Martinez v. Mizhquiri Transportation, Inc.

The plaintiff, a passenger in a vehicle owned by the defendant Mizhquiri Transportation, Inc., and operated by the defendant Manuel Jimenez, allegedly was injured when that vehicle came into contact with a vehicle owned by the defendant Aron Puretz and operated by the defendant Nathan T. Cohen. The plaintiff subsequently commenced the instant action alleging, inter alia, that the vehicles were negligently operated.

In moving for summary judgment on the issue of liability, the plaintiff failed to submit any evidence concerning the circumstances surrounding the accident and, therefore, failed to establish that either of the vehicles were negligently operated. Under these circumstances, the plaintiff failed to demonstrate his prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law (see Alvarez v Prospect Hosp., 68 NY2d 320, 324 [1986]; cf. Howell v RS Cab Corp., 63 AD3d 1002 [2009]). Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly denied his motion, with leave to renew after the depositions of the parties, regardless of the sufficiency of the opposing papers (see Winegrad v New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 NY2d 851, 853 [1985]; Howell v RS Cab Corp., 63 AD3d at 1003). Dillon, J.P., Florio, Hall and Sgroi, JJ., concur.