Opinion
2013-07-5
Elizabeth COSTANZO, Plaintiff–Respondent, v. COUNTY OF CHAUTAUQUA, Defendant, and Jill T. Rosage, as Administratrix of the Estate of Paul L. Rosage, Deceased, Defendant–Appellant.
Mura & Storm, PLLC, Buffalo (Kris E. Lawrence of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Greco Trapp, PLLC, Buffalo (Duane D. Schoonmaker of Counsel), for Plaintiff–Respondent.
Mura & Storm, PLLC, Buffalo (Kris E. Lawrence of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Greco Trapp, PLLC, Buffalo (Duane D. Schoonmaker of Counsel), for Plaintiff–Respondent.
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., PERADOTTO, SCONIERS, VALENTINO, AND WHALEN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Plaintiff commenced this action seeking damages for injuries she sustained when her vehicle was struck by a vehicle operated by Paul L. Rosage (decedent). Decedent's vehicle hit the driver's side of plaintiff's vehicle when plaintiff, after stopping at a stop sign, drove the vehicle through the intersection and into the path of decedent's vehicle. Decedent had the right-of-way at the intersection inasmuch as he was not subject to any traffic control devices.
Jill T. Rosage (defendant), as administratrix of decedent's estate, moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint against her. We conclude that Supreme Court properly denied defendant's motion inasmuch as she failed to meet her initial burden of establishing her entitlement to judgment as a matter of law ( see generally Winegrad v. N.Y. Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 N.Y.2d 851, 853, 487 N.Y.S.2d 316, 476 N.E.2d 642). Defendant's motion was largely based on the affidavit of an expert reconstructionist. We conclude, however, that the affidavit is speculative and conclusory inasmuch as the expert failed to submit the data upon which he based his opinions. The affidavit thus lacks an adequate factual foundation and is of no probative value ( see Lillie v. Wilmorite, Inc., 92 A.D.3d 1221, 1222, 938 N.Y.S.2d 396;see also Schuster v. Dukarm, 38 A.D.3d 1358, 1359, 831 N.Y.S.2d 619). Because defendant otherwise failed to meet her initial burden on the motion, there is no need to consider the sufficiency of plaintiff's submissions in opposition to the motion ( see Winegrad, 64 N.Y.2d at 853, 487 N.Y.S.2d 316, 476 N.E.2d 642).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.