throbber
FILED: KINGS COUNTY CLERK 04/07/2016
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 507231/2016
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/04/2016
`
`1 of 310
`
`

`

`are denied as academic.
`
`By Decision and Order entered on December 15, 2015, the Appellate Division, First Department,
`
`directed that venue in this action be changed from Bronx County to Kings County. The Court found that
`
`a change in venue was appropriate when the plaintiff discontinued her action against the only party with
`
`any connection to Bronx County and which had no connection to the underlying accident. In the interest
`
`of comity and proper procedure, the merits ofthe instant motion and cross-motion should not be considered
`
`by this Court, but by the transferee court in Kings County (see Ryback v. Lomenzo, 38 AD2d 915 [IS‘ Dept
`
`1972] and Rosenblatt v. Sait, 34 AD2d 238 [lS‘ Dept 1970]). Otherwise, this Court would be passing on
`
`the merits of an action which should not have been brought in Bronx County.
`
`Accordingly, it is hereby
`
`ORDERED, that this motion and cross-motion are denied in their entirety as academic; and it is
`
`further
`
`ORDERED, that this motion and cross-motion may be renewed in Kings County following transfer
`
`of this action in accordance with the Order of the Appellate Division.
`
`The foregoing constitutes the Decision and Order of this Court.
`
`DATED:
`
`‘j I "l / l C:
`
`i
`
`/2
`
`Bronx, New York
`
`HON. LAURA .DOUGLAS
`
`J.S.C.
`
`Page 2 of 2
`
`2 of 310
`2 of 310
`
`

`

`NEW YORK SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF BRONX
`
`
`
`D 1
`Case Disposed
`[I]
`3
`Settle Order
`Schedule Appearance D 3
`_ H N
`1
`
`PARTXI |
`
`SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
`
`---------------------------------------------------------------X
`
`COUNTY OF BRONX:
`
`
`SCUORZO,MICHELLE
`
`Index N2.
`
`0020812/2012E
`
`-against
`
`Hon.
`
`SAFDAR,LUQMAN Justice.
`...............................................................--X ‘*“*'
`
`> 5/
`I
`
`
`
`PAPERS NUMBERED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Memoranda of Law
`
`is motion, COMPEL
`The following papers numbered 1 to ff
`Noticed on October 30 2015 and dul
`submitted as No.
`on the Motion Calendar of
`
`‘0-
`‘Q-
`I'-
`N La . omfidavits and Exhibits
`A
`..._
`~
`A
`Pleadings - Exhibit
`C n
`Stipulation(s) - Referee's Report - Minutes
`—
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`‘Dia,:V\__h__p
`Upon the foregoing papers this M041-on
`(MA C«‘oS5—Mo+lO\/‘
`bug
`,6 Car Inc -
`/32?
`$1
`'0
`2 A
`3
`co:/t50I*'¢la~i€
`‘C
`are,
`mm or beds-=»«x Or at
`Ctedéled
`};/\ accordance
`U\Ji’H’\
`‘HM, awed Mewwiw‘
`De,c1$i0V\)O(aer'
`Hon.
`
`avxci
`
`off?’
`
`ated: Lt //I /K0
`
`2 E
`
`3 of 310
`3 of 310
`
`EEAURF G.~DUUGu5
`
`8
`
`'8
`ti
`«.9.Q)
`ad
`3.‘
`6'¢—'
`
`0Q
`
`)Q
`
`.
`
`3
`adI/1-v-1
`Gui
`08
`.3?
`2:3"5
`
`«'5
`*3
`Q
`
`

`

`/
`
`:3
`
`~
`
`A ’
`
`Document List
`NYSCEF
`|ndex # 20312/2o12E
`Bronx County Supreme Court
`«3gv..::;a"
`Caee Caption: Michelle Scuorzo - v. - Luqman Safdar et al
`Lizbeth Gonzalez
`if?
`
`Created on:O4/O8/2016 03:20 PM
`
`
`
`‘am,
`
`
`
`Mu,”H
`,,
`.
`“WV
`,,H,%% wm
`W
`VVVVA A
`
`COUNTY CLERK MINUTES -PRIOR TO CONVERSION Proce sed
`
`fl.m.
`.
`Court User
`
`Bronx County Minutes Pri
`Coun Underlndex
`502443/2016
`
`fer to Kings
`
`4 of 310
`4 of 310
`
`Page 1 of 1
`
`

`

`FILED: BRONX COUNTY CLERK 102015 05=15 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 224
`
`INDEX NO. 20812/20l2E
`RECEIVED NYSCEF:
`
`10/O6/2015
`
`SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
`COUNTY OF BRONX
`
`MICHELLE SCUORZO,
`
`Plaintiffl
`
`Index No.: 20812-2012
`
`-against-
`
`NOTICE OF MOTION
`
`LUQMAN SAFDAR, FAYYAZ AHMAD, BIG
`APPLE CAR, INC., CITYWIDE MOBILE
`RESPONSE CORP., TRANSCARE AMBULANCE
`CORP., JOHN DOE, JANE DOE and ABC CORP.
`
`Defendants.
`
`Hon. Laura G. Douglas
`
` w 30”‘ day ofOctober 2015, at 9:30 o’clocl< ofthe forenoon ofthat day, or as soon thereafter as
`Ct \ N /
`counsel can be heard, for an order, pursuant to CPLR §§3 124 and 3126: 1) compelling Defendant
`Transcare Ambulance Corp. to provide responses to Plaintiffs discovery demands; namely the
`contract between Transcare Ambulance Corp. and Sports & Entertainment Physicians and the
`
`5 of 310
`5 of 310
`
`

