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Young v. Ryan

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Oct 28, 1999
265 A.D.2d 547 (N.Y. App. Div. 1999)

Opinion

Submitted September 22, 1999

October 28, 1999

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the plaintiffs Janie Ramsey and Cynthia Manning appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (Henry, J.).


ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, with one bill of costs.

The Supreme Court properly granted the respective motions of the defendants for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them by the appellants. The defendants established a prima facie case that neither appellant sustained a serious injury within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5102(d) in the subject collision (see, Gaddy v. Eyler, 79 N.Y.2d 955 ). Thus, the burden shifted to the appellants to come forward with sufficient evidence that they sustained a serious injury (see, Gaddy v. Eyler, supra; Licari v. Elliot, 57 N.Y.2d 230, 235 ; Lopez v. Senatore, 65 N.Y.2d 1017 ).

The appellants' evidence was insufficient. The unsworn medical reports which they submitted in opposition to the motions were inadmissible (see, Grasso v. Angerami, 79 N.Y.2d 813, 814 ; Mobley v. Riportella, 241 A.D.2d 443, 444 ). With respect to the appellant Cynthia Manning, the affirmed report of Dr. Michael O. Sauter did not raise a triable issue of fact as to whether she sustained a serious injury. Without admissible evidence to support their claims of injuries, the appellants' respective affidavits, consisting merely of self-serving, subjective complaints of pain, were without probative value (see, Rum v. Pam Transp., 250 A.D.2d 751 ;Lincoln v. Johnson, 225 A.D.2d 593 ; Barrett v. Howland, 202 A.D.2d 383 ; LeBrun v. Joyner, 195 A.D.2d 502 ).

The appellants' opposition papers contained an affirmation by the appellant Manning's treating chiropractor. This court has held that affirmations by chiropractors which are not subscribed before a notary or other authorized official do not constitute evidence in admissible form (see, CPLR 2106; Doumanis v. Conzo, 265 A.D.2d 296 [2d Dept., Oct. 4, 1999]; Rum v. Pam Transp., supra;McNeil v. Crutchley, 250 A.D.2d 655 ; Gill v. O.N.S. Trucking, 239 A.D.2d 463 ). The case of Semler v. Molinelli ( 245 A.D.2d 363 ) is not to the contrary, as the affirmation by the plaintiff's chiropractor in that case was sworn to before a notary public.

MANGANO, P.J., RITTER, JOY, McGINITY, and SMITH, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

Young v. Ryan

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Oct 28, 1999
265 A.D.2d 547 (N.Y. App. Div. 1999)
Case details for

Young v. Ryan

Case Details

Full title:FLORENCE YOUNG, plaintiff, JANIE RAMSEY, et al., appellants, v. WALTER T…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Oct 28, 1999

Citations

265 A.D.2d 547 (N.Y. App. Div. 1999)
697 N.Y.S.2d 150

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