Clements v. Lindsey — 237 A.D.2d 557

Majority

p. 557

Maryann Clements et al., Appellants, v Theodore W. Lindsey et al., Respondents.

[655 NYS2d 987]

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, etc., the plaintiffs appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Dutchess County (Jiudice, J.), entered March 15, 1996, which, upon a jury verdict in favor of the defendants and against them, dismissed the complaint.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

The Supreme Court properly declined to issue a "missing witness” charge (see, PJI 1:75) notwithstanding the defendants’ failure to present the testimony of a doctor who examined the plaintiff driver on behalf of the defense. The testimony of the uncalled witness would have been "merely cumulative” (Wilson v Bodian, 130 AD2d 221 , 234; Chandler v Flynn, 111 AD2d 300 , 301; see also, DeFreese v Grau, 192 AD2d 1019 ; Levande v Dines, 153 AD2d 671 ).

The plaintiffs’ contention that the jury verdict was inconsistent is not preserved for appellate review (see, Grassi v Kamalian, 226 AD2d 344 ; Barry v Manglass, 55 NY2d 803 ; Strauss v

p. 558

Huber, 161 AD2d 629 ). In any event, the jury verdict finding that the defendant driver was negligent but that his negligence was not a proximate cause of the accident was not inconsistent with the evidence elicited at trial (see, Gaston v Viclo Realty Co., 215 AD2d 174 ; Faustin v Aquatero, 201 AD2d 453 ; Barone v City of Mount Vernon, 170 AD2d 557 ). In addition, the verdict was not against the weight of the evidence (see, Cohen v Hallmark Cards, 45 NY2d 493 ; Nicastro v Park, 113 AD2d 129 ; see also, Pomaro v McKeon, 228 AD2d 572 ; Moskowitz v Israel, 209 AD2d 676 ; Patti v Fenimore, 181 AD2d 869 ; CPLR 4404). Rosenblatt, J. P., Thompson, Altman and Luciano, JJ., concur.

Cases cited

Wilson v. Bodian 130 AD2d 221 N.Y. App. Div. 1987-08-10 at 234 p. 557
Chandler v. Flynn 111 AD2d 300 N.Y. App. Div. 1985-05-20 at 301 p. 557
DeFreese v. Grau 192 AD2d 1019 N.Y. App. Div. 1993-04-29 p. 557
Levande v. Dines 153 AD2d 671 N.Y. App. Div. 1989-08-21 p. 557
Barry v. Manglass 55 NY2d 803 N.Y. 1981-12-23 p. 557
Strauss v. Huber 161 AD2d 629 N.Y. App. Div. 1990-05-14 p. 558
Gaston v. Viclo Realty Co. 215 AD2d 174 N.Y. App. Div. 1995-05-09 p. 558
Barone v. City of Mount Vernon 170 AD2d 557 N.Y. App. Div. 1991-02-19 p. 558
Cohen v. Hallmark Cards, Inc. 45 NY2d 493 N.Y. 1978-10-31 p. 558
Nicastro v. Park 113 AD2d 129 N.Y. App. Div. 1985-11-12 p. 558
Patti v. Fenimore 181 AD2d 869 N.Y. App. Div. 1992-03-30 p. 558