndrome. On February 2, 2007, I~laintiI~-~iiiidci-weiitwrist c ;ii-pd Timuel release surgery. DI-. Clabnt u liirtlicr treated Plnintii f Icl t after her second work relatcd injury in .Iunc 2005. His diagnosis was lcfl sided back p i l i will1 no radiatioii and negativc straight leg raising. I l r . Cabatu ftii-ther reportcd that the .Ime 3005 incidcnt rcsulted in a hack sprain with ;I period of lcft sidcd neck pain, which all resolvcd. Dr. Kolb preparcd Plnintift s MRI reporls of her right knee, cervical a n c l luriibar spine, right wrist and right hand. I I C rcportcd that PlaintilZ had sustaincd a IL4-LS disc bulgc, C6-C7 disc bulge, right kiicc tear oi tlie posterior horii of the medial meniscus, Im-tial tear of tlic anterior cruciate and lateral collatcral ligaments, right shouldcr partial rotator cul f tcar, rjglit hund partial tcar n f the llexor tcndnn at the second mctacarpophalangeal joiiit and riglit wrist partial tcar o f the scapho-lunalc ligainent. Dr. Kolb Iurthcr statcd that these injurics wcre n resull of the 2000 motor vcliicle accident and were not degenerativc or prccxisting. Dr. 1,ichy ~ q x i r e d medical the r e p ~ intctprcting Plaintifrs right ankle MRT iilms. I IC stated that Plaintiff sustained a right t ankle tear o f the anterior and posterior talo-iibular ligaments and calcaneo-iibular ligaments ;is a result of thc 2003 motor vehicle accident. 1 0 yualify uiidcr the conseqiicntial or signilicant injury definition, the injury must be inore Ilian minor or slight (G[rdu)) fiyli<i.,79 NY2d 955 I 1992J). The Court of Appeals has hclcl 17 that a ininor, slight or mild liinitrition of usc is considered insigniijcant within the meaning ol tlie Tiisurancc Law ( / , i c m ;1,. Elliol, 57 NY2d 230, 455 NYS2d 570 1 1 9821). Evidence of rxngc o l motion limitations, especially whcn couplcd with positive MI<I arid cleclromyograiri test resdts, is suI ficicnl to deicat summaryjiid~ment I:nlon 1 BtmcrhcJ,65 A113d 969, 886 .NYS2d 376 (SCJC 1.1 st Dept 2009J; Wcrc!fiwd v Griiz, 35 AD3d 258, 826 NYS2d 57 [2006];Hrown v Achy, 9 A1)3d 30, 776 NYS2d 56 120041). Givcii tlic riicdical reports based ciii physical exaniiiiatioiis and PlainliN s MRT results, PlaintilLhas successfully raisccl a cluestion offact :is to whethcr she has s ii s t ;i i n ccl a seri o 11s i rij ury . With rcspcct to Plaintiff s claim under the 90/1 80 category oI Tnsurancc I,aw 102(cl), I- I aiiit i Ills i I ij uri e s m i i st res t r i c t tier lio m pc r fo 1-1ii ir I g s ~ isban t i a I I y a I I o 1 her cia i I y activities to ;I t great extent ratlicr ihan s n i i ~ e sljglit cirrtnilment (LYmho11. ATZ, Y w Wqbj Xcrdio Tm-i .~1.s.s 17, / P ~ L *, . 700 NYS2cl 179 [ I 9991; T l i ~ / i i l ) . ~ oA~ h m i , 788 NYS2d 48 1.1 st Dept 20051; H L ~ / ~ I / R / ~ J Z 11. / h 11. l(Odl.ig74i:Z, 63 A.D.3d 520 11sl Dept 20091). I laintift s Veriiid Bill of Particulars states tliat die was contined to bed lbr thrcc days foll(-)wirigthe accident tlicii Ibr two wcclts following riglit knee surgery oil March 23, 201 0. The Verified Hill 01 J)articulm fiii-tlicr states that Plaiiitil-TIicls been confined to home h n i tlic datc o f tlic accidenl to the prcsent. 1)el t.ntl;ints nr-gtie that tlic I laiiitill s prior disatility claims precliidc her- claiins undt.~. 9O/l 80 categoiy. 1 lowever, Dr. Jacobson s report stntes t h a t iis a result ol thc 2009 motor vehicle acciclciit, PliiiiitiKs clctivitics were significantly restricted iiiclucliiig the lict that slic lias a limp and lias to use ;I cane to I Indcx No.: 106 I67/20 I O Page 4 01. s I [* 5] ambulate, ~1i;ilshe cannot lili anything greater than 15 pounds, tlial she ciinnot walk, rub, exercise, visil liei. I'dmily o r lake hcr soli to school. 'I'liis cvidcncc is sul'licienl to raise a qiicsiion 01' I k l ;is lo wliclhcl- I)lainii 1 ' has sustaiiicd ;I serious iiiJury undor- tlic 90/ 1 80 cakgory. 1 dl parlies, within 3 0 clays. This constitutes thc cl~.cision order ol'ilic ('ourt. and FILE QCT 1 2 2011 Dated: QCT 0 7 ilOf1 New York, New York Index No. : 106 1 67/20 10 Page S of 5

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