Case Name: Chandra Dalchand et al., Appellants, v. Constance Missigman, Respondent, et al., Defendants
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2001-11-09
Citations: 288 A.D.2d 956
Docket Number: 
Parties: Chandra Dalchand et al., Appellants, v Constance Missigman, Respondent, et al., Defendants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 288
Pages: 956–956

Head Matter:
Chandra Dalchand et al., Appellants, v Constance Missigman, Respondent, et al., Defendants.
[732 NYS2d 791]

Opinion:
—Order unanimously affirmed without costs. Memorandum: Supreme Court properly granted the cross motion of Constance Missigman (defendant) to amend her answer to add an affirmative defense based upon the medical emergency doctrine. A driver "who experiences a sudden medical emergency will not be chargeable with negligence provided that the medical emergency was unforeseen" (1A NY PJI 218 [3d ed 2001]; see also, Ficorilli v Thomsen, 262 AD2d 602, 603; State of New York v Susco, 245 AD2d 854, 855). According to her deposition testimony, defendant was stopped in traffic behind the stopped vehicle of plaintiff Chandra Dalchand and experienced a painful foot cramp that caused her foot to slip from the brake. Based on that deposition testimony, defendant is entitled to assert the affirmative defense of medical emergency (see, Reeg v Hodgson, 1 Ohio App 2d 272, 274, 202 NE2d 310, 313). (Appeal from Order of Supreme Court, Onondaga County, McCarthy, J. — Summary Judgment.) Present — Pigott, Jr., P. J., Wisner, Hurlbutt, Kehoe and Lawton, JJ.