Case Information
*1 Wasserman v City of New York
2025 NY Slip Op 30852(U) March 17, 2025 Supreme Court, Kings County Docket Number: Index No. 511025/2018 Judge: Ingrid Joseph Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New
York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. *2 At an IAS Tenn, Part 83, of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, held in and for the County of Kings, at the Courthouse, at 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, New York, on the .[J-tf!Kay of March, 2025.
PRESENT: HON. INGRID JOSEPH,
Justice.
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MICHELLE w ASSERMAN, as Administrator of the Estate of SALVA TORE BARBELLA, Deceased,
DECISION AND ORDER
Plaintiff, -against- Index No. 511025/2018 Mot. Seq.Nos.4-6
THE CITY OF NEW YORK, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
and MILL BASIN BRIDGE CONSTRUCTORS, LLC,
Defendants.
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The following e-filed papers read herein: NYSCEF ·Doc Nos.: Notice of Motion, Affidavits (Affirmations) Annexed. ___ _ 100-127; 137-145; 158-187 Opposing Affidavits (Affirmations) _________ _
146-157; 192-199 Affidavits/ Affirmations in Reply _________ _ _ 188; 201-203; 204-209
In this action to recover damages for personal injuries sustained in a single-car accident with a stationary object, plaintiff Michelle Wasserman, as the administrator of the estate of Salvatore Barbella, deceased ("plaintiff'), moves ( or cross-moves, as applicable), and defendants the City of New York ("City"), the City of New York sued herein as Department of Transportation ("NYCDOT"), and Mill Basin Bridge Constructors, LLC ("MBC" and collectively with City and NYCDOT, "defendants") jointly move for the following relief: [2]
In Seq. No. 4, plaintiff moves for: (1) an order, pursuant to CPLR 3212, granting her partial summary judgment on the issue of liability against all defendants; and (2) leave, pursuant [1] The caption, as set forth herein, reflects the recent amendment pursuant to the so-ordered Stipulation to Amend Caption, dated October 11, 2024 (Fisher, J.), to reflect the intervening passing of original plaintiff Salvatore Barbella from unrelated causes in December 2023 at the age of 48. [2] To maintain continuity of discussion, the Court rearranged the order of motions/cross-motion and the relief requested therein. *3 t o C P L R 3025 , t o f u r t h e r a m e nd h e r c o m p l a i n t t o a dd a s e p a r a t e ca u s e o f ac ti on f o r g r o ss n e g li g e n ce a nd a d e m a nd f o r pun iti v e d a m a g e s a g a i n s t M BC ; [3]
I n S e q . N o . 6 , p l a i n ti ff c r o ss - m ov e s f o r a n o r d e r , pu r s u a n t t o C P L R 3126 , s t r i k i ng d e f e nd a n t s ' j o i n t a n s w e r , [4] p r ec l ud i ng t h e m fr o m p r odu c i ng a ny e v i d e n ce on t h e i ss u e o f li a b ilit y a t t r i a l , a nd g r a n ti ng h e r r e l a t e d r e li e f ; a nd
I n S e q . N o . 5 , d e f e nd a n t s m ov e , i n r e l e v a n t p a r t , f o r a n o r d e r : ( 1 ) pu r s u a n t t o C P L R 2004 a nd 22 NY CRR 202 . 21 ( e ) , v aca ti ng p l a i n ti ff s N o t e o f l ss u e , d a t e d O c t ob e r 28 , 2022 ( NY S C E F D o c N o . 135 ) , on t h e b a s i s o f h e r a ll e g e d f a il u r e t o p r ov i d e d i s c ov e r y ; ( 2 ) pu r s u a n t t o C P L R 2201 , s t a y i ng t h e t r i a l o f t h i s m a tt e r un til c o m p l e ti on o f ou t s t a nd i ng d i s c ov e r y ; a nd ( 3 ) pu r s u a n t t o C P L R 2004 a nd 3212 ( a ) , e x t e nd i ng d e f e nd a n t s ' ti m e t o m ov e f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t un til 60 d a y s a f t e r c o m p l e ti on o f d i s c ov e r y . [5]
I n t h e ea r l y m o r n i n g o f F r i d a y , J a nu a r y 5 , 20 18 , p l a i n ti ff ' s d ece d e n t , S a l v a t o r e B a r b e ll a ( " B a r b e ll a " ) , w a s d r i v i n g t o w o r k i n h i s 2016 F o r d E xp l o r e r ( t h e " S UV " ) f o r t h e s t a r t o f h i s 6 : 3 0 a . m . s h i f t a t t h e J F K a i r p o r t . B a r b e ll a w a s d r i v i n g ea s t boun d on t h e B e lt P a r k w a y a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 0 m il e s p e r h o u r . T h e h ea d li g h t s a nd l o w e r li g h t s o f h i s S UV w e r e o n . T h e t r a ff i c w a s li g h t; t h e w ea t h e r w a s c o l d ; a nd it w a s n o t r a i n i n g o r s no w i ng .
