Opinion
2013-04-25
Marianne E. BELZITI, et al., Plaintiffs–Respondents, v. Brian LANGFORD, et al., Defendants, Robert R. Klein, Defendant–Respondent, Eardley W. Green, Defendant–Appellant.
Hodges Walsh & Slater, LLP, White Plains (Paul E. Svensson of counsel), for appellant. Giuffré Law Offices, P.C., Garden City (S. Joonho Hong of counsel), for Marianne E. Belziti and Richard Belziti, respondents.
Hodges Walsh & Slater, LLP, White Plains (Paul E. Svensson of counsel), for appellant. Giuffré Law Offices, P.C., Garden City (S. Joonho Hong of counsel), for Marianne E. Belziti and Richard Belziti, respondents.
Richard T. Lau & Associates, Jericho (Keith E. Ford of counsel), for Robert R. Klein, respondent.
TOM, J.P., ACOSTA, ROMÁN, FEINMAN, CLARK, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Alison Y. Tuitt, J.), entered on or about March 29, 2012, which denied the motion of defendant Eardley W. Green for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all cross claims as against him, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Green's motion for summary judgment was properly denied as premature, since limited discovery has taken place and Green himself has not yet been deposed in this matter ( see Blech v. West Park Presbyt. Church, 97 A.D.3d 443, 948 N.Y.S.2d 273 [1st Dept. 2012] ). In any event, the existing record presents triable issues of fact as to whether Green's vehicle was stopped prior to being struck in the rear by a vehicle operated by codefendant Macio. Although Green testified in a different action regarding the underlying accident that he had stopped several seconds before he was struck in the rear, Macio testified that when the accident occurred, he was lowering his speed because the cars ahead of him were slowing down. Moreover, in opposition to Green's motion, codefendant Brian Langford, the driver of the second car in this five-car collision, submitted an affidavit averring that Green's vehicle struck the rear of his vehicle before Green was rear-ended by Macio. In light of the differing versions as to how the accident occurred and the possible contributions by the various defendants, summary disposition was not warranted ( see Lewis v. Konan, 39 A.D.3d 319, 835 N.Y.S.2d 40 [1st Dept. 2007] ).