Bron v Mount Sinai Hosp. 218 NY Slip Op 32932(U) November 15, 218 Supreme Court, Ne York County Docket Number: 15994/13 Judge: Manuel J. Mdez Cases posted ith a "3" idtifier, i.e., 213 NY Slip Op 31(U), are republished from various Ne York State and local governmt sources, including the Ne York State Unified Court System's ecourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication.
[* FILED: 1] NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/26/218 9:19 AM INDEX NO. 15994/213 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - NEW YORK COUNTY PRESENT: DARRIUS BROWN, -Against- HON. MANUELJ.MENDEZ Justice Plaintiff(s), PART 13 ~-=-- INDEX NO. 15994/ 13 MOTION DATE 11-14-218 MOTION SEQ. N._~~6~- MOTION CAL. NO. ----- MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL and MORGAN CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES, INC., Defdant(s). Cii -z CJ _ < I- :: C> ::::>.., -z o~ I- c...j...j :: :: LL WW LL :::C l o:: :: >o...j LL...J ::::> LL l- o a.. :: < CJ -z j:: ~ The folloing papers, numbered 1 to _7_ ere read on this motion to bifurcate liability trial and consolidate ( or join) damages trial ith case pding Civil Court : Notice of Motion/ Order to Sho Cause - Affidavits - Exhibits... 1-2 PAPERS NUMBERED Ansering Affidavits - Exhibits cross motion 3-4 5-6 Replying Affidavits---------------- 7 Cross-Motion: Yes X No Upon a reading of the foregoing cited papers, it is Ordered that Plaintiff's motion to bifurcate the liability portion of this action and, if the jury returns a verdict for plaintiff on liability, to consolidate (or join) the damages portion of this trial ith the damages portion of an action pding in the Civil Court of the City of Ne York, County of Ne York, bearing the caption DARRIUS BROWN v. CHRIS BENTON and CLEAN VENTURE, INC., is granted. On June 26, 212 plaintiff as caused to sustain physical injuries hile in the course of his employmt h he as electrocuted after oping an electrical box. As a result of the electric shock plaintiff as caused to be hurled backards, striking his body ith a hard surface, sustaining physical injuries. Plaintiff alleges that the accidt occurred because defdants failed to shut don the electric currt and alloed plaintiff to perform ork on a live ire. Plaintiff alleges that as a result of this occurrce plaintiff sustained severe and permant injuries to his head, neck, lumbar spine, left shoulder, left arm and left leg. Plaintiff commced an action against the defdants to recover for violations of the labor la. On October 15, 212 hile plaintiff as stopped at a red light at the intersection of West 151st. Street and Macombs Place, his vehicle as struck in the rear by a vehicle being operated by the defdant Chris Bton. As a result of this second accidt plaintiff sustained injuries to his head, neck, lumbar spine and right shoulder. Plaintiff commced an action against the defdants Chris Bton and 1 of 4
[* FILED: 2] NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/26/218 9:19 AM INDEX NO. 15994/213 Clean Vture, Inc., to recover for the injuries sustained in the motor vehicle accidt. The action as commced in the Supreme Court of the State of Ne York, County of Ne York, under index number 153311/213. The automobile action as administratively transferred to the Civil Court of the City of Ne York, County of Ne York, on September 4, 218 by order of the Honorable Deborah Kaplan ( see Transfer Order, Opp. Exhibit A). Plaintiff's orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Michael Gerling, M.D. states in an affidavit submitted in support of this motion, that it is [his] opinion, ith a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that the trauma [plaintiff] sustained in both accidts contributed to all of [his] symptoms of neck and back injuries and his need for medical treatmt, including major cervical and lumbar disc surgeries, hich [he] performed." He further states in the same affidavit that "... it is not possible for [him] to say hich accidt caused the need for the surgeries related to these conditions. The trauma of either accidt, alone, as, in [his] opinion, ith a reasonable degree of medical certainty, compett and sufficit to cause the injuries and/or exacerbate pre-existing degerative conditions of the discs in plaintiff's neck and back, causing the need for surgery, hich [he] performed in order to ameliorate the damage as much as possible. It is [his] opinion, ith a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that the to accidts proximately caused pain, impairmt, disability, a loss of earning ability and a need for medical treatmt, in the past and in the future. [He] cannot quantify or apportion causal relationship and cannot say to hat particular degree each accidt proximately caused the plaintiff's injuries and damages."( see Affidavit Dr. Gerling, M.D., Exhibit A). Plaintiff moves for an order bifurcating this action in order to try liability only, and if plaintiff is successful in the liability phase of the bifurcated trial, to consolidate ( or join) the damages trial of this case ith the damages trial of the case pding in Civil Court. Plaintiff argues that a joined damages trial ith the case Pding in Civil Court ill prevt inconsistt verdicts, hich is a very important factor arranting joining the damages trial. A joined trial ill also save the parties, their attorneys, their experts and the courts substantial amount of time and expse, and conserve judicial resources. The defdants in this case do not oppose the motion. They join ith plaintiff in requesting bifurcation and joinder. The defdants in the automobile accidt case do oppose the motion. They argue that this court has no subject matter jurisdiction over the Civil Court action. They also argue that the jury ill be confused if it has to decide hich of the defdants is responsible for the damages plaintiff sustained, and that this ill substantially prejudice the auto111obile accidt defdants. According to Uniform Rules for the Ne York State Trial Courts 22.42 (a) " Judges are couraged to order bifurcated trial of the issues of liability and damages in any action for personal injury here it appears that bifurcation may assist in a clarification or simplification of issues and a fair more expeditious resolution of the action." 2 of 4
