TRACI BUTLER V STAGECOACH GROUP, PLC, COACH USA, INC., INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING BUSINESS AS COACH CANADA, INC.

TRACI BUTLER V STAGECOACH GROUP, PLC, COACH USA, INC., INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING BUSINESS AS COACH CANADA, INC.

Motion No: NOS. CA 09-01531, CA 09-01532, CA 09-01533, CA 09-01534, CA 09-01535, CA 09-01536, CA 09-01537, CA 09-01538, CA 09-01539, CA 09-01547, CA 09- 01548,

Slip Opinion No: 2010 NY Slip Op 67226(U)

Decided on March 29, 2010

Appellate Division, Fourth Department, Motion Decision

Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.

This motion is uncorrected and is not subject to publication in the Official Reports.

March 29, 2010

PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., HURLBUTT, MARTOCHE, GREEN, AND PINE, JJ.

DOCKET NOS. CA 09-01531, CA 09-01532, CA 09-01533, CA 09-01534, CA 09-01535, CA 09-01536, CA 09-01537, CA 09-01538, CA 09-01539, CA 09-01547, CA 09-01548,
CA 09-01549, CA 10-00068, CA 10-00069, CA 10-00070, AND CA 10-00072
DOCKET NOS. CA 09-01531, CA 09-01532, CA 09-01533, CA 09-01534, CA 09-01535, CA 09-01536, CA 09-01537, CA 09-01538, CA 09-01539, CA 09-01547, CA 09-01548,
CA 09-01549, CA 10-00068, CA 10-00069, CA 10-00070, AND CA 10-00072
DOCKET NOS. CA 09-01531, CA 09-01532, CA 09-01533, CA 09-01534, CA 09-01535, CA 09-01536, CA 09-01537, CA 09-01538, CA 09-01539, CA 09-01547, CA 09-01548,
CA 09-01549, CA 10-00068, CA 10-00069, CA 10-00070, AND CA 10-00072
DOCKET NOS. CA 09-01531, CA 09-01532, CA 09-01533, CA 09-01534, CA 09-01535, CA 09-01536, CA 09-01537, CA 09-01538, CA 09-01539, CA 09-01547, CA 09-01548,
CA 09-01549, CA 10-00068, CA 10-00069, CA 10-00070, AND CA 10-00072
DOCKET NOS. CA 09-01531, CA 09-01532, CA 09-01533, CA 09-01534, CA 09-01535, CA 09-01536, CA 09-01537, CA 09-01538, CA 09-01539, CA 09-01547, CA 09-01548,
CA 09-01549, CA 10-00068, CA 10-00069, CA 10-00070, AND CA 10-00072
DOCKET NOS. CA 09-01531, CA 09-01532, CA 09-01533, CA 09-01534, CA 09-01535, CA 09-01536, CA 09-01537, CA 09-01538, CA 09-01539, CA 09-01547, CA 09-01548,
CA 09-01549, CA 10-00068, CA 10-00069, CA 10-00070, AND CA 10-00072

TRACI BUTLER, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
V
STAGECOACH GROUP, PLC, COACH USA, INC., INDIVIDUALLY AND
DOING BUSINESS AS COACH CANADA, INC.,
TRENTWAY-WAGAR, INC., ERIE COACH LINES COMPANY,
RYAN A. COMFORT, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS,
ET AL., DEFENDANTS.
(APPEAL NO. 1.)
TRACI BUTLER, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
V
STAGECOACH GROUP, PLC, ET AL., DEFENDANTS,
J & J HAULING, INC., JOSEPH R. FRENCH, INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING BUSINESS
AS J & J TRUCKING, INC., AND/OR J & J HAULING, INC., AND PAMELA ZEISET, AS
ADMINSTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF ERNEST D. ZEISET, JR. (DECEASED),
DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS.
(APPEAL NO. 2.)
TRACI BUTLER, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
V
STAGECOACH GROUP, PLC, COACH USA, INC., INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING
BUSINESS AS COACH CANADA, INC., TRENTWAY-WAGAR, INC., ERIE COACH
LINES COMPANY, RYAN A. COMFORT, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS,
ET AL. DEFENDANTS.
(APPEAL NO. 3.)
MARCH 29, 2010
PAGE 2
COURTNEