Court Opinion

ID: 9916511
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Date Created: 2024-01-10 01:08:52.731047+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:30.885572
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Parker v Islam
               2023 NY Slip Op 34570(U)
                   December 28, 2023
             Supreme Court, Kings County
        Docket Number: Index No. 508485/2019
                   Judge: Debra Silber
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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 01/02/2024 10:46 AM                                                                         INDEX NO. 508485/2019
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 88                                                                                              RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/02/2024

            SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
            COUNTY OF KINGS : PART 9
            ____________________________________________

            VALERIE K. PARKER,                                                                              DECISION / ORDER
                                                                Plaintiff,                                  Index No. 508485/2019
                      -against-
                                                                                                            Motion Seq. No. 4
            MD MONIRUL ISLAM,
                                       Defendant.
            ____________________________________________

            Recitation, as required by CPLR 2219(a), of the papers considered in the review of
            defendant’s motion for summary judgment.

                                 Papers                                                                   NYSCEF Doc.

            Notice of Motion, Affirmation and Exhibits Annexed....................                        39-52
            Affirmation in Opposition and Exhibits.........................................               64-86
            Reply Affirmation..........................................................................   87

                      Upon the foregoing cited papers, the Decision/Order on this motion is as follows:

                      This is a personal injury action arising out of a motor vehicle accident that occurred

            on June 27, 2017. At the time of the accident, the plaintiff and the defendant were each

            driving their own vehicles when they came into contact with each other on the Brooklyn-

            Queens Expressway near Kent Avenue, in Brooklyn, New York.

                      The defendant timely moves for summary judgment dismissing the plaintiff’s

            complaint, pursuant to CPLR Rule 3212, on the ground that plaintiff did not sustain a

            “serious injury” as defined by Insurance Law § 5102 (d).

                      Plaintiff’s bill of particulars alleges that she sustained injuries to her head and brain,

            both of her shoulders, both of her wrists, her cervical spine, and her lumbar spine as a

            result of the accident. At the time of the accident, plaintiff was approximately 39 years

            old. Although an ambulance responded to the accident scene, the plaintiff declined to be

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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 01/02/2024 10:46 AM                                             INDEX NO. 508485/2019
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 88                                                                 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/02/2024

            transported to a hospital, but she testified that she went to a hospital emergency room six

            days after the accident.

                   The defendant provides, in support of his motion, a certified “FDNY-EMS

            Electronic Prehospital Care Report,” affirmed reports from a radiologist, a neurologist, an

            orthopedist, and a neuropsychologist, the plaintiff’s EBT transcript, plaintiff’s bill of

            particulars and first and second supplemental bills of particulars, the pleadings, and an

            affirmation of counsel.

                   Dr. Melissa Sapan Cohn, the defendant’s radiologist, did not examine plaintiff. She

            reviewed the NeuroQuant MRI of the plaintiff’s brain and her impression is that it is a

            “[n]ormal NeuroQuant examination.” Her impression is that there is “[n]o acute intracranial

            pathology.” She further states that “[t]he only finding on this examination is the presence

            of a superiorly convex border to the pituitary gland. This can be seen as a normal

            anatomic variant or may be indicative of an underlying pituitary microadenoma. According

            to the supplied report, this was present on prior studies dated 6/19/2020 and 12/30/2019.

            . . . Microadenomas occur sporadically and are frequently seen within the general

            population. They are not a sequalae of underlying pituitary trauma. The remainder of the

            brain is completely normal.” She concludes that [t]here is no evidence for an acute

            traumatic related injury on the submitted examination.” The court notes that Dr. Sapan

            Cohn did not review the MRIs of the plaintiff’s cervical spine or lumbar spine and offers

            no opinion on the plaintiff’s claimed injuries to those body parts.

                   Warren Cohen, M.D., a neurologist, examined the plaintiff on May 2, 2022, four

            years and ten months after the accident. He provides an affirmed IME report [Doc 48] that

            states that he reviewed plaintiff's bill of particulars and supplemental bills of particulars,

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            the plaintiff’s medical records, including x-ray and MRI reports, and NCV and EMG test

            results.

