Case Name: Michael J. Clark, Respondent, v. Blacktop Maintenance Corp. et al., Appellants
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2009-01-20
Citations: 58 A.D.3d 663
Docket Number: 
Parties: Michael J. Clark, Respondent, v Blacktop Maintenance Corp. et al., Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 58
Pages: 663–664

Head Matter:
Michael J. Clark, Respondent, v Blacktop Maintenance Corp. et al., Appellants.
[871 NYS2d 716]

Opinion:
In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the defendants appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Dutchess County (Brands, J.), dated December 12, 2007, which denied their motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.
Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs.
The defendants failed to make a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law (see Winegrad v New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 NY2d 851 [1985]). The deposition testimony of various witnesses submitted by the defendants in support of the motion showed that the parties did not agree as to how the accident occurred. At the time of the accident, the defendant Douglas Cameron was operating a tractor-trailer owned by the defendant Blacktop Maintenance Corp. Cameron alleged that the plaintiffs motorcycle crossed the double yellow line and struck the tractor-trailer. An acquaintance of the plaintiff, who was riding his motorcycle behind the plaintiffs motorcycle and allegedly witnessed the accident, stated that the tractor-trailer crossed the double yellow line and struck the plaintiffs motorcycle. Under the circumstances, the defendants' expert evidence was insufficient to establish, prima facie, that the plaintiffs negligent operation of his vehicle was the sole proximate cause of the accident (cf. Dorazio v Delbene, 37 AD3d 645 [2007]). Rivera, J.E, Santucci, Garni and Dickerson, JJ., concur.