A s B a r b e ll a " w a s d r i v i n g [ h i s S UV ] i n t h e l e f t l a n e [ o f t h e ea s t bo und B e lt P a r k w a y a nd w a s ] c o m i n g a r o un d t h e b e n d , [ h e ob s e r v e d ] n o li g h t s [ i n t h e ea s t boun d B e lt P a r k w a y ] . I t w a s d a r k . [ S u dd e n l y , h i s S UV w a s ] i m p a l e d on [ t h e e dg e o f] a c on c r e t e b a rr i e r . I t w a s n ' t lit u p , t h a t w ho l e a r ea [ o f t h e r o a d ] . " [6] A s B a r b e ll a e l a bo r a t e d i n h i s p r e t r i a l t e s ti m o n y , " [ i ] t w a s d a r k i n t h a t a r ea [ o f ea s t b o u n d B e lt P a r k w a y ] . I m a d e t h e [r i gh t ] t u r n . T h e r e [ w e r e ] n o c l ea r l a n e m a r k i ng s o r n o t h i n g li k e t h a t w h e n I w a s m a k i n g t h e t u r n . I t w a s d a r k . T h e r e w e r e n o li g h t s ov e r t h e r e . L o {} and b e ho l d£ ] I h it a c on c r e t e ba rr i e r t ha t s hou l d ha ve b ee n lit up . " [7] A lt houg h B a r b e ll a o b s e r v e d t h e " [ w h i t e l a n e ] m a r k i n g s " o n t h e e a s t b o und B e l t P a r k w a y i n t h e a r ea p r ec e d i ng t h e p l a ce o f t h e acc i d e n t , " t h e r e [ w e r e ] no [ l a n e ] m a r k i ng s , t h e r e [ w e r e ] no v i s i b l e l a n e s o r [ a ny ] t h i ng [ i n t h e p l ace o f t h e acc i d e n t ] . I t ' s j u s t a b a d a r ea . D a ng e r ou s . " 8 T h e c on c r e t e b a r r i e r [ o r t h e m e d i a n [3] T h e op e r a ti v e p l ea d i ng i s t h e A m e nd e d C o m p l a i n t , d a t e d J u l y 3 , 2018 ( NY S C E F D o c N o . 7 ) . [4] T h e op e r a ti v e p l ea d i ng M BC ' s V e r i f i e d A n s w e r t o A m e nd e d C o m p l a i n t , d a t e d D ece m b e r 4 , 2018 ( NY S C E F D o c N o s . 37 a nd 106 ) . A lt hough no a n s w e r on b e h a l f o f t h e o t h e r d e f e nd a n t s a pp ea r s i n t h ee -f il e d r ec o r d s f o r t h i s ac ti on , t h e s a m e c oun s e l r e p r e s e n t s a ll t h r ee d e f e nd a n t s . [5] D e f e n d a n t s ' a d d iti on a l r e q u e s t i n S e q . N o . 5 t o c on d u c t a n I M E o f t h e o r i g i n a l p l a i n t i f f h a s b ee n r e n d e r e d m oo t b y h i s s ub s e qu e n t d ea t h fr o m un r e l a t e d ca u s e s . [6] B a r b e ll a ' s E B T t r a n s c r i p t , p a g e 58 , li n e s 16 - 22 ; p a g e 61 , li n e 24 t o p a g e 62 , li n e s 4 a nd 14 - 18 ; p a g e 63 , li n e s 22 - 24 . [7] B a r b e ll a ' s E B T t r a n s c r i p t , p a g e 59 , li n e s 13 - 21 ; p a g e 61 , li n e s 11 - 18 ( e m ph a s i s a dd e d ) . [8] B a r b e I l a ' s E B T t r a n s c r i p t , p a g e 60 , li n e s 6 - 10 a nd 16 - 18 *4 d i v i d e r] w h i c h B a r b e ll a s t r u c k w it h h i s S UV w a s c l o s e t o t h e l e f t ea s t bound l a n e i n w h i c h h e w a s t r a v e li ng b eca u s e it w a s s e p a r a ti ng o r i n h i s w o r d s " s p litti ng " t h e l e f t l a n e fr o m t h e o t h e r l a n e s . [9] T h e r e w e r e no " c on e s " o r " s a nd b a rr e l s " l ea d i ng up t o t h e p l ace o f t h e acc i d e n t , no r i n fr on t o f o r b e f o r e t h e c on c r e t e b a rr i e r / d i v i d e r a t i ss u e . [10]
