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`INDEX NO. 800185/2012
`No- 800185/2012
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`'——FILED{ERIEcomfi’ciékx 02133—3201711:25
`FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2017 11:25 AM
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`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2017
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 31
`NYSCEF DOC' NO' 31 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEWWRE“ 02/15/2017
`'
`Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department
`
`1171
`
`CA 16—00522
`
`PRESENT: CARNI, J.P., LINDLEY, DEJOSEPH, CURRAN, AND TROUTMAN, JJ.
`
`ANITA L. CASTRO, PLAINTIFF—RESPONDENT,
`
`V
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`53001095/<90 / 9‘
`
`MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
`
`INC., DOING
`PROFESSIONAL GOLF SERVICES,
`BUSINESS AS SARATOGA SPA GOLF,
`DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
`
`
`
`CHELUS, HERDZIK, SPEYER & MONTE, P.C., BUFFALO (MICHAEL M. CHELUS OF
`COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT—APPELLANT.
`
`SMITH, MINER, O’SHEA & SMITH, LLP, BUFFALO (PHILIP J. O’SHEA, JR., OF
`COUNSEL), FOR PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT.
`
`Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Erie County (Paula L.
`Feroleto, J.), entered January 14, 2016.
`The order granted a new
`trial on damages for past and future pain and suffering and future
`medical expenses unless the parties stipulate to specified increases
`in damages.
`
`It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is
`unanimously affirmed without costs.
`
`Memorandum: Defendant appeals from an order that granted
`plaintiff's motion to set aside the jury verdict on damages in this
`personal injury action.
`The jury awarded plaintiff,
`inter alia,
`the
`sum of $200,000 for past pain and suffering, $100,000 for future pain
`and suffering, and $125,000 for future medical expenses.
`Supreme
`“ Court vacated those parts of the award and ordered a new trial on the
`issue of damages for past and future pain and suffering and future
`medical expenses unless the parties stipulated to increase the award
`to $300,000 for past pain and suffering, $600,000 for future pain and
`suffering and $207,850 for future medical expenses. Contrary to
`defendant’s contention,
`the court did not abuse its discretion in
`granting plaintiff’s motion.
`“Although a jury’s assessment of damages
`generally is afforded great deference and will not be overturned
`unless it deviates materially from what would be reasonable
`compensation .
`.
`.
`,
`‘the trial court retains the discretion to set
`aside a verdict under appropriate circumstances’
`”
`(Carter v Shah, 31
`AD3d 1151, 1151; see CPLR 5501 [c]; warnke v Warner-Lambert Cb., 21
`AD3d 654, 657). Here,
`“ ‘[g]iven [the court’s] superior opportunity
`to evaluate the proof and the credibility of the witnesses,’ ” we
`conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in determining
`that the award of damages should be increased (Carter, 31 AD3d at
`
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`FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 021-32017 11:25 A
`FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2017 11:25 AM
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`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 31
`NYSCEF boc. NO. 31
`_2_
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`if
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`INDEX NO- 800185/2012
`INDEX NO. 800185/2012
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`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2017
`RfiCfiIVfiD VYSCEE37Q2/15/2017
`CA 16-00522
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`1151—1152; see generally Prunty v YMCA of Lockport, 206 AD2d 911,
`912).
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`
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`
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`Entered: December 23, 2016
`
`Frances E. Cafarell
`Clerk of the Court
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`20f3
`2 of 3
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`FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2017 11:25 AM
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`NYSCEF DOC. ‘NO. 31
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`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 31
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`, ~~ “":“"“;I'NDfE“X melrrraem‘aséreme
`INDEX NO. 800185/2012
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`R«.C«,IV«.D \IYSCEF: 02/‘15/2017
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2017
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`-‘
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`‘
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`_ Supreme @nurf
`APPELLATE DIVISION
`FourthJudiCial Department
`Clerk’s Office, Rochester, N.Y. '
`
`I, FRANCES E. CAFARELL, Clerlc oftheAppellate'Division ofthe Supreme
`Court in the Fourth‘Judicial Departmentido hereby certifi) that this is a true copy of’
`the original order; now onfile in this 0 ce.
`
`
`
`1N MmEss WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my
`
`hand and afi‘ixed the seal ofsaid Court at the City _
`ofRochester, New‘York, this
`DEC 2 326%
`
`Clerk
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`3of3
`3 of 3
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