Summary
rejecting causation proof for heart palpitations absent competent medical testimony and in view of pre-existing heart condition
Summary of this case from Luna v. American AirlinesOpinion
March 21, 1996
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Montgomery County (Best, J.).
Alleging defendant's negligence in causing or permitting a vast quantity of raw sewage to enter the cellar of the premises owned by plaintiff Emily Iannotti (hereinafter Iannotti) and occupied by her and her daughter, plaintiff Agnes Iannotti, plaintiffs seek damages, inter alia, for personal injuries and psychic injuries allegedly suffered when they waded into the sewage in an effort to keep the influx from reaching the level of the electrical service to the property. In their bill of particulars, plaintiffs claim (as relevant to this appeal) damages "caused by having to step into and work in waist level sewage, bailing it for hours * * * [and] for mental anguish caused thereby and by reason of the obnoxious smell which permeated the cellar area and the home for a number of months thereafter". In addition, Iannotti asserted a claim "for the heart palpitations * * * [and] discomfort or a tightening in her chest wherein she was nervous and upset, began shaking, appeared faint and required the taking of [her] nitroglycerin prescription" by reason of the incident in question. Submitting competent evidence that neither plaintiff sought treatment from a medical or mental health professional as a result of the incident, defendant moved to dismiss so much of the complaint as sought to recover for personal injury or mental anguish. Supreme Court gave notice of its intention to convert the motion to one for summary judgment and, in the absence of a competent evidentiary showing in opposition, granted the motion. Plaintiffs appeal.
There should be an affirmance. Even disregarding the fact that plaintiffs appear not to have been under any genuine compulsion to enter the standing sewage, it is our view that plaintiffs failed to oppose defendant's motion with competent evidence to support their claim of injury. Although New York now recognizes a cause of action for direct negligent infliction of mental distress ( see, Battalla v State of New York, 10 N.Y.2d 237), there can be no recovery absent a sufficient guarantee of the genuineness of the claim, invariably requiring some competent evidence of contemporaneous or consequential physical harm ( see, Johnson v State of New York, 37 N.Y.2d 378, 381; Battalla v State of New York, supra; Conway v Brooklyn Union Gas Co., 189 A.D.2d 851; Lancellotti v Howard, 155 A.D.2d 588, 590; Ordway v County of Suffolk, 154 Misc.2d 269, 271-272). The only physical injury alleged in the bill of particulars or in plaintiffs' affidavit in opposition to the motion is the chest pain suffered by Iannotti. However, in the absence of any evidence from a medical professional, there is no competent basis for a finding that this claimed physical manifestation (or, for that matter, the psychic trauma alleged by plaintiffs) was the result of defendant's conduct ( see, Valenti v Great Atl. Pac. Tea Co., 207 A.D.2d 340, 341; compare, Hyatt v Pepsi-Cola Albany Bottling Co., 32 A.D.2d 574), particularly in view of the fact that Iannotti obviously suffered a preexisting heart condition. Under the circumstances, we view plaintiffs' claim of injury as wholly speculative ( see, supra; Kaufman v Physical Measurements, 207 A.D.2d 595). As a final matter, we agree with Supreme Court that defendant's actions did not approach the type of outrageous conduct necessary to support a cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress ( see, e.g., Howell v New York Post Co., 81 N.Y.2d 115, 121-122; Natoli v City of Kingston, 195 A.D.2d 861, 862).
Mikoll, J.P., Yesawich Jr., Peters and Spain, JJ., concur. Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs.