Opinion
2014-12-3
Nina M. BOCK, as executrix of the estate of Mary A. Corapi, also known as Antonia Mary Corapi, et al., appellants, v. CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, et al., respondents.
Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo, P.C., New York, N.Y. (Stephen C. Glasser and Susan M. Jaffe of counsel), for appellants. Gordon & Silber, P.C., New York, N.Y. (Andrew B. Kaufman of counsel), for respondents.
Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo, P.C., New York, N.Y. (Stephen C. Glasser and Susan M. Jaffe of counsel), for appellants. Gordon & Silber, P.C., New York, N.Y. (Andrew B. Kaufman of counsel), for respondents.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., L. PRISCILLA HALL, ROBERT J. MILLER, and COLLEEN D. DUFFY, JJ.
In a consolidated action to recover damages for personal injuries, etc., the plaintiffs appeal, as limited by their brief, on the ground of inadequacy, from so much of a judgment of the Supreme Court, Westchester County (O. Bellantoni, J.), dated April 24, 2012, as, upon a jury verdict on the issue of liability finding Mary A. Corapi, also known as Antonia Mary Corapi, 50% at fault in the happening of the accident, and the defendant Sports Underdome, Inc., 50% at fault, and upon a jury verdict on the issue of damages finding that Mary A. Corapi, also known as Antonia Mary Corapi, sustained damages in the principal sums of $50,000 for past pain and suffering, $200,000 for past medical expenses, and $145,000 for future pain and suffering, and that the plaintiff Peter Corapi sustained damages in the principal sums of $0 for past loss of services and consortium and $50,000 for future loss of services and consortium, and upon an order of the same court dated March 6, 2012, granting the defendants' motion pursuant to CPLR 4404(a) to set aside, as contrary to the weight of the evidence, so much of the jury verdict as awarded Mary A. Corapi, also known as Antonia Mary Corapi, the principal sum of $200,000 for past medical expenses to the extent of awarding her the principal sum of $59,992.03 for past medical expenses, and denying the plaintiffs' cross motion pursuant to CPLR 4404(a) for additur and to fix damages in a monetary amount that does not deviate materially from what is considered reasonable compensation for the injuries sustained and damages, or alternatively, to set aside the jury verdict on the issue of damages and for a new trial on that issue, is in favor of them and against the defendants only in those principal sums.
ORDERED that the judgment is modified, on the law and the facts, by deleting the provision thereof awarding Mary A. Corapi, also known as Antonia Mary Corapi, damages for past medical expenses in the principal sum of $59,992.03, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Westchester County, for a new trial on the issue of damages with respect to past medical expenses only, unless within 30 days after service upon the plaintiffs of a copy of this decision and order, the plaintiffs shall serve and file in the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Westchester County, a written stipulation consenting to decrease the amount of damages for past medical expenses from the principal sum of $200,000 to the principal sum of $59,992.03, and to the entry of an appropriate amended judgment accordingly; in the event that the plaintiffs so stipulate, then the judgment , as so decreased and amended, is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
“Awards of damages for past and future medical expenses must be supported by competent evidence which establishes the need for, and the cost of, medical care” (Pilgrim v. Wilson Flat, Inc., 110 A.D.3d 973, 974, 973 N.Y.S.2d 738). “[A] trial court [has] the power, on motion of the parties or on its own motion, to review the question of whether the jury's verdict on the issue of damages was against the weight of the evidence ( see,CPLR 4404[a] ) and to set it aside if it [finds] that the verdict deviated materially from what would be reasonable compensation” (Ashton v. Bobruitsky, 214 A.D.2d 630, 631, 625 N.Y.S.2d 585; see Pilgrim v. Wilson Flat, Inc., 110 A.D.3d at 974, 973 N.Y.S.2d 738; Weathers v. Rios, 120 A.D.3d 663, 990 N.Y.S.2d 853; Mohamed v. New York City Tr. Auth., 80 A.D.3d 677, 679, 915 N.Y.S.2d 599).
Here, the Supreme Court correctly concluded that the award of damages for past medical expenses was excessive to the extent that it exceeded $59,992.03 ( see Weathers v. Rios, 120 A.D.3d 663, 990 N.Y.S.2d 853; Pilgrim v. Wilson Flat, Inc., 110 A.D.3d at 974, 973 N.Y.S.2d 738; Danseglio v. Jemval Corp., 99 A.D.3d 853, 854, 951 N.Y.S.2d 905; Mohamed v. New York City Tr. Auth., 80 A.D.3d at 679, 915 N.Y.S.2d 599; Karwacki v. Astoria Med. Anesthesia Assoc., P.C., 23 A.D.3d 438, 439–440, 808 N.Y.S.2d 123; O'Connor v. Rosenblatt, 276 A.D.2d 610, 611, 714 N.Y.S.2d 327). However, in concluding that the award for past medical expenses was contrary to the weight of the evidence, the court erred in entering an unconditional judgment in favor of Mary A. Corapi, also known as Antonia Mary Corapi, in the decreased amount ( see Rajeev Sindhwani, M.D., PLLC v. Coe Bus. Serv., Inc., 52 A.D.3d 674, 677, 861 N.Y.S.2d 705; Ashton v. Bobruitsky, 214 A.D.2d at 631, 625 N.Y.S.2d 585; cf. Denis v. City of New York, 54 A.D.3d 803, 804, 863 N.Y.S.2d 773). The proper procedure when a damages award is excessive is to order a new trial on damages unless the plaintiff stipulates to the decreased amount ( see Rajeev Sindhwani, M.D., PLLC v. Coe Bus. Serv., Inc., 52 A.D.3d at 677, 861 N.Y.S.2d 705; Ashton v. Bobruitsky, 214 A.D.2d at 631, 625 N.Y.S.2d 585; accord Pilgrim v. Wilson Flat, Inc., 110 A.D.3d at 974, 973 N.Y.S.2d 738; Mohamed v. New York City Tr. Auth., 80 A.D.3d at 679, 915 N.Y.S.2d 599; Karwacki v. Astoria Med. Anesthesia Assoc., P.C., 23 A.D.3d 438, 808 N.Y.S.2d 123).
Contrary to the plaintiffs' contention, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying their posttrial cross motion pursuant to CPLR 4404(a) to set aside the jury verdict on the issue of damages as inadequate based on its determination that the cross motion was untimely ( seeCPLR 4404[a], 4405, 4406; Habib v. Best Yet Mkt. of Hicksville, Inc., 101 A.D.3d 1083, 955 N.Y.S.2d 892; Brzozowy v. ELRAC, Inc., 39 A.D.3d 451, 453, 833 N.Y.S.2d 590). In any event, the Supreme Court properly denied the motion on the alternative ground that the cross motion was without merit, as the verdict was not inadequate ( see generally Dana v. Allstate N.J. Ins. Co., 79 A.D.3d 791, 792, 913 N.Y.S.2d 718).
The parties' remaining contentions either are not properly before this Court or are without merit.