`

`O
`
`SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
`
`COUNTY or BRONX
`MICHELLE SCUORZO,
`
`A
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`Index No.: 20812-2012
`
`-against-
`
`NOTICE OF MOTION
`
`LUQMAN SAFDAR, FAYYAZ AHMAD, BIG
`APPLE CAR, INC., CITYWIDE MOBILE
`
`RESPONSE CORP., TRANSCARE AMBULANCE
`
`CORP., JOHN DOE, JANE DOE and ABC CORP.
`
`Defendants.
`
`Hon. Laura G. Douglas
`
`PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that upon the annexed affinnation of Curtis B. Gilfillan,
`
`Esq., the exhibits attached thereto, and upon all of the pleadings and proceedings heretofore had
`
`herein, Plaintiff Michelle Scuorzo, by and through her attorneys, Albert Buzzetti & Associates,
`
`LLC, will move in Room 217, located at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, New York 10451, on the
`
`-D
`
`30”‘ day of October 2015, at 9:30 o’clock of the forenoon of that day, or as soon thereafter as
`
`counsel can be heard, for arT order, pursuant to CPLR §§3124 and 3126: 1) compelling Defendant
`
`Transcare Ambulance Corp. to provide responses to Plaintiff’s discovery demands; namely the
`
`contract between Transcare Ambulance Corp. and Sports & Entertainment Physicians and the
`
`Transcare Ambulance Corp. personnel logbook for Madison Square Garden; 2) alternatively, for
`
`an order finding those issues to which the disputed discovery is relevant be deemed resolved in
`
`Plaintiffs favor; 3) alternatively, for an order prohibiting and/or precluding Defendants from
`
`supporting or opposing claims or defenses to which the disputed discovery is relevant and from
`
`producing any of the disputed items as demanded into evidence or other use in any substantive
`
`motion prior to or at trial; together with such other, further and different relief that this Court
`
`1\
`J
`6 of \3l.-0/
`6 of 310
`
`

`

`may deem just and proper, including but not limited to the costs and attorneys fees incurred in the
`
`making of the instant motion.
`
`PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that answering affidavits, if any, are to be
`
`served on the undersigned within seven (7) days prior to the return date of the within motion.
`
`Dated: Englewood Cliffs, NJ
`October 2, 2015
`
`ALBERT BUZZETTI & ASSOCIATES, LLC
`
`(Lad:l
`
`Curtis B. Gilfillan, Esq.
`Attorneys for Plaintiff
`Michelle Scuorzo
`
`475 Sylvan Ave.
`Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
`(201) 816-3733
`
`TO:
`
`Joelle T. Jensen, Esq.
`LEWIS, BRISBOIS, BISGAARD & SMITH, LLP
`
`Attorneys for Defendant
`Transcare Ambulance Corp.
`77 Water Street, Suite 2100
`
`New York, NY 10005
`
`(212) 232-1300
`
`Vincent Terrasi, Esq.
`WADE CLARK & MULCAHY
`
`Attorneys for Defendant
`Big Apple Car, Inc.
`111 Broadway, 9”‘ Floor
`New York, NY 10006
`
`(212)267-1900
`
`7 of 310
`7 of 310
`
`

`

`Nancy Isserlis, Esq.
`LAW OFFICES OF NANCY L. ISSERLIS
`
`Attorneys for Defendants
`Luqman Safdar and Fayyaz Ahmad
`36-01 43'“ Avenue
`
`Long Island City, NY 11101
`(718) 361-1514
`
`8 of 310
`8 of 310
`
`