T h e r e s pond i ng h i gh w a y p a t r o l o ff i ce r , J u s ti n e D e S i m on e ( " H i gh w a y P O D e S i m on e " ) , c o rr obo r a t e d B a r b e ll a ' s d e s c r i p ti on o f t h e p l ace o f t h e acc i d e n t . H i gh w a y P O D e S i m on e t e s ti f i e d t h a t , on h i s a rr i v a l a t t h e p l ace o f t h e acc i d e n t , h e ob s e r v e d t h a t B a r b e ll a ' s S UV h a d s t r u c k " t h e e nd o f a c on c r e t e m e d i a n t h a t w a s s e p a r a ti ng t h e l e f t a nd ce n t e r l a n e s , " a nd t h a t " t h e r e [ w e r e ] no l a n e m a r k i ng s , s i gn s o r w a r n i ng s t o i nd i ca t e t h e s udd e n l a n e s e p a r a ti on on r o a d w a y . " [11] H i gh w a y P O D e S i m on e f u r t h e r t e s ti f i e d t h a t t h e " li gh ti ng a t t h e ti m e ... w a s poo r . [ T h e acc i d e n t s ce n e ] w a s no t v e r y w e ll lit . " [12] H i gh w a y P O D e S i m on e d e s c r i b e d t h e p l ace o f t h e acc i d e n t a s " a n ac ti v e c on s t r u c ti on z on e , " w it hou t a ny " l a n e m a r k i ng s " a nd w it hou t a ny " s a nd b a rr e l s ... l ea d i ng up t o t h e m e d i a n i n t h e d a y s p r i o r t o " [13] B a r b e ll a ' s acc i d e n t . " [14]
T h e C ou r t w ill f i r s t t u r n t o p l a i n ti ff s m o ti on s ee k i ng p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t on t h e i ss u e o f li a b ilit y ( S e q . N o . 4 ) . " A p l a i n ti ff i n a n e g li g e n ce ac ti on m ov i ng f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t on t h e i ss u e o f li a b ilit y m u s t e s t a b li s h , p r i m a f ac i e , t h a t t h e d e f e nd a n t b r eac h e d a du t y o w e d t o t h e p l a i n ti ff a nd t h a t t h e d e f e nd a n t ' s n e g li g e n ce w a s a p r ox i m a t e ca u s e o f t h e a ll e g e d i n j u r i e s " ( T s y gana s h v A u t o M a ll F l ee t M g t ., I n c ., 163 AD 3d 1033 , 1033 - 1034 [ 2d D e p t 2018 ]) . " T o b e e n titl e d t o p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t [ , ] a p l a i n ti ff do e s no t b ea r t h e .. . bu r d e n o f e s t a b li s h i ng .. . t h e a b s e n ce o f h i s o r h e r o w n c o m p a r a ti v e f a u lt " ( R od r i gu e z v C it y o f N e w Y o r k , 31 NY 3d 312 , 324 - 325 [ 2018 ]) .
I n s uppo r t o f t h i s b r a n c h o f h e r m o ti on , p l a i n ti ff s ub m itt e d , a m ong o t h e r do c u m e n t s , t h e r e po r t o f h e r e xp e r t e ng i n ee r , J o s e ph J . M c H ugh , P . E . ( " p l a i n ti ff s e xp e r t e ng i n ee r " ) , a s w e ll a s [9] B a r b e ll a ' s E B T t r a n s c r i p t , p a g e 65 , li n e s 12 - 23 . [10] B a r b e I l a ' s E B T t r a n s c r i p t , p a g e 70 , li n e s 2 - 11 ; p a g e 77 , li n e s 9 - 17 . [11] D e S i m on e ' s E B T t r a n s c r i p t , p a g e 23 , li n e 10 t o p a g e 25 , li n e 17 ; p a g e 32 , li n e s 18 - 21 ( " [ U ] p t o t h a t c on c r e t e m e d i a n [ w h i c h B a r b e ll a ' s S UV s t r u c k , ] t h e r e w a s no t h i ng . . . t h e r e [ m ea n i ng , no l a n e m a r k i ng s , w h e t h e r f a d e d o r no t ] . " ) . [12] D e S i m on e ' s E B T t r a n s c r i p t , p a g e 30 , li n e s 5 - 9 . [13] D e S i m on e ' s E B T t r a n s c r i p t , p a g e 32 , li n e 22 t o p a g e 33 , li n e 9 ; p a g e 41 , li n e s 17 - 20 . [14] A pp r ox i m a t e l y f i v e hou r s b e f o r e B a r b e ll a ' s acc i d e n t , a no t h e r d r i v e r , A b r a h a m S t e i e r ( " S t e i e r " ) , h a d s t r u c k t h e s a m e ( o r n ea r l y t h e s a m e ) b a rr i e r / d i v i d e r w it h h i s v e h i c l e , li k e w i s e i n t h e ea s t bound a r ea o f B e lt P a r k w a y . S t e i e r ' s p e r s on a l i n j u r y a c ti on a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t s i s p e nd i n g b e f o r e J u s t i c e J oy F . C a m p a n e l l i u n d e r i n d e x N o . 