| D'Annunzio v Ore |
| 2014 NY Slip Op 04892 [119 AD3d 512] |
| July 2, 2014 |
| Appellate Division, Second Department |
[*1]
| 1 Lauren D'Annunzio, Respondent, v Russell A.Ore et al., Appellants, and Daniel Lorence Goldman et al.,Respondents. |
Jacobson & Schwartz, LLP, Jericho, N.Y. (Paul Goodovitch of counsel), forappellants.
Abamont & Associates (Congdon, Flaherty, O'Callaghan, Reid, Donlon, Travis& Fishlinger, Uniondale, N.Y. [Kathleeen D. Foley], of counsel), fordefendants-respondents.
In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the defendants Russell A. Oreand Eastern Wholesale Fence Co., Inc., appeal from an order of the Supreme Court,Nassau County (Bruno, J.), entered April 8, 2013, which granted the motion of thedefendants Daniel Lorence Goldman and Benjamin Goldman pursuant to CPLR 4404 (a)to set aside a jury verdict on the issue of liability as inconsistent and for a new trial.
Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs.
" 'When a jury's verdict is internally inconsistent, the trial court must directeither reconsideration by the jury or a new trial' " (Kelly v Greitzer, 83 AD3d901, 902 [2011], quoting Palmer v Walters, 29 AD3d 552, 553 [2006]; seeCPLR 4111 [c]; Marine Midland Bank v Russo Produce Co., 50 NY2d 31, 40[1980]). Here, contrary to the appellants' contention, the jury's verdict was internallyinconsistent because the jury attributed 30% of the fault in the happening of the subjectmotor vehicle accident to the defendant Russell A. Ore, despite having found that Ore'snegligence was not a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff's injuries (see Kelly vGreitzer, 83 AD3d at 902; Dubec v New York City Hous. Auth., 39 AD3d 410, 411[2007]; Palmer v Walters, 29 AD3d at 553). Accordingly, the Supreme Courtproperly granted the motion of the defendants Daniel Lorence Goldman and BenjaminGoldman pursuant to CPLR 4404 (a) to set aside the verdict on the issue of liability andfor a new trial. Mastro, J.P., Leventhal, Lott and Miller, JJ., concur.