`

`3.1:.»
`
`_.v¢x~A=.\.z_
`
`J
`
`.
`
`-
`
`_.
`“faw2o12_
`ImflwAbA.2o8;2~_fiA
`SUPREME csuam 63 THE STATE or NEW YQ§K“»
`coUNTY*oEABR¢§XTj»>
`
`_
`
`—
`
`WW
`”n‘
`
`’
`
`+
`
`r
`
`*
`
`‘
`
`mwummwnnwmu
`fll0.n2.fl101mm.ndo.I1.enm V
`
`V
`
`.m H,
`
`MICHELLE*$CUORZb,
`-
`’;
`
`-against4
`
`A
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`INC.,
`LUQMAN SAFDAR,?FAYYAZ AHMAD, BIG APPLE CAR,
`crmywxnm mesmzgnmsponsn CORP., TRANSCARE AMBULANCE CORP.,
`JOHNJDOE)
`JAKE DOE and ABC CORP.,
`.
`V
`
`Defendants.
`
`NOTICE OF MOTION
`
` A
`
`ALBERTEEHEMMHHIEASSOCMMHhldgc.
`A
`"‘°"""f"’ LP-laintiff
`
`fllHHHAWME
`mmanm
`
`NEWYORK, NY 10175
`212-5649009
`
`’
`
`Pursuant to 22 NYCRR 130:-1.1-a, the undersigned, an attorney admitted topmctioe in the courts ofNew York State,
`certifies that, upon information and belief and Lzemonable inquiry, (1) the contentions contained in the annexed
`' document are
`that (2) if the annexed document is an initjating pleading, '(i) the matter was not
`obtained through
`conduct, or that ifit was the attorney or her persons responsible /hr the illegal conduct are
`
`A he
`t Anti)‘
`thematterorshar-ingin—any/'eeearnadthe
`A
`g
`rinvolvespotential
`
`1 RR 1200.41-a.
`*
`claiingsfiarpgrsgqmttinizny of wrangfidd_eath,'the matterwasnot
`mmmmm........................................A...............................................W
`‘.DmmtA;w1n£2¢15Mm;’
`A
`‘
`,
`it
`PmnfiuhNflmmggfggfimgfim§i$@£$$Eflm,....................................u
`A &wmanfaamymWw~
`_oa
`V
`whadwamnuwd
`Lmw¢
`‘V i
`'
`
`
`
`
`
`‘
`T
`‘
`Kfiggafiafi;...................................................................................................H
`
`PLEAsEzAxEAnnvaE?
`T
`‘.
`5
`[j
`awwmmwammisaamnywqjnueamgqnz
`_
`§ figgxw enwnflinflwqflflnqfimedakqfMwufiflnn4wmwd£kunon.
`go A E] A
`fltatan,0v'der:§fwhich1the~unueinis-atnaempywéubepresmtadforsettlenwntmthe
`Monceos H0”-'
`M
`'
`'
`-
`‘
`’
`_
`, oneafthejudgesofthewithin-namedcourt,
`serrtemem’ at
`‘
`on
`
`_
`
`7
`
`-
`
`A
`
`V
`
`20
`
`M.‘
`
`.
`
`—
`
`20
`
`,at
`
`Lam
`'
`
`Tb_
`'
`
`Attomey(s)for
`
`’
`
`'
`
`_
`*
`ALBERT BUZETTI & ASSOCIATES,.L.L.C.
`
`Attorneys for
`
`521vFIFI‘H AVENUE
`
`‘
`
`‘ sUm=.17oo
`NEWYORK,NYl0l75
`212-564-9009
`
`9 of 310.
`9 of 310
`
`

`

`SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
`
`COUNTY OF BRONX
`
`MICHELLE SCUORZO,
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`Index No.: 20812-2012
`
`-against-
`
`AFFIRMATION OF
`GOOD FAITH
`
`LUQMAN SAFDAR, FAYYAZ AHMAD, BIG
`APPLE CAR, lNC., CITYWIDE MOBILE
`
`RESPONSE CORP., TRANSCARE AMBULANCE
`
`CORP., JOHN DOE, JANE DOE and ABC CORP.
`
`Defendants.
`
`CURTIS B. GILFILLAN, ESQ., an attorney duly admitted to practice law by and
`
`before the Courts of the State of New York, hereby affirms under the penalty of perjury:
`
`1.
`
`I am associated with the law firm of Albert Buzzetti & Associates, LLC, attorneys for the
`
`Plaintiff in the above-referenced matter. As such, I am familiar with the facts and
`
`circumstances surrounding this matter based on a review of the file maintained by my
`
`office and my participation in the proceedings heretofore had herein.
`
`2.
`
`I submit this affirmation of Good Faith in further support of Plaintiffs motion for an
`
`order pursuant to CPLR §§3 124 and 3126: 1) compelling Defendant Transcare
`
`Ambulance Corp. to provide responses to Plaintiffs discovery demands,; namely the
`
`contract between Transcare Ambulance Corp. and Sports & Entertainment Physicians and
`
`the Transcare Ambulance Corp. personnel logbook for Madison Square Garden; 2)
`
`10 of 310
`
`

`

`alternatively, for an order finding those issues to which the disputed discovery is relevant
`
`be deemed resolved in Plaintiff’s favor; 3) alternatively, for an order prohibiting and/or
`
`precluding Defendants from supporting or opposing claims or defenses to which the
`
`disputed discovery is relevant and from producing any of the disputed items as demanded
`
`into evidence or other use in any substantive motion prior to or at trial; together with such
`
`other, further and different relief that this Court may deem just and proper, including but
`
`not limited to the costs and attorneys fees incurred in the making of the instant motion.
`
`The undersigned has conferred with counsel for the opposing parties in this action in a
`
`good faith effort, pursuant to 22 NYCRR §202.7, to resolve the discovery disputes and
`
`issues raised by the accompanying motion through the mservice of various discovery
`
`demands with repeated objections made thereto and in follow—up e-mail and written
`
`correspondence dated September 25, 2015. A copy of the September 25, 2015 good faith
`
`letter is annexed hereto as Exhibit “A”.
`
`Despite the above good faith communications, no resolution to the discovery issues were
`
`reached with the Defendant, and therefore, Court intervention is necessary.
`
`11 of 310
`11 of 310
`
`

