Court Opinion

ID: 6054006
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-13 15:13:56.34181+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:51:44.857177
License: Public Domain

Goldstein, J.
(dissenting). The defendant moved for summary judgment based upon the affirmed reports of her expert-doctors stating that the plaintiff suffered no permanent injury, and the unsworn report of a magnetic resonance imaging (hereinafter MRI) examination, diagnosing a “posterior bulging of the L4-5 disc annulus without impingement on the L5 nerve roots,” and a “reversal of the normal cervical lordosis from C2 - *301C6.” Dr. Alexander Rimalovski determined that the findings in the MRI reports were “not causally related to the accident.” Dr. Frank M. Hudak merely recited the MRI findings without further explanation, and noted that the “[r]eport from Dr. Charles dated 10/21/94 indicates the claimant was examined and had electrodiagnostic studies consistent with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical lumbosacral spine derangement.” Nevertheless, Dr. Hudak concluded that the plaintiffs “subjective complaints” were unsupported by “objective findings.”
In view of the conflicting and conclusory statements in the defendant’s submissions, the defendant failed to establish her entitlement to judgment as a matter of law (see, Lopez v Senatore, 65 NY2d 1017).
In any event, the plaintiff, in opposition, established the existence of a triable issue of fact. He submitted sworn reports of Dr. Richard Lee, a licensed chiropractor, stating that the bulging discs were caused by the accident and resulted in residual low-grade inflamation to the nerve roots.
Dr. Lee stated that the plaintiff suffered “[rjestricted range of motion * * * in the cervical and lumbar regions by approximately 25%” based upon specified objective tests performed during an examination which occurred four years after the accident (cf., Grossman v Wright, 268 AD2d 79). He further noted that the plaintiff ceased medical treatment for his injury four months after the accident because reimbursement for treatment was denied by the no-fault insurance carrier. According to Dr. Lee, “based on the history presented by the patient” and his examination of the plaintiff, the plaintiffs “injuries were sustained in the accident of September 4, 1994.”
The Supreme Court, Nassau County, found that “the sworn statement of Dr. Lee indicates a bulging disc at L4-L5 which is a permanent injury and will continue to impair the plaintiff in the future.”
It is well-settled that a licensed chiropractor is qualified to render an opinion as to the cause and extent of a plaintiffs injuries (see, Zeyger v Litman, 250 AD2d 841; Sobha v Anthos Coat Co., 243 AD2d 704). The quantification of loss of range of motion based upon objective tests is generally sufficient to defeat a motion for summary judgment (cf., Curry v Velez, 243 AD2d 442; Lincoln v Johnson, 225 AD2d 593; Friedman v U-Haul Truck Rental, 216 AD2d 266; Baker v Zelem, 202 AD2d 617, 618). Further, the unsworn MRI reports were submitted by the defendant on her motion for summary judgment, and were referred to by the defendant’s doctors. Accordingly, these *302MRI reports were properly before the court (see, Raso v Statewide Auto Auction, 262 AD2d 387; Pietrocola v Battibulli, 238 AD2d 864). The issue of whether the impairment referred to in those MRI reports was caused by the accident was a question of fact. The gap in medical treatment was adequately explained by the refusal of the no-fault insurance carrier to reimburse the plaintiff for further treatment.
In view of the foregoing, the defendant’s motion for summary judgment was properly denied.