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Area of Law: | Litigation & Procedure, Personal Injury & Negligence |
Keywords: | Affirmative defense; Intervening causation; Substantial and proximate cause |
Jurisdiction: | New York |
Cited Cases: | 67 N.Y.2d 693; 492 N.Y.S.2d 435; 112 A.D.2d 919; 490 N.E.2d 841; 490 N.E.2d 527; 503 N.Y.S.2d 84; 103 A.D.2d 252; 499 N.Y.S.2d 922; 121 A.D.2d 369; 435 N.Y.S.2d 708; 51 N.Y.2d 977; 642 N.Y.S.2d 325; 67 N.Y.2d 617; 504 N.Y.S.2d 279; 227 A.D.2d 390; 416 N.E.2d 1043 |
Cited Statutes: | None |
Date: | 08/01/2000 |
It is not for the judge to assess the credibility of witnesses, weigh evidence or draw inferences favoring the defendants. See Krupp v. Aetna Life & Cas. Co., 103 A.D.2d 252, 261, 479 N.Y.S.2d 99. Where a plaintiff’s conduct may amount to a contributing cause, such conduct does not replace the defendant’s negligence as a substantial and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. A s "Lucio v. Pisanelfo, 227 A.D.2d 390, 642 N.Y.S.2d 325" c 1 l "Lucio v. Pisanelfo, 227 A.D.2d 390, 642 N.Y.S.2d 325 (2nd Dep’t 1996)"Lucio v. Pisanelfo, 227 A.D.2d 390, 642 N.Y.S.2d 325 (2nd Dep’t 1996). Instead, it is for the jury to decide how to apportion fault. See Derdiarian v. Felix Contracting Corp., 51 N.Y.2d 308, 315, 414 N.E.2d 666, 434 N.Y.S.2d 166 (1980)
Although a plaintiff’s own conduct may be a superseding force absolving a negligent defendant from liability, if the plaintiff was contributorily negligent, such negligence is relevant only in apportioning culpable conduct. See A s "Smith v. Stark, 67 N.Y.2d 693, 694, 499 N.Y.S.2d 922" c 1 l "Smith v. Stark, 67 N.Y.2d 693, 499 N.Y.S.2d 922, 490 N.E.2d 841 (1986)"Smith v. Stark , 67 N.Y.2d 693, 694, 499 N.Y.S.2d 922, 490 N.E.2d 841 (1986); Boltax v. Joy Day Camp, 67 N.Y.2d 617, 620, 499 N.Y.S.2d 660, 490 N.E.2d […]
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