`

`WHEREFORE, it is respectfully requested that Plaintiffs motion be granted in its
`
`entirety, together with such other, further and different relief as this Court deems just and proper,
`
`including an award of counsel fees and costs relative to the making of the instant motion.
`
`Dated: Englewood Cliffs, NJ
`October 2, 2015
`
` ék
`
`
`
`sq.
`Curtis B. Gilfillan,
`Albert Buzzetti & Associates, LLC
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff
`Michelle Scuorzo
`
`467 Sylvan Avenue
`Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
`(201) 816-3733
`
`TO:
`
`Joelle T. Jensen, Esq.
`LEWIS, BRISBOIS, BISGAARD & SMITH, LLP
`
`Attorneys for Defendant
`Transcare Ambulance Corp.
`77 Water Street, Suite 2100
`
`New York, NY 10005
`
`(212) 232-1300
`
`Vincent Terrasi, Esq.
`WADE CLARK & MULCAHY
`
`Attorneys for Defendant
`Big Apple Car, Inc.
`1 1 1 Broadway, 9"‘ Floor
`New York, NY 10006
`
`(212) 267-1900
`
`Nancy Isserlis, Esq.
`LAW OFFICES OF NANCY L. ISSERLIS
`
`Attorneys for Defendants
`Luqman Safdar and Fayyaz Ahmad
`36-01 43“ Avenue
`
`Long Island City, NY 11101
`(718) 361-1514
`
`12 of 310
`12 of 310
`
`

`

`
`
`13 of 310
`13 of 310
`
`

`

`12
`'
`20812 V
`IWWNO-l
`SUPREME ecouwr OFLTHEL. §*EATE”’61é
`COUNTY or BRONX ‘
`'
`
`1*
`
`1 1‘.
`
`Sroléx "
`
`A
`
`4
`
`:1:‘-
`
`
`
`MICHELLE SCUOR Z0 5
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`—against_
`
`INC. ,
`V-LUQMAN SAFDAR, CFAYYAZ AHMAD, BIG APPLE CAR,
`CITYWIDE MOBILE RESPONSE CORP. , TRANSCARE AMBULANCE
`. C(_)RP.t,
`J01,-IN DOE,
`JANE DOE and ABC CORP.,
`
`Defenflants.
`
`AAFFIRHMJATION OF GOOD FAITH
`
` V
`
`ALBERT BUzzm*rI&Assoc1A'rEs, L.L.C.
`A”°mey‘f°'Plainti ff
`
`u1HmHAmnmE
`mmtnm
`Nmwumnnvmns
`
`mzxlwm j
`
`‘Pursuant to 22 NYCRR 130-1.1-a, the undersignad,_an attorney admitted to practice in the courts ofNew York State,
`certifies that, upon information and belief and reasonable inquiry, (1) the contentions contained in the annexed
`document are not_frivolous and that (2) if the annexed document is an initiating pleading, (i) the matter was not
`obtained through illegal conduct, or that ‘ifit wag the attorney or herpersons me :o .
`.« rithe illegal conduct are
`' ,« rinvolveapotential '
`
`
`‘
`'
`'
`'
`’
`'
`
`
`
`
`Senrioeofacojiy ofthe within
`
`is hereby admitted
`
`V
`V
`bXfwmmafifigmmmmmmmmmmmwmmmwmmmmmmmmm
`
`PLEASE TAKENOTICE '
`’
`
`«E
`[]
`g NOTICEOF
`sumv
`2
`E]
`
`NOYIOE or HM
`ssmauenr at
`on o‘
`
`tlmttl1ewithinfisa(oert1}fied)truecopyQfa
`_
`enterednintheqfiioeqftheclerkqfthewithin-namedCourton
`flwnanCwwwqfwhmhflwununnisahueamyunubepnwmualmmmmumnmutoum
`
`‘
`
`20
`
`A
`
`.
`
`,
`P
`
`‘
`
`_
`
`20
`
`A
`
`, one ofthejudges ofthe within-named Gou-rt,
`'
`, at
`
`M.
`
`' Dated:
`
`iv
`‘
`
`At¥0mey(s)for _
`
`Attorneys for ’
`
`ALBERT BUZZETTI & ASSOCIATES, L.L.C.
`'
`
`en1HnHAm9mE
`
`sunnnm
`NEWYORK,NY 10175
`2n5m&m»
`
`14 of 310
`14 of 310
`
`Dated:.........
`
`A
`
`4
`
`'
`
`Signature ............................................................................................................
`
`
`
`Pmfifimmfifimmu.gB£E;§¢§Am§£%£i&;§§..... ...................................fl
`
`
`
`

