May 25, 2010
2010 年 5 月 25 日简易判决有利于韦尔斯巴克电器公司批出在多车辆事故控制交叉口MAY 25, 2010James Walsh and Daniel J. McCarey recently obtained summary judgment in favor of their client, Welsbach Electric Corp. (“Welsbach”) arising out of an automobile accident in Bronx County. Plaintiff’s suit alleged that the City was negligent in its ownership and maintenance of the intersection’s traffic and the City commenced a third party action against Welsbach, the City’s maintenance contractor. Plaintiff’s settlement demand was over $3 million since he had treated with nearly fifty doctors over a span of ten years.
It was undisputed that the traffic signals governing the intersection were not functioning properly at the time of the collision. However, London Fischer used the drivers’ deposition testimony that they knew the traffic signals were not working, stopped prior to proceeding into the intersection, and did not rely on the intersection’s traffic signals in deciding when to proceed. As a result of this favorable testimony, London Fischer filed for summary judgment followed by the City, which adopted Welsbach’s arguments wholesale in its cross-motion for summary judgment.
In granting summary judgment to both Welsbach and the City, the Supreme Court, Bronx County found that since the drivers were admittedly aware of the non-functioning traffic signal and took precautions before proceeding into the intersection, the non-functioning traffic signal was not the proximate cause of the accident.
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