51 10 27 /l 8 ( t h e " r e l a t e d ac ti on " ) . B y s ho r t -f o r m o r d e r , d a t e d J u l y 19 , 2023 , J u s ti ce C a m p a n e lli d e n i e d ( w it hou t e xp l a n a ti on ) t h e b r a n c h o f S t e i e r ' s m o ti on w h i c h w a s f o r p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t on t h e i ss u e o f li a b ilit y i n t h e r e l a t e d ac ti on ( NY S C E F D o c N o . 176 i n t h e r e l a t e d ac ti on ) . J u s ti ce C a m p a n e lli ' s d e n i a l o f S t e i e r ' s m o ti on f o r p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t on t h e i ss u e o f li a b ilit y i n t h e r e l a t e d ac ti on h a s no s i gn i f i ca n ce on t h e C ou r t ' s d e t e r m i n a ti on o f li a b ilit y i n t h i s ac ti on *5 t h e p r e t r i a l t e s ti m ony o f B a r b e ll a a nd D e S i m on e . P l a i n ti ff s e xp e r t e ng i n ee r op i n e d , " [ w ] it h i n t h e bound s o fr ea s on a b l e e ng i n ee r i ng a nd t ec hn i ca l ce r t a i n t y , " t h a t M BC a nd / o r NY C DO T ca u s e d o r c on t r i bu t e d t o ca u s i ng B a r b e ll a ' s acc i d e n t by f a ili ng t o t a k e p r op e r p r eca u ti on s t o p r o t ec t m o t o r i s t s , p a r ti c u l a r l y w h e n no c on s t r u c ti on w o r k w a s b e i ng p e rf o r m e d i n t h e ea r l y m o r n i ng hou r s , fr o m c o lli d i ng w it h t h e c on c r e t e b a rr i e r / m e d i a n t h a t h a d b ee n p l ace d a t , n ea r , o r c l o s e t o t h e ce n t e r o f t h e ea s t bound s ec ti on o f B e lt P a r k w a y i n w h i c h B a r b e ll a w a s t r a v e li ng a t t h e ti m e o f h i s acc i d e n t . 15 A s B a r b e ll a t e s ti f i e d a t h i s p r e t r i a l d e po s iti on , a nd a s H i gh w a y P O D e S i m on e c o rr obo r a t e d a t t h e l a tt e r ' s p r e t r i a l d e po s iti on , a s t h e ea s t bound B e lt P a r k w a y w a s c u r v i ng t o t h e r i gh t , t h e r e w e r e no l a n e m a r k i ng s , no s i gn s , no li gh t s , no s a nd d r u m s o r o t h e r i m p ac t -r e du c i ng b a rr i e r s , a nd no r e f l ec t o r s t o w a r n B a r b e ll a , a t t h e ti m e a nd p l ace o f t h i s acc i d e n t , o f t h e un c o mm on up c o m i ng d a ng e r - a s udd e n l a n e s e p a r a ti on o f t h e ea s t bound B e lt P a r k w a y by a c on c r e t e b a rr i e r / m e d i a n t h a t w a s bo t h unp r o t ec t e d a nd un lit ( s ee P e ll e g r i no v S t a t e , 121 AD 2d 612 , 613 [ 2d D e p t 1986 ] ; s ee a l s o H i ck s v S t a t e , 4 NY 2d 1 , 7 [ 1958 ] [ c o ll ec ti ng a u t ho r iti e s ] ; C an e pa v S t a t e , 306 NY 272 , 277 [ 1954 ] ; P e tt y v D u m on t , 77 AD 3d 466 , 467 [ 1 s t D e p t 2010 ] ; G n ec o v C it y o f N e w Y o r k , 25 AD 3d 355 , 357 [ 1 s t D e p t 2006 ]) . E qu a ll y i m po r t a n t , B a r b e ll a ' s acc i d e n t w a s no t a n o cc u rr e n ce i n w h i c h t h e e v i d e n ce a s t o w h a t ca u s e d h i s S UV t o s t r i k e t h e b a rr i e r / m e d i a n w a s l ac k i ng , no r w a s it a n o cc u rr e n ce w h e r e t h e acc i d e n t w ou l d h a v e h a pp e n e d e v e n i f d e f e nd a n t s h a d no t b ee n n e g li g e n t ( s ee H u m ph r ey v S t a t e , 90 AD 2d 901 , 902 [ 3d D e p t 1982 ] , a jf d 60 NY 2d 742 [ 1983 ]) .
