Source: https://www.newyorkbusinesslawyerblog.com/hearsay-evidence-can-be-used-to-help-defeat-a-motion-for-summary-judgement-in-new-york/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 10:34:47+00:00

Document:
We conclude that the affidavits of Cheng and Bruce constitute competent and admissible evidence concerning routine professional practice sufficient to raise a triable issue of fact whether defendant was notified of decedent’s admission to the hospital at the time of the admission (see Soltis v. State of New York, 188 A.D.2d 201, 203-205, 594 N.Y.S.2d 433; Rigie v. Goldman, 148 A.D.2d 23, 25-26, 29, 543 N.Y.S.2d 983; see generally Halloran v. Virginia Chems., 41 N.Y.2d 386, 393 N.Y.S.2d 341, 361 N.E.2d 991; Greenberg v. New York City Tr. Auth., 290 A.D.2d 412, 413, 736 N.Y.S.2d 73). Further, although Cudmore’s memorandum is inadmissible hearsay and thus by itself is insufficient to defeat a motion for summary judgment, the memorandum may be considered together with the admissible evidence submitted in opposition to the motion (see Krampen v. Foster, 242 A.D.2d 913, 915, 664 N.Y.S.2d 900; see also Arnold **474 v. New York City Hous. Auth., 296 A.D.2d 355, 356, 745 N.Y.S.2d 26; Sunfirst Fed. Credit Union v. Empire Ins. Co./All City Ins. Co., 239 A.D.2d 894, 659 N.Y.S.2d 656). We therefore reverse the order, deny the motion and reinstate the complaint against defendant.
The Fourth Department could have reversed the lower court’s decision based solely on the sworn affidavits of Cheng and Bruce. It is reasonable, though maybe not persuasive, to conclude that two sworn statements that the attending physician is, and always has been, notified of a patient’s admission, is competent evidence that raises a genuine issue of fact.
We previously pointed out that courts are nothing more than their constituent parts. The judges who make the decisions are people, and, when you oppose a motion for summary judgement, you have to give that person a real reason to believe you have a reasonable chance of succeeding at trial. If you have admissible evidence you have to use it; but, if inadmissible evidence can help you make your case, you should use that, too. Sometimes, it is better to put too much in the record rather than too little. After all, maybe something you do not think can help, will. It might be worth the chance.

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