AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Attorney(S)
Judges
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Attorney(S)
Judges

KEVIN GRANT, ET AL., respondents-appellants, v. JOHN ORE, et al., defendants-respondents, CITY OF NEW YORK, appellant-respondent, et al., defendant.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed insofar as appealed and cross-appealed from, without costs or disbursements.

On the afternoon of August 30, 1991, the injured plaintiff, Kevin Grant, was riding in the cargo portion of an Isuzu Trooper which was being driven by his stepfather, the defendant John Ore, in the right lane of the Brooklyn-bound Williamsburg Bridge. At that time the defendant City of New York was performing maintenance work on the bridge. While there were no signs warning of the upcoming maintenance work, there was an illuminated arrow board directing traffic to merge into the unobstructed left-hand lane. According to his testimony, Ore did not see the site of the maintenance work or the arrow until it was too late to move into the left lane. As a result, the Isuzu crashed into the truck on which the arrow board was attached. At the same time, a car driven by the defendant Allan Loke struck the rear of the Isuzu. As a result of this accident, the injured plaintiff was rendered a paraplegic. The injured plaintiff and his mother commenced this action against, among others, Ore, Loke, and the City of New York. The jury found Ore 75% at fault and the City 25% at fault in the happening of the accident. The court subsequently ruled that the City could limit its liability for non-economic loss to 25% pursuant to CPLR article 16. This appeal and cross appeal ensued.

The jury verdict was based upon both legally sufficient evidence and a fair interpretation of the evidence (see, Cohen v. Hallmark Cards, 45 N.Y.2d 493; Nicastro v. Park, 113 A.D.2d 129).

The Supreme Court properly limited the liability of the defendant City of New York for non-economic loss to its proportionate share of fault as determined by the jury (see, CPLR 1601). CPLR 1602(2)(iv) does not create an exception to CPLR 1601 where, as here, a tortfeasor's liability arises by reason of a non-delegable duty, but, rather, is "a savings provision that preserves principles of vicarious liability" (Rangolan v. County of Nassau, 96 N.Y.2d 42).

Here, while the City's liability arose by virtue of its non-delegable duty to maintain its roads in a safe condition, CPLR 1602(2)(iv) does not preclude the apportionment of damages between the City and the defendant John Ore, the driver of the car in which the injured plaintiff was a passenger and a joint tortfeasor for whose liability the City is not answerable (see, Rangolan v. County of Nassau, supra; Faragiano v. Town of Concord, N.Y.2d [Mar. 29, 2001]).

The parties' remaining contentions are either unpreserved for appellate review or without merit.

KRAUSMAN, J.P., S. MILLER, McGINITY and SCHMIDT, JJ., concur.

Use AI to get other relevant cases.

Comments

GRANT v. ORE
(Jun 4, 2001)