Opinion
April 13, 1992
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Kutner, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.
Contrary to the plaintiff's contention, we find that the Supreme Court did not err by failing to charge the jury that the plaintiff had a lesser burden of proof due to retrograde amnesia. Generally, a plaintiff who suffers amnesia as the result of a defendant's act is not held to as high a degree of proof in establishing his right to recover for injury as is a plaintiff who can describe the events (see, Sawyer v Dreis Krump Mfg. Co., 67 N.Y.2d 328, 333; Schechter v Klanfer, 28 N.Y.2d 228). Notwithstanding that the plaintiff proved by clear and convincing evidence that his amnesia resulted from being struck by a vehicle while he attempted to cross Sunrise Highway, this rule is not applicable because the plaintiff's version of events can be pieced together from his trial testimony (see, Jarrett v Madifari, 67 A.D.2d 396). In fact, the only thing about the occurrence the plaintiff did not recall was being hit by the car.
We further find that the jury's determination that the operator of the vehicle which struck the plaintiff was not negligent in the operation of his vehicle is not against the weight of the evidence (see, Nicastro v Park, 113 A.D.2d 129, 134).
We have reviewed the plaintiff's remaining contention and find it to be without merit. Thompson, J.P., Harwood, Balletta and Copertino, JJ., concur.