                   In his report, Dr. Cohen states that he conducted a neurological examination of the

            plaintiff and found that the plaintiff’s “head appears normal and is atraumatic. Posture and

            stance are normal. On palpation of the neck and entire back she reports that tingling of

            the entire left side of the body is evoked.” Upon exam of the plaintiff’s cervical spine,

            thoracic spine and lumbar spine, he noted that “[n]o muscle spasm and no trigger points

            were noted.” He only performed range of motion testing on the plaintiff’s lumbar spine,

            which he reported as being normal, except for flexion, where he found that the plaintiff’s

            range of motion was 50 degrees when the normal is 60 degrees. He did not test plaintiff’s

            cervical spine range of motion, despite reporting that she arrived “wearing a soft cervical

            collar.” Dr. Cohen states that this is because plaintiff “declines to remove the cervical

            collar” so “no measurement of cervical range of motion . . . was attempted.” After

            conducting a neurological exam, Dr. Cohen’s impression was that the plaintiff had

            sustained cervical and lumbosacral sprains which have “resolved.” He defers rendering

            an opinion on the plaintiff’s cognitive and emotional complaints “to an appropriate

            specialist,” and states that “[b]ased upon the current examination, the prognosis for

            neurologic function is good.” Finally, Dr. Cohen opines that “[t]he neurologic examination

            is normal with no objective clinical evidence of radiculopathy, ulnar or median neuropathy,

            gait instability, vestibular dysfunction, or of any deficit of neurologic function. There are a

            multitude of neurologic complaints, and there are no objective signs of impairment of

            neurologic function that correlate with the subjective complaints. Based upon the current

            exam findings, at least some of those complaints have a clear functional component.”

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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 01/02/2024 10:46 AM                                               INDEX NO. 508485/2019
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 88                                                                   RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/02/2024

                    Pierce Ferriter, M.D., an orthopedist, examined plaintiff on May 3, 2022, four years

            and ten months after the accident. He provides an affirmed IME report [Doc 49] that

            states that he reviewed plaintiff's bill of particulars and supplemental bills of particulars,

            and the plaintiff’s medical records, including MRI reports, EMG and NCV reports.

                    In his report, Dr. Ferriter states that he conducted range of motion tests on the

            parts of the body that the plaintiff claims were injured in the subject accident. However,

            he dd not examine or test plaintiff’s shoulders. In her original bill of particulars, it states,

            in a long list of injuries, “limitation of motion, function and use of cervical spine, shoulders

            and upper extremities.” In his examination of the plaintiff’s cervical spine, lumbosacral

            spine, right wrist and hand, and left wrist and hand, he reports that he found that the

            plaintiff had normal ranges of motion in all planes, when compared to “normals,” and that

            all associated tests were either negative or within normal limits. Dr. Ferriter opines that

            “[t]he examinee presents with a normal orthopedic examination on all objective testing.

            The orthopedic examination is objectively normal and indicates no findings which would

            result in orthopedic limitations in use of the body parts examined. The examinee is

            capable of functional use of the examined body parts for normal activities of daily living.

            The claimant is capable of working without limitations. There Is no permanency or

            disability.”

                    Victoria Londin, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist, examined plaintiff on May 3, 2022,

            four years and ten months after the accident. She provides an affirmed IME report [Doc

            50] that states that she reviewed plaintiff's bill of particulars, a “psychological evaluation”

            by Moses Weksler, Ph.D., dated 8/21/17 - 9/16/17, and plaintiff’s medical records. In her

            report, Dr. Londin states that she conducted a neuropsychological exam of the plaintiff.

            In her report she finds that the plaintiff’s “profile exceeds the cut-off for valid test

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            responding on the following scales of this measure: Neurologic Impairment/Amnestic

            Disorders, Low Intelligence, and Affective Disorders. This profile is associated with

            atypical, unusual, or bizarre responses that are not given by TBI patient, patients with

            dementias, or normal adults on which this measure was normed.” She further states that

            “[w]ith respect to empirical markers of TBI severity, the degree of cognitive deficit reflected

            in Ms. Parker's test performance is inconsistent with reasonable clinical expectations

            based on the amount of time since the Injury and the empirically determined degree of

            severity of head injury. Note, that Brain MRI and CT were negative. The question of

            whether Ms. Parker sustained a brain injury is questionable. Based on the history as

            reported; she does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of TBI. Recall there was no

            confirmed loss of consciousness, no meaningful alteration of consciousness, no

            significant anterograde or retrograde amnesia, and no finding of trauma on neuroimaging.