I n oppo s iti on , d e f e nd a n t s ' s ub m i ss i on s f a il e d t o r a i s e a t r i a b l e i ss u e o f f ac t . T h e a ff i d a v it o f d e f e nd a n t s ' e xp e r t e ng i n ee r K r i s t oph e r J . S e l ug a , M . E ., P . E . ( " d e f e nd a n t s ' e xp e r t e ng i n ee r " ) , a tt e m p t s t o m a nu f ac t u r e f e i gn e d i ss u e s o f f ac t a s t o : ( 1 ) w h e t h e r a ny " t e m po r a r y t r a ff i c c on t r o l d e v i ce s " w e r e p r e s e n t n ea r t h e s ce n e o f t h e acc i d e n t , no t w it h s t a nd i ng t h e d e po s iti on t e s ti m ony o f bo t h B a r b e l l a a nd H i g h w a y P O D e S i m on e ( c o ll ec ti v e l y , t h e " a cc i d e n t - s c e n e e y e w i t n e s s e s " ) t h a t t h e r e w e r e non e a t t h e ti m e a nd p l ace o f t h e acc i d e n t; ( 2 ) t h e c ond iti on o f " li gh ti ng " a t t h e s ce n e o f t h e acc i d e n t , e v e n t hough t h e acc i d e n t - s ce n e e y e w it n e ss e s c on s i s t e n tl y t e s ti f i e d t h a t t h e li gh ti ng w a s poo r a t t h e ti m e a nd p l ace o f t h e acc i d e n t; ( 3 ) w h e t h e r a ny " l a n e m a r k i ng s " w e r e p r e s e n t a t t h e s ce n e o f t h e acc i d e n t ( a g a i n , t h e acc i d e n t - s ce n e e y e w it n e ss e s bo t h t e s ti f i e d t h a t t h e r e w e r e no l a n e m a r k i ng s w h a t s o e v e r a t t h e ti m e a nd p l ace o f t h e acc i d e n t ) ; a nd ( 4 ) w h e t h e r a n y " s a n d d r u m a r r a y s " w e r e p r e s e n t e d a t o r n e a r t h e s c e n e o f t h e ac c i d e n t , e v e n t hough t h e [15] P l a i n t i ff ' s e xp e r t e ng i n ee r s u mm a r i ze d h i s f i nd i ng s a t t h e unnu m b e r e d p a g e s I O a nd 11 o f h i s r e po r t , d a t e d F e b r u a r y 3 , 2022 ( p a r t o f NY S C E F D o c N o . 108 ) *6 acc i d e n t - s ce n e e y e w it n e ss e s bo t h t e s ti f i e d t h a t t h e r e w e r e no s a nd d r u m a rr a y s o r a ny o t h e r i m p ac t -r e du c i ng b a rr e l s a t t h e ti m e a nd p l ace o f t h e acc i d e n t . [16]
T h e op i n i on o f d e f e nd a n t s ' e xp e r t e ng i n ee r t h a t d e f e nd a n t s c o m p li e d w it h t h e M a i n t e n a n ce a nd P r o t ec ti on o f T r a ff i c S t a nd a r d s i s b e li e d by B a r b e ll a ' s und i s pu t e d t e s ti m ony t h a t on a w ee kd a y m o r n i ng a t 4 : 30 a . m ., h i s S UV s t r u c k a n un m a r k e d , un lit c on c r e t e b a rr i e r / m e d i a n w h i c h , e ss e n ti a ll y , h a d b ee n p l ace d - a nd h a d b ee n p e r m itt e d t o r e m a i n a s a h i dd e n d a ng e r - i n t h e m i dd l e o f a h i gh w a y . [17]
D e f e nd a n t s ' e xp e r t e ng i n ee r ' s po s iti on ( i n , r , r 82 - 83 o f h i s r e po r t ) t h a t t h e c on c r e t e m e d i a n / b a rr i e r a t i ss u e : ( 1 ) " w a s no t a t e m po r a r y t r a ff i c b a rr i e r bu t w a s i n s t ea d a s ec ti on o f t h e p a r ti a ll y bu ilt [ , ] p e r m a n e n t m e d i a n b a rr i e r t h a t w ou l d e v e n t u a ll y s e p a r a t e ea s t bound a nd w e s t bound t r a ff i c on t h e c o m p l e t e d r o a d w a y , " a nd ( 2 ) " w a s no t b e i ng u s e d a s a c h a nn e li ng d e v i ce bu t s i m p l y s e p a r a t e d t h e l e f t a nd ce n t e r ea s t bound l a n e s , " i s c o m p l e t e l y i rr e l e v a n t . W h a t m a tt e r s i s t h a t t h e