Opinion
September 30, 1994
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Niagara County, Mintz, J.
Present — Pine, J.P., Balio, Callahan, Davis and Boehm, JJ.
Order unanimously modified on the law and as modified affirmed without costs in accordance with the following Memorandum: Supreme Court properly denied defendant's motion for summary judgment, but erred in striking defendant's third affirmative defense asserting the Statute of Limitations. Plaintiff commenced this action on August 12, 1988, for personal injuries allegedly caused by the inhalation of fumes from induction bonding machines manufactured by defendant. For eight years, plaintiff maintained the machines and was exposed to their fumes. On August 5, 1985, after a sudden escape of smoke and fumes from one of the machines, plaintiff began to suffer continuing lung congestion. It cannot be said as a matter of law that plaintiff "discovered" his injury under CPLR 214-c (2) on August 5, 1985. On August 26, 1985, plaintiff was diagnosed as having "bronchitis aggravated by fumes". He was not diagnosed as having occupational asthma until December 13, 1985. "Where it does not conclusively appear that a plaintiff had knowledge of facts from which the injury could reasonably be inferred, * * * the question should be left to the trier of fact" (Glod v. Morrill Press Div., 168 A.D.2d 954, 956; cf., Johnson v. Ashland Oil, 195 A.D.2d 980).
The contention of defendant that CPLR 214-c (2) does not apply is without merit. Plaintiff's action was not time-barred on July 1, 1986, by the "applicable period of limitation" (CPLR 214-c [c]).