`

`a
`
`ALBERT BUZZETTI & ASSOCIATES, L.L.C.
`ATTORNEYS AT LAW
`
`ALBERT BUzzETr1 *°
`JOHN F_ GOLDEN .0
`JACQUELINE A. BUZZETN1
`EDWARD J. BRUTON, _JR.*°
`STEVEN M_ DAVIS;
`CURTIS
`GILFILLAN *1
`
`467 SYLVANAVENUE, ENCLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ 07632
`TELEPHONE (201) 816-3733 0 FAcs1M1LE (201) 816-3644
`T '
`
`521 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 1700, NEW YORK, NY 10175
`TELEPHONE
`
`MEMBER OF,
`N] & NY BARS .
`NJ Bin‘
`NY BAR T
`1
`PA 3”‘
`PARTNE.R°
`
`September 25, 2015
`
`Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, LLP
`
`77 Water Street, Suite 2100
`
`New York, New York 10005
`
`Attn: Joelle Jensen, Esq.
`
`Re:
`
`Scuorzo V. Safdar, et al.
`
`Index No:
`
`20812/2012
`
`Our File No.:
`
`10085
`
`Dear Ms. Jensen:
`
`Please find this as the undersigned’s good faith attempt to resolve the outstanding
`discovery dispute relative to the personnel logs for the day in question as prepared by
`Transcare which indicate the ambulance personnel and staffing present at MSG. To date
`I have received no further supplemental response to my March 27, 2015 post deposition
`demand now that your employee Julia Villa testified to the specific current location of the
`logs in question, nor have I received a response from you to my September 4, 2015 Notice
`for Physical Inspection of same personnel logs. In light of the long-standing demands and
`requests for these records, I will be forced to seek Court intervention to gain access to these
`documents/log books if they are not produced within the next 5 business days. Such good
`faith correspondence is being forwarded to you at this time so that all discovery, and
`necessary motion practice regarding same may be completed by or before the Note of Issue
`deadline of November 30, 2015.
`
`Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
`
`V }ytruly}
`
`Curtis B. Gilfillan
`
`CBG/lf
`
`cc:
`
`Law Office of Nancy Isserlis
`Wade Clark Mulcahy
`
`15 of 310
`15 of 310
`
`

`

`Q
`
`C
`
`SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
`
`COUNTY OF BRONX
`
`MICHELLE SCUORZO,
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`Index No.: 20812-2012
`
`-against-
`
`AFFIRMATION IN SUPPORT
`
`LUQMAN SAFDAR, FAYYAZ AHMAD, BIG
`
`APPLE CAR, INC., CITYWIDE MOBIL
`
`RESPONSE CORP., TRANSCARE AMBULANCE
`
`CORP., JOHN DOE, JANE DOE and ABC CORP.
`
`Defendants.
`
`CURTIS B. GILFILLAN, ESQ., an attorney duly admitted to practice law by and
`
`before the Courts of the State of New York, hereby affirms under the penalty of perjury:
`
`1.
`
`I am associated with the law firm of Albert Buzzetti & Associates, LLC, attorneys for the
`
`Plaintiff in the above-referenced matter. As such, I am familiar with the facts and
`
`circumstances surrounding this matter based on a review of the file maintained by my
`
`office and my participation in the proceedings heretofore had herein.
`
`2.
`
`I submit this affirrnation is support of Plaintiffs motion for an order pursuant to CPLR
`
`§§3 124 and 3126: 1) compelling Defendant Transcare Ambulance Corp. to provide
`
`responses to Plaintiffs discovery demands; namely the contract between Transcare
`
`Ambulance Corp. and Sports & Entertainment Physicians and the Transcare Ambulance
`
`Corp. personnel logbook for Madison Square Garden; 2) alternatively, for an order
`
`finding those issues to which the disputed discovery is relevant to be deemed resolved in
`
`
`
`16 of 310
`16 of 310
`
`

`

`Q
`
`0
`
`Plaintiffs favor; 3) alternatively, for an order prohibiting and/or precluding Defendants
`
`from supporting or opposing claims or defenses to which the disputed discovery is
`
`relevant and from producing any of the disputed items as demanded into evidence or
`
`other use in ant substantive motion prior to or at trial; together with such other, further
`
`and different relief that this Court may deem just and proper, including but not limited to
`
`the costs and attorneys fees incurred in the making of the instant motion.
`
`The underlying action arises from an automobile accident which occurred on March 11,
`
`2010, at approximately 5:15 p.m. when a livery cab owned by Fayyaz Ahmad, driven by
`
`Luqman Safdar as agents of Big Apple Car, Inc. swerved to avoid a Transcare Ambulance
`
`Corp. (hereinafter “Transcare”) ambulance, improperly operating in an emergent manner
`
`in response to a non-emergent scenario, and/or in due disregard for the circumstances
`
`then existing, that drove into the intersection against a red light, resulting in the livery cab
`
`operated by Luqman Safdar jumping the sidewalk and striking the Plaintiff, Michelle
`
`Scuorzo causing her severe and permanent injuries, necessitating 9 separate surgical
`
`procedures.
`
`Plaintiff initiated the instant Bronx County action by the filing of a Summons and
`
`Complaint on or about May 4, 2012. A copy of the Summons and Complaint is annexed
`
`hereto as Exhibit “A.”
`
`The Defendants, Luqman Safdar, Fayyaz Ahmad, Big Apple Car, Inc., Citywide Mobile
`
`Response Corp., and Transcare Ambulance Corp. all interposed Answers to the Plaintiffs
`
`17 of 310
`17 of 310
`
`

