Opinion
1060 CA 14-00703
11-21-2014
Richard J. RICE and Tammy A. Schueler, as Administrators of the Estate of Alexandria M. Rice, Deceased, Plaintiffs–Respondents, v. James G. CORASANTI, M.D., Defendant–Appellant. (Appeal No. 1.).
Law Office of Epstein, Gialleonardo & Hartford, Getzville (Robert L. Hartford of Counsel), and Harris Beach PLLC, Buffalo, for Defendant–Appellant. Connors & Vilardo, LLP, Buffalo (Lawlor F. Quinlan, III, of Counsel), for Plaintiffs–Respondents.
Law Office of Epstein, Gialleonardo & Hartford, Getzville (Robert L. Hartford of Counsel), and Harris Beach PLLC, Buffalo, for Defendant–Appellant.
Connors & Vilardo, LLP, Buffalo (Lawlor F. Quinlan, III, of Counsel), for Plaintiffs–Respondents.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., CENTRA, LINDLEY, SCONIERS AND DeJOSEPH, JJ.
Opinion
MEMORANDUM:In this wrongful death action, plaintiffs seek damages for fatal injuries sustained by decedent when she was struck by an automobile operated by defendant. The accident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. on July 8, 2011. At the time of the accident decedent was on a skateboard, traveling in the same direction as defendant. The collision threw decedent approximately 167 feet from the point of impact. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:04 a.m. on July 9, 2011. Defendant was prosecuted for several criminal offenses, and was convicted after a jury trial of driving while intoxicated (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192 [3 ] ).
In appeal No. 1, defendant appeals from an order that denied his motion seeking, inter alia, summary judgment dismissing plaintiffs' claims for decedent's conscious pain and suffering, preimpact terror and psychic injury, and their claim for punitive damages. In appeal No. 2, plaintiffs appeal from an order that denied in part their motion seeking a protective order to prevent disclosure of certain mental health records of decedent.
We conclude in appeal No. 1 that Supreme Court properly denied defendant's motion. While defendant submitted evidence that “decedent was unconscious when found at the scene and continued to be unconscious thereafter,” his submissions fail to address the interval immediately after the impact until decedent was discovered by witnesses 167 feet from the collision (Barron v. Terry, 268 A.D.2d 760, 761, 702 N.Y.S.2d 171 ; see Houston v. McNeilus Truck & Mfg., Inc., 115 A.D.3d 1185, 1186, 982 N.Y.S.2d 612 ). Thus, defendant failed to establish as a matter of law that decedent did not endure conscious pain and suffering (see Houston, 115 A.D.3d at 1186, 982 N.Y.S.2d 612 ; Jehle v. Hertz Corp., 174 A.D.2d 812, 813, 570 N.Y.S.2d 746 ). With respect to the claims for preimpact terror and psychic injury, “defendant's submissions ... were inconclusive as to whether the decedent saw the oncoming vehicle, and thus failed to demonstrate the absence of any material issues of fact” (Cadieux v. D.B. Interiors, 214 A.D.2d 323, 324, 624 N.Y.S.2d 582 ; see Houston, 115 A.D.3d at 1186, 982 N.Y.S.2d 612 ). Even assuming, arguendo, that defendant met his initial burden with regard to the claim for punitive damages, we conclude that plaintiffs' evidence raises triable issues of fact whether defendant's conduct warrants an award of such damages (see Schragel v. Juszczyk, 43 A.D.3d 1375, 1375–1376, 844 N.Y.S.2d 532 ; Thorne v. Grubman, 21 A.D.3d 254, 255, 799 N.Y.S.2d 500 ).
In appeal No. 2, we conclude that the court should have granted in its entirety plaintiffs' motion for a protective order with respect to decedent's mental health treatment records. Plaintiffs did not waive their right to shield those records from disclosure by consenting to the court's in camera review of the records (see Garcia v. Montefiore Med. Ctr., 209 A.D.2d 208, 209, 617 N.Y.S.2d 775 ), nor did plaintiffs place decedent's emotional or mental condition in controversy (see Churchill v. Malek, 84 A.D.3d 446, 446, 922 N.Y.S.2d 341 ). We agree with plaintiffs, moreover, that Mental Hygiene Law § 33.13(c)(1) prohibits release of the records at issue. As relevant to this action, that section provides that such records “shall not be released ... except ... pursuant to an order of a court of record requiring disclosure upon a finding by the court that the interests of justice significantly outweigh the need for confidentiality.” The court made no such finding here, and the record does not support such a finding (see Del Terzo v. Hospital for Special Surgery, 95 A.D.3d 551, 553, 944 N.Y.S.2d 79 ).