c on c r e t e b a rr i e r / m e d i a n a t i ss u e r e p r e s e n t e d a n un c o mm on d a ng e r t o m o t o r i s t s li k e B a r b e ll a w ho w e r e d r i v i ng a r ound t h e i mm e d i a t e l y p r ece d i ng r i gh t t u r n . A l s o i n a ppo s it e i s d e f e nd a n t s ' e xp e r t e ng i n ee r ' s op i n i on ( i n , r 84 o f h i s r e po r t ) t h a t t h e p r o j ec t pho t og r a ph s " do no t s ub s t a n ti a t e ... B a r b e ll a ' s t e s ti m ony t h a t t h e c o lli s i on o cc u rr e d a t a r i gh t ' b e nd ' i n t h e r o a d . " W h e t h e r t h e acc i d e n t h a pp e n e d a t a r i gh t b e nd o r i mm e d i a t e l y a ft e r t h e r i gh t b e nd do e s no t c h a ng e t h e f ac t t h a t t h e un m a r k e d , un lit c on c r e t e b a rr i e r / m e d i a n a t i ss u e w a s a h i dd e n d a ng e r t o p a ss i ng m o t o r i s t s . D e f e nd a n t s ' e xp e r t e ng i n ee r ' s r e li a n ce ( i n , r 86 o f h i s r e po r t ) on t h e pho t og r a ph s o f t h e acc i d e n t s ce n e , t a k e n t w o w ee k s b e f o r e t h e acc i d e n t , d e p i c ti ng " t r a ff i c d r u m s , s a nd b a rr e l s / c r a s h a tt e nu a t o r s , l a n e m a r k i ng s , a l a n e s p lit s i gn , a nd ov e r h ea d li gh t s , " do e s no t a ff ec t t h e ou t c o m e . I t i s t h e ti m e a nd p l ace o f t h e acc i d e n t ( J a nu a r y 5 , 2018 a t 4 : 30 a . m . ) t h a t m a tt e r , r a t h e r t h a n w h a t i s d e p i c t e d i n t h e t w o - w ee k - o l d pho t og r a ph s . 18
N e x t , a lt h ou g h M B C ' s d ea d li n e f o r c o m p l e ti ng r e p a i r s t o t h e s a n d d r u m a r r a y s h a d n o t y e t e xp i r e d by t h e d a t e /ti m e o f t h e acc i d e n t ( 1 90 o f h i s r e po r t ) , t h i s h a s no r e l e v a n ce h e r e . L a s tl y , w h il e t h e D a il y W o r k R e po r t s a nd t h e E ng i n ee r ' s D a il y P r o j ec t D i a r y m a y h a v e a pp ea r e d s a ti s f ac t o r y on p a p e r t o d e f e nd a n t s ' e xp e r t e ng i n ee r ( i n , r , r 105 - 106 o f h i s r e po r t ) , r o a d p r o t ec ti on a nd s a f e t y a r e u lti m a t e l y hu m a n s y s t e m s , s ub j ec t t o hu m a n e rr o r . O n e s u c h e rr o r o r a [1] [6] D e f e n d a n t s ' E x p e r t E n g i n ee r ' s R e po r t , d a t e d D e c e m b e r 1 7 , 2022 , , r , r 4 9 - 7 1 ( N Y S C E F D o c N o . 1 4 7 ) . [17] D e f e nd a n t s ' E xp e r t E ng i n ee r ' s R e po r t , , r , r 72 - 81 . [18] F u r t h e r un a v a ili ng i s d e f e nd a n t s ' r e li a n ce on t h e a ff i d a v it o f L a bo r e r J u s ti n J i s k r a , d a t e d A ugu s t 21 , 2019 , e xp l a i n i ng ho w a " s a nd d r u m a rr a y , " t yp i ca ll y i nvo l v i ng 13 b a rr e l s , i s a ss e m b l e d , p l ace d , a nd r e p a i r e d ( NY S C E F D o c N o . 150 ) . T h e acc i d e n t - s ce n e e y e w it n e ss e s bo t h t e s ti f i e d t h a t t h e r e w a s no t a s i ng l e d r u m o r b a rr e l ( l e t a l on e a n a rr a y ) a t t h e ti m e a nd p l ace o f B a r b e ll a ' s acc i d e n t *7 c o m b i n a ti on o f s u c h e rr o r s p r ox i m a t e l y ca u s e d B a r b e ll a ' s acc i d e n t . [19] A cc o r d i ng l y , t h e b r a n c h o f p l a i n ti ff s m o ti on f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t on t h e i ss u e o f li a b ilit y a s a g a i n s t d e f e nd a n t s i s g r a n t e d .