[* FILED: 3] NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/26/218 9:19 AM INDEX NO. 15994/213 It appears to this court that bifurcation ill assist in a clarification and simplification of the issues to be tried, and ill lead to a more fair and expeditious resolution of the action. The jury in a bifurcated trial ill only have to decide hether or not the defdants in this case are liable to the plaintiff. If the jury finds that the defdants are not liable to the plaintiff, th this case ds and proceeds no further. Only if the jury finds that the defdants are liable to the plaintiff ill a trial on damages, and joinder ith the case pding in the Civil Court, be necessary. Pursuant to CPLR 62 consolidation lies ithin the discretion of the Court, but is gerally favored here there are common questions of la or fact, unless the party opposing the motion demonstrates prejudice of a substantial right. The burd is on the party opposing the motion to demonstrate prejudice. Amcan Holdings, Inc. v. Torys LLP, 32 A.O. 3d 337, 821 N.Y.S. 2d 162 (N.Y.A.D. 1st Dept. 26). CPLR Section 62(b) allos for the supreme court to "remove to itself an action pding in another court and consolidate it or have it tried together ith [an action pding] in the supreme court," (See Curry v. Earll, 29 A.O. 25, 23 N.Y.S. 75 [4th Dept. 1924]; Strauss v. Long Island Sports, Inc. 6 A.O. 2d 51, 41 N.Y.S. 2d 233 [2"d. Dept. 1978]). CPLR Section 325 (d) allos the Supreme Court to remove ithout const an action pding in the supreme court to a court of limited jurisdiction, such as the Civil Court of the City of Ne York. Defdant in the automobile accidt case has not shon that consolidation of the damages trial of these cases ould prejudice a substantial right. The extt of the injuries sustained are common questions of fact of both cases. Removing this case to the Civil Court and joining it ith that action for a damages trial does not prejudice the right of any party, promotes judicial economy and avoids inconsistt results. Plaintiff sustained injuries in both accidts that his orthopedic surgeon says contributed to his condition. All of his damages arise from both incidts. A revie of the record indicates that judicial economy ould be served by joining these actions for a damages trial. It ould avoid impaneling separate juries, having plaintiff produce experts for multiple trials and avoid inconsistt results. Consolidation is favored by the courts in serving the interests of justice and judicial economy( Flaherty v. RCP Assocs., 28 A.O. 2d 496 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dep't 1994), to avoid inconsistt verdicts and to avoid prejudicing a substantial right of any of the parties in these actions ( see Federal Insurance Company v. Arthur Anders & Co., 75 N.Y.2d 366, 553 N.Y.S.2d 291, 552 N.E.2d 87 [199); Winkelman v. Excelsior Insurance Co., 85 N.Y.2d 577, 626 N.Y.S.2d 994, 65 N.E.2d 841 [1995)). Accordingly, It is ORDERED that the motion to bifurcate this action is granted, and it is further 3 of 4 ORDERED, that the trial of this action is bifurcated and the parties shall try the
[* FILED: 4] NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/26/218 9:19 AM INDEX NO. 15994/213 liability portion of this action in the Supreme Court of the State of Ne York, County of Ne York, and it is further ORDERED that in the evt the jury returns a verdict finding the defdants in this action liable to plaintiff, this action shall be removed to the Civil Court of the City of Ne York, County of Ne York, to join ith the action no pding there Titled: DARRIUS BROWN v. CHRIS BENTON and CLEAN VENTURE, INC., for a joined damages trial, and it is further ORDERED that in the evt the jury returns a verdict finding the defdants in this action liable to plaintiff, plaintiff is directed to serve a certified copy of this order ith notice of try upon the clerk of the Court, ho shall, upon such service and the paymt of any fees, transfer to the Civil Court City of Ne York, County of Ne York all the papers heretofore filed in this action to be joined for a damages trial ith the action no pding in the Civil Court City of Ne York County of Ne York, titled DARRIUS BROWN v. CHRIS BENTON and CLEAN VENTURE, INC., and it is further ORDERED that in the evt the jury returns a verdict finding defdants in this action liable to plaintiff, plaintiff shall serve a copy of this order ith notice of try on the County Clerk (Room 141 B) and the Clerk of the Trial Support Office ho is located in the Geral Clerk's Office ( Room 119), ho shall mark their records to reflect the bifurcation of the trial in this action pding in the Supreme Court and the joinder of the damages trial ith the action pding in the Civil Court. ENTER: MUEL J. M~~!JEZ \\ij J.s.c. Dated: November 15, 218 MAN'UEL J. MENDEZ J.S.C. Check one: FINAL DISPOSITION X Check if appropriate: D DO NOT POST NON-FINAL DISPOSITION D REFERENCE 4 of 4