            Consequently, the observed atypical or clinically inconsistent performance on some

            neurocognitive tests within this test battery cannot be accepted as a reflection of her true

            level of ability or functioning in the areas of cognition assessed by these tests. Factors

            contributing to failure on measures of effort and response-bias in the present case may

            include: Psychiatric Disorder-Symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, personality disorder);

            Symptom Magnification (e.g., a preoccupation either conscious or unconscious with

            perceived cognitive difficulties and/or emotional distress and a propensity to over report

            or exaggerate these symptoms); Other motivational factors (e.g., compensation).“

                   In summary, Dr. Londin opines that “based on the issues and factors discussed

            above, there is no objective evidence in these findings to support a claim of

            neurocognitive disability or neurocognitive deficits secondary to TBI of the degree

            represented in some of her test performance. There is no objective evidence in these

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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 01/02/2024 10:46 AM                                           INDEX NO. 508485/2019
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 88                                                               RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/02/2024

            findings to support a claim of psychological disability or psychological symptomatology

            secondary to physical injuries and/or TBI of the degree represented In her self-report or

            her performance on some psychometric tests or self-report. From a neuropsychological

            perspective, and in the absence of valid contrary findings, there is no objective evidence

            to support a claim that Ms. Parker cannot meet usual demands and activities of daily living

            as well as those of her employment. Her degree of impairment is more consistent with a

            picture of an individual who is experiencing a great deal of psychiatric psychopathology

            that may have been triggered by or intensified by the accident of record.”

                   The court finds that defendant fails to make a prima facie case for summary

            judgment by establishing that plaintiff did not sustain a serious injury within the meaning

            of Insurance Law § 5102(d) as a result of the subject accident (See, Toure v Avis Rent A

            Car Sys., 98 NY2d 345 [2002]). In his exam of the plaintiff, Dr. Cohen, the defendant’s

            examining neurologist, found a ten-degree reduction in range of motion upon flexion in

            the plaintiff’s lumbar spine. The fact that Dr. Ferriter, the defendant’s examining

            orthopedist, claims that he found that the plaintiff had full range of motion in her lumbar

            spine at an exam that he conducted one day after the exam that Dr. Cohen conducted

            creates a question of fact regarding the defendant’s doctors’ conflicting findings. In

            addition, none of defendant’s doctors examined the plaintiffs shoulders, which she

            claimed were injured in the accident.

                   As the defendant has failed to meet his burden of proof as to all claimed injuries

            and all applicable categories of injury, the motion must be denied, and it is unnecessary

            to consider the papers submitted by plaintiff in opposition (see Yampolskiy v Baron, 150

            AD3d 795 [2d Dept 2017]; Valerio v Terrific Yellow Taxi Corp., 149 AD3d 1140 [2d Dept

            2017]; Koutsoumbis v Paciocco, 149 AD3d 1055 [2d Dept 2017]; Aharonoff-Arakanchi v

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            Maselli, 149 AD3d 890 [2d Dept 2017]; Lara v Nelson, 148 AD3d 1128 [2d Dept

            2017]; Sanon v Johnson, 148 AD3d 949 [2d Dept 2017];Weisberg v James, 146 AD3d

            920 [2d Dept 2017]; Marte v Gregory, 146 AD3d 874 [2d Dept 2017]; Goeringer v Turrisi,

            146 AD3d 754 [2d Dept 2017]; Che Hong Kim v Kossoff, 90 AD3d 969 [2d Dept 2011]).

                    In any event, had defendant made a prima facie case for dismissal, plaintiff has

            provided enough evidence to overcome it. In opposition to the motion, aside from an

            emergency room record, chiropractic records, physical therapy records and psychological

            records which are not in admissible form, the plaintiff offers an affirmation and reports

            from her treating neurologist, Dr. Irving Friedman. In his report dated August 29, 2023, he

            states that “Ms. Valerie Parker sustained multiple trauma on June 27, 2017 during an

            MRI.” As the date listed is the same date as the subject accident, the court concludes that

            this is a typo and should have said MVA instead of MRI. Dr. Friedman goes on to state

            that he “personally examined her on July 26, 2017, September 20, 2017, and November

            2, 2017. She had persistent headaches, vertigo and marked emotional disturbances. She

            was started on a course of physical therapy. She remained with a catastrophic affect.” He

            opines that “[w]ith more than a reasonable degree of neurological certainty, Ms. Valerie

            Parker was unable to perform all material acts which constituted her usual and customary

            activities for the first 90 days of the first 180 days following her June 27, 2017. With a

            reasonable degree of neurological certainty, she was totally and painfully disabled both

            emotionally and physically from June 27, 2017 through at least the remainder of the year,

            i.e., December 31, 2017.”

                   As such, even if the defendant had made a prima facie showing, thereby shifting

            the burden of proof to the plaintiff, the affirmation from Dr. Friedman would be sufficient

            to raise a triable issue of fact with a “battle of the experts,” and require a trial.

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  FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 01/02/2024 10:46 AM                                       INDEX NO. 508485/2019
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 88                                                            RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/02/2024

                  Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the motion is denied.

                  This constitutes the decision and order of the court.

            Dated: December 28, 2023

                                                                    ENTER:

                                                                    Hon. Debra Silber, J.S.C.

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