`

`Complaint between June 6, 2012, and July 17, 2012. Copies of said Answers are
`
`collectively annexed hereto as Exhibit “B”, as is a copy of the Stipulation of
`
`Discontinuance without Prejudice releasing Citywide as an active defendant in the
`
`litigation.
`
`On March 17, 2015, shortly after further Transcare deposition witness David Konig
`
`testified, Plaintiff served on Defendant Trancare a Post Deposition Notice for Discovery
`
`and Inspection, which contained among other things demands for the contract between
`
`Transcare and Sports & Entertainment Physicians and for the Transcare personnel log for
`
`Madison Square Garden for the day of the accident March 1 1, 2010, all as testified to by
`
`David Konig. A copy of Plaintiffs Post-Deposition Notice for Discovery and Inspection
`
`as to Transcare and Testimony of David Konig is annexed hereto as Exhibit “C”.
`
`The contract and personnel log in question are essential evidence to Plaintiffs claims as
`
`against Transcare in the instant lawsuit wherein Plaintiff alleges the improper emergency
`
`response by a Transcare ambulance to Madison Square Garden in a non-emergent
`
`situation. As was uncovered during the extensive course of written discovery and
`
`depositions (most recently during that of David Konig), Transcare had a written contract
`
`for the provision of ambulance services at Madison Square Garden for public events
`
`(such as the Big East Tournament, which Transcare was providing services for on the
`
`date of the accident, and to which the ambulance in question was reporting in emergency
`
`mode) with Sports & Entertainment Physicians, as a sub-contractor, rather than directly
`
`with Madison Square Garden. The contract, upon information and belief set forth the
`
`18 of 310
`18 of 310
`
`

`

`number of ambulances required to be at Madison Square Garden for public events at any
`
`given time and as to ambulance response and replacement protocols (e.g. two ambulances
`
`required to be present at all times at public sporting events as per the New York State
`
`regulations and customary industry practice). The terms of the contract would provide
`
`some evidence as to the negligence of Transcare in improperly staffing, maintaining
`
`and/or improperly calling replacement ambulances in an emergent as opposed to non-
`
`emergent mode. Likewise, the Transcare log book (again as testified to by David Konig),
`
`when produced, will provide the names of the actual Transcare personnel who were
`
`present on the day in question. These two pieces of evidence go hand in hand towards
`
`identifying who was supposed to be at Madison Square Garden and who was actually at
`
`Madison Square Garden. The foregoing evidence would show some evidence of
`
`negligence on the part of Transcare when viewed in conjunction with the state
`
`regulations, local regulations, the deposition testimony of Transcare employees as to the
`
`industry custom and practice, and the testimony of the ambulance driver and EMT in
`
`question. The contract and personnel log are material and necessary to the presentation
`
`and proof of Plaintiffs claims and Defendant Transcare ought to have produced them
`
`short of motion practice.
`
`On or about June 15, 2015, Defendant Transcare responded to Plaintiffs Post-Deposition
`
`Notice for Discovery & Inspection as to David Koning, by providing in part that they
`
`could not locate the personnel log in question and outright objected to the production of
`
`the contract between Transcare and Sports & Entertainment Physicians. A copy of
`
`19 of 310
`19 of 310
`
`

`

`Defendant’s Response to Post-Deposition Notice for Discovery and Inspection is
`
`annexed hereto as Exhibit “D”.
`
`On or about July 22, 2015, Plaintiff served a Sixth Notice for Discovery and Inspection
`
`on Defendant Transcare, again demanding a copy of the contract in question. A copy of
`
`Plaintiffs Sixth Notice for Discovery and Inspection is annexed hereto as Exhibit “E”.
`
`Defendant Transcare provided a Response to same demand on August 20, 2015, wherein
`
`the again objected to and refused to produce the contract in question, despite its material
`
`and necessary nature to the litigation claims pursued by Plaintiff. A copy of Defendant
`
`Transcare’s Response to Plaintiffs Sixth Notice to Produce is annexed hereto as Exhibit
`
`“F?!
`
`10.
`
`On September 4, 2015, following the deposition testimony of yet another Transcare
`
`witness, Julia Villa, which occurred on August 17, 2015 and in which she testified as to
`
`the exact location of the personnel log book in question, Plaintiff served a Notice of
`
`Physical Inspection of said log on Defendant Transcare. A copy of Plaintiff’ s Notice For
`
`Physical Inspection of Roll Call Sign-In Log is annexed hereto as Exhibit “G”.
`
`12.
`
`To date, Defendant Transcare continues to object to the production of the contract in
`
`question and insist that they will only disclose same pursuant to a Court Order. Likewise,
`
`Defendant Transcare has failed to further responded to the prior discovery demands as to
`
`the log book and has not responded to the Physical Inspection Notice which was
`
`returnable on September 24, 2015. Accordingly, Plaintiff made one further and final
`
`20 of 310
`20 of 310
`
`

`

`attempt to obtain the above-discovery absent Court intervention by was of e-mail inquiry
`
`and good faith letter, both dated September 25, 2015. A copy of the September 25, 2015
`
`good faith letter is annexed hereto as Exhibit “H”.
`
`13.
`
`Transcare has engaged and continues to engage in wilful and contumacious conduct, by
`
`first denying the existence of, or at least their ability to find, the contract and personnel
`
`log in question, and then once found (after their employee Julia Villa recently testified
`
`that she was aware of and had seen them months ago) refusing to produce them. The
`
`refusal of Transcare to be first unable to “locate”, and then when located to refuse to
`
`produce such core materials to both the operation of their business and more importantly
`
`to the instant lawsuit strains the limits of reason and underscores their obstruction to the
`
`discovery process here. This is not the first motion filed by Plaintiff to obtain discovery
`
`from this Defendant, which ought to have been produced in response to discovery
`
`demands in due course, but which same was refused or objected to and which was
`
`subsequently obtained by Court intervention.
`
`14.
`
`New York has long favored open and far reaching pre-trial discovery. As per the plain
`
`language of CPLR §3101 “[t]here shall be full disclosure of all matter material and
`
`necessary in the prosecution or defense of an action, regardless of the burden of proof.”
`
`Further, the words “material and necessary” as used in the statute are to be interpreted
`
`liberally to require disclosure, when requested, of any facts or other information bearing
`
`on the controversy which will aid in the preparation for trial by sharpening the issues.
`
`21 of 310
`21 of 310
`
`

`

`The discovery requested from Transcare here squarely falls within the acceptable scope
`
`of sharpening the issues for trial.
`
`15.
`
`In light of the foregoing, it is clear that Defendant Transcare has wilfully, contumaciously
`
`and intentionally delayed and obstructed the discovery process in this matter, and has
`
`failed to produce substantive discovery in this matter despite clear and numerous
`
`demands for same by the Plaintiff, and co-defendants.
`
`WHEREFORE, it is respectfully requested that Plaintiffs motion be granted in its
`
`entirety, together with such other, further and different relief as this Court deems just and proper,
`
`including an award of counsel fees and costs relative to the making of the instant motion.
`
`Dated: Englewood Cliffs, NJ
`October 2, 2015
`
`
`
`Curtis B. Gilfillan, E q.
`Albert Buzzetti & Associates, LLC
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff
`Michelle Scuorzo
`
`467 Sylvan Avenue
`Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
`(201) 816-3733
`
`22 of 310
`22 of 310
`
`

`

`
`
`23 of 310
`23 of 310
`
`

`

`..._
`
`t_
`
`.
`
`fl
`
`\
`
`1
`
`_'coUxu= on-rm sum ormwmn-K
`
`common anoux.
`
`M
`E
`
`Ihdex N6. .a0_°1;._..m2§.__
`
`NO'I‘ICE- Oi‘ .C.OMMENCE‘MENT OF ACTION
`SUBJ-ECT T0 MANDATORY.‘G
`
`’nb¢V'e;-\vhich Eu ham commenoedjry -filing ofthe
`rnaasnrwaxe Norrczntlm the
`'
`aogpmpanyihgdocumemswith-fiiocauntydahfimMmmmdmwv fmmfim2m5&h
`01'-11.1‘! Unifbnn R,uIea_ forth: fftfai Count.
`is being smvectu required by Subdbeisibn (.b).§3_)of1lIaf
`
`~ me New Yorksme Courts Blccttonfc Filing symm ("NY8CBP‘)‘ ladesigned for the electronic
`of-
`doeuments W.iih.,¥lw €.*om;tyGLork-md the
`India: the
`amuse documanb,_c_eart donumeats.
`ant} court-notices-upomcoumol and
`who dqnot
`the epmtofu
`clunpdqxcznption(tcdbélow)urequirodshy ’Section«2'022-5.-bh(c)
`tag’ e-filgd nm',ar.‘on
`Cbnzentnnge in mscm, i!n_i1m'_to-do sozrnny result in an-inabiluy ficmooivo electronic
`undue ofdocuments fi1x”m_:..
`
`in soodfiitfuhzt they llfifi 93!
`frbnimcnilatwy b-filing aralitqited pa: 1.)
`co:n_putotequfpn1ontnnd(IlongvVith.nI1flngl6y¢a}dwm¢5Ii8it¢kn°9'l§d8°f0¢9fl!3|Y=Md3)3¢T£*F"°N°‘5P“‘5“
`wiioohom not:o;pam"cipata in eating. Foradditionulinioznation
`iwhaéiusawcsm Wm
`202.5-bfi. ¢‘6ns_ul_t’fii_,e mcscas wgbsitc at wwmyammgov/ems or comm thcNY3CBF'R£_m'auIso genus: at 646-’
`386-3033 or efl!e@°0urtutfl¢-1l'Y.us,
`
`
`
`‘_l'.o=
`
`
`
`I
`
`"
`
`(A‘ddnu}
`
`No). 01632
`
`
`201-816-3733
`
`gm)
`
`zzett!@tristat.e|aw,eom ;
`
`K ,a,.
`
`011!
`
`24 of 310
`24 of 310
`
`.oo.s...
`
`-———-.u.-....,...
`
`
`
`
`
`.................-.—u....._
`
`