T h e C ou r t n e x t t u r n s t o t h e po r ti on o f p l a i n ti ff s m o ti on s ee k i ng l ea v e t o a m e nd t h e c o m p l a i n t t o p l ea d g r o ss n e g li g e n ce a g a i n s t M BC . A s a g e n e r a l r u l e , l ea v e t o a m e nd a p l ea d i ng i s fr ee l y g r a n t e d s o l ong a s t h e p r opo s e d a m e nd m e n t do e s no t ca u s e " un f a i r[] p r e j ud i ce o r s u r p r i s e [ t o ] t h e oppo s i ng p a r t y , o r i s p a l p a b l y i n s u ff i c i e n t o r p a t e n tl y d e vo i d o f m e r it " ( C u ss i ck v R . L . B a x t e r B l dg . C o r p ., 228 AD 3d 614 , 616 [ 2d D e p t 2024 ] [ i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on m a r k s o m itt e d ]) . " T o c on s tit u t e g r o ss n e g li g e n ce , a p a r t y ' s c ondu c t m u s t s m ac k o f i n t e n ti on a l w r ongdo i ng o r e v i n ce a r ec k l e ss i nd i ff e r e n ce t o t h e r i gh t s o f o t h e r s " ( S ky w e s t , I n c . v G r ound H and li ng , I n c ., 150 AD 3d 922 , 923 [ 2d D e p t 2017 ] [ i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on m a r k s o m itt e d ]) . S u c h c ondu c t i s " w a n t on o r m a li c i ou s o r ac ti v a t e d by e v il o r r e p r e h e n s i b l e m o ti v e s " ( A n z a l on e v L ong I s . C a r e C t r ., I n c ., 26 AD 3d 449 , 451 [ 2d D e p t 2006 ] [ i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on m a r k s o m itt e d ]) . M o r e ov e r , " [ p ] un iti v e d a m a g e s h a v e b ee n d e s c r i b e d a s a hyb r i d b e t w ee n a d i s p l a y o f e t h i ca l i nd i gn a ti on a nd t h e i m po s iti on o f a c r i m i n a l f i n e , a nd r e f l ec t t h e c o mm un it y ' s c ond e m n a ti on o f on e w ho w il f u ll y [ s i c ] ca u s e s hu r t o r i n j u r y t o a no t h e r " ( G o m e z v C aba ti c , 159 AD 3d 62 , 72 [ 2d D e p t 2018 ] [ i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on m a r k s o m itt e d ]) .
H e r e , no t h i ng i n t h e r ec o r d s ugg e s t s a ny f ac t s c on s tit u ti ng w ill f u l m i s c ondu c t o r g r o ss n e g li g e n ce on t h e p a r t o f M BC . L ea v e t o a m e nd t o p l ea d g r o ss n e g li g e n ce a nd pun iti v e d a m a g e s a g a i n s t M BC i s d e n i e d a s d e vo i d o f m e r it ( s ee S ky w e s t , I n c . v G r ound H and li ng , I n c ., 150 AD 3d 922 , 924 [ 2d D e p t 2017 ] ; J on e s v L e F r an ce L e a s i ng L P , 127 AD 3d 819 , 821 [ 2d D e p t 2015 ]) .
T h e C ou r t w ill no w d i s c u ss p l a i n ti ff s c r o ss - m o ti on f o r s a n c ti on s pu r s u a n t t o C P L R 3126 ( S e q . N o . 6 ) . P l a i n ti ff c r o ss - m ov e s f o r a n o r d e r s t r i k i ng d e f e nd a n t s ' a n s w e r , p r ec l ud i ng t h e m f r o m o ff e r i n g e v i d e n ce o n t h e i s s u e o f l i a b i li t y , a nd g r a n ti n g h e r r e l a t e d r e li e f . P l a i n ti ff s c r o ss m o ti on m u s t b e d e n i e d i n it s e n ti r e t y b eca u s e s h e w a i v e d h e r ob j ec ti on t o d e f e nd a n t s ' a ll e g e d f a il u r e t o m ee t t h e i r d i s c l o s u r e ob li g a ti on s by c r o ss - m ov i ng f o r s u c h r e li e f t w o m on t h s a ft e r s h e f il e d t h e no t e o f i ss u e a nd ce r ti f i ca t e o f r ea d i n e ss ( s ee J . H v C it y o f N e w Y o r k , 170 AD 3d 816 , [19] A s L a bo r F o r e m a n M i c h ae l C u r l e y a v e rr e d i n h i s a ff i d a v it , d a t e d A ugu s t 21 , 2019 , " [ w ] h e n I r e po r t e d f o r w o r k on F r i d a y 1 / 5 / 201 8 [ , ] I w a s t o l d by [ s it e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t ] P e t e M i l a n o t h a t a dd i t i on a l b a rr e l s h a d b e e n h i t by v e h i c l e t r a ff i c [ , ] a nd w e r e p ea t e d t h i s p r o ce du r e [ o f r e p l ac i ng t h e b a rr e l s ] . T h i s i s c o mm on f o r a r oad w o r k p r o j ec t s it e and it ' s u s ua ll y c au s e d b y d r i ve r s t up i d it y . I n g e n e r a l , w e w e r e c a ll e d t o do t h i s w o r k abou t on ce p e r w eek on d iff e r e n t a r e a s o f t h i s p r o j ec t s it e " ( NY S C E F D o c N o . 149 ) ( e m ph a s i s a dd e d ) . B eca u s e t h e d a m a g e d o r m i ss i ng " b a rr e l s , d r u m s , e t c . " w e r e c o mm on i n t h e a r ea o f B e lt P a r k w a y t h e n und e r c on s t r u c ti on , m o t o r i s t s ' r o a d s a f e t y r e qu i r e d a c o rr e s pond i ng l y h e i gh t e n e d l e v e l o f ca r e *8 818 [ 2d D e p t 2019 ] ; I s c o w it z v C oun t y o f Su ff o l k , 54 AD 3d 725 [ 2d D e p t 2008 ] ; c f N a ti on s t a r M t g e ., LL C v J a ck s on , 192 AD 3d 813 , 816 [ 2d D e p t 2021 ]) .
I n li gh t o f t h e C ou r t ' s g r a n ti ng o f p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t on t h e i ss u e o f li a b ilit y , t o p l a i n ti ff , d e f e nd a n t s ' m o ti on f o r a n o r d e r v aca ti ng t h e no t e o f i ss u e , e x t e nd i ng t h e i r ti m e t o m ov e f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t , a nd g r a n ti ng t h e m r e l a t e d r e li e f ( S e q N o . 5 ) i s d e n i e d a s m oo t .
A cc o r d i ng l y , it i s h e r e by O RD E R E D t h a t i n S e q . N o . 4 , t h e b r a n c h o f p l a i n ti ff s m o ti on w h i c h i s f o r p a r ti a l
s u mm a r y j udg m e n t on t h e i ss u e o f li a b ilit y i s g r a n t e d , a nd t h e r e m a i nd e r o f h e r m o ti on w h i c h i s f o r l ea v e t o a m e nd i s d e n i e d ; a nd it i s f u r t h e r
O RD E R E D t h a t i n S e q . N o . 6 , p l a i n ti ff s c r o ss - m o ti on f o r a n o r d e r s t r i k i ng d e f e nd a n t s ' a n s w e r , p r ec l ud i ng t h e m fr o m o ff e r i ng e v i d e n ce on t h e i ss u e o f li a b ilit y , a nd g r a n ti ng t h e m r e l a t e d r e li e f i s d e n i e d i n it s e n ti r e t y ; a nd it i s f u r t h e r
O RD E R E D t h a t i n S e q . N o . 5 , d e f e nd a n t s ' m o ti on f o r a n o r d e r v aca ti ng t h e no t e o f i ss u e , e x t e nd i ng t h e i r ti m e t o m ov e f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t , a nd g r a n ti ng t h e m r e l a t e d r e li e f i s d e n i e d i n it s e n ti r e t y a s m oo t; a nd it i s f u r t h e r
O RD E R E D t h a t p l a i n ti ff ' s c oun s e l i s d i r ec t e d t o e l ec t r on i ca ll y s e r v e a c opy o f t h i s d ec i s i on a nd o r d e r w it h no ti ce o f e n t r y on d e f e nd a n t s ' c oun s e l a nd t o e l ec t r on i ca ll y f il e a n a f f i d a v it o f s e r v i ce t h e r e o f w it h t h e K i ng s C oun t y C l e r k .
T h e f o r e go i ng c on s tit u t e s t h e d ec i s i on a nd o r d e r o f t h e c ou r t . H on . I ng r i d s e ph , J . S . C . .. t f o n . l n Q r i d J o ee p h .
. · . .. · t ou r t J u s t i c e S U p r a m 8