`

`
`
`\
`
`INDEX N0. 20812/20123
`RECEIVED NYBCEP: 05/04/2012
`
`scram: coast‘ or was svrxrs or mm roux
`COUNY OF BRONX
`
`cu--nnco----goo.-oouc~..nowup-n¢~—uuuuuoo-4-uuuuuuuuu-pg--u...u......, X
`MICHELLE scuonzo,
`
`Plaintifr,
`
`-asainab
`
`menu szmmn; zwzvnz mum, are
`
`APPLE can, mc.; cmmms Means
`
`RESPONSB CORP-I TRANSCARB AMBULANCE
`CORP.;
`JOHN DOE;
`JANE R03; and ABC
`CORPORATION.
`
`Defendants
`no ~ - ~ u n u — — — — us as - — u ~ — - - r ~ ~ - - - a - - — - - . a — ax
`
`To the above named Detendantis}
`
`amass
`
`Index No.:
`
`30%‘) [Daug-
`
`in this
`the complaint
`You are hereby summoned to answer
`action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, it the complaint
`is not
`served with
`this summons,
`to serve
`a notice
`of
`appearance. on the Plaintirfls attorney within 20 days after the
`service of
`this
`summons, exclusive of
`the day of service (or
`within 30 days after the service is complete it
`this summons is
`not personally delivered to you within the state of new York);
`and in case oi’ your failure to appear or answer.
`judgment will
`be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the
`complaint .
`
`trial-
`the place of
`Plaintitf designates Bronx county _a.s
`'I.'he basis
`or! venue
`is defendant,
`citywide Mobile Response
`Corpus location of its principle office pursuant
`to C.P.L.R.
`503(c).
`
`Dated:
`
`New York, New York
`May 4, 2012
`
`'
`
`Yours. etc. ,
`5.
`
`'aL£JI7
`
`SQ.
`I
`ALBERT BUZZ
`ALBERT BUZZETTI & ASSOCIATES, LLC
`Attorneys for plaintiff
`2 Penn Plaza. - suite 1500
`New York, New York 10121
`(212) 564-9009
`
`25 of 310
`25 of 310
`
`--an-u...-...
`
`EI
`
`% i
`
`3
`
`‘
`
`:
`
`

`

`DEFBNDANT8 TO BE SERVED
`
`Big Apple car. Inc.
`169 Bay 17"‘ Street
`Brooklyn, NY 1121.4
`
`Transcare Ambulance corp.
`1 Metzrotech center
`
`Brooklyn. NY 11201-3948
`
`Luqman Samar
`1720 Anmakar Road
`
`Parkville, MD 21234-3715
`
`Payyaz Ahmad
`2115 East: 13'“ street
`Brooklyn, NY 11229
`
`citywide Mobile Response corp.
`1624 st-.111we11 Avenue
`
`Bronx, New York 10461
`
` -an: ....—.____._
`
`26 of 310
`26 of 310
`
`

`

`SUPREME COURT OF’ NEW YORK
`COUNTY OF 330)!!!
`e--.---nun-un--cu-——-o-anus:-o--o-guan--X
`HICHELLI ECUORIO.
`
`Plaintiff .
`
`against-
`
`Indox No.
`
`:
`
`LUQKAN SAFDARJ FAYYAZ AHMAD} BIG
`APPLE CAR. INC.) CITYWIDI M0315!
`EIPOKSE CORE;
`TRANBCARE AIIBUI-MICE
`OORPJ JOHN D03)
`JANE ROI; and ABC
`CORPORATIOH.
`
`Delendant (e) .
`u-nu-can-ounce---up. - - u - - — o - - - -
`
`-an-no-aux
`
`g
`
`.0»
`
`
`
`iII 9
`
`The plaintttf, Michelle scuorzo (hereinafter "p1aint:l.££") , by
`
`and through her attorney, Albert Buzzetti, 3sq.,
`
`firom the law firm
`
`of Albert Buzzetsti S: Associates, LLC, by way ot Complaint against
`
`the defendants, hereby alleges and says:
`
` :
`
`1.
`
`Plaintiff, at all relevant times, was and is a resident of the
`
`State of New Jersey and resided at 2 Johnny Drive. 3°”°“9h 01‘-
`
`Farluingdale .
`
`Defendant,
`
`Fayyaz Ahmad, at all
`
`relevant
`
`time.
`
`V-19°“
`
`information and beliet, was and is a. resident of the State Of
`
`New York and resided at 2115 East 136- sweet. soroush of
`
`Brooklyn, county of Kings.
`
`“P011
`times.
`relevant
`Luqman Samar. at all
`Defendant,
`intoxmation and belief, was and is a resident of the state of
`
`New Jeraey and resided at 2125 woodbridge Avenue. Township o£
`
`Edison .
`
`-‘'---—----—.......j—-......__.____,_,.__
`
`27 of 310
`27 of 310
`
`

`

`A
`
`'\
`
`Detendant, Big Apple car, Im:., at all relevant times, upon
`
`information and belief, was and is a corporation in the
`
`bu“-‘me’-93 01 P1‘°V151n9’
`
`transportation services
`
`and duly
`
`authorized to transact business and doing business under and
`
`by virtue of the laws of the state of New York with offices
`
`located at 169 Bay 17”‘ street, Borough of Brooklyn. county of
`
`Kings, state of New York.
`
`Defendant. Citywide Mobile Response corp. , at all relevant
`
`times. upon information and belief, was and is a corporation
`
`in the business of providing medical transportation services
`
`.....
`
`and duly authorized to transact business and doing business
`under and by virtue of the laws of the State or New York with
`its principal oitice located at 1624 stillwell Avenue. Borough
`
`of Bronx, county of Bronx, state of New York.
`Defiendant, Transcare Ambulance Corp., at all relevant times,
`upon information and belief, was and is a corporation in the
`business of providing medical transportation services and duly
`authorized to transact business and doing business under and
`by virtue of the laws of the State of New York with offices
`located at 1 Metrotech center, Borough of Brooklyn, County or
`
`Kings, state of New York.
`Detendanthe) , John Doe and Jane aoe are ticcitioua persorde)
`who were unknown owners and/or operators of motor vehicles
`responsible for the accident giving rise to this lawsuit;
`and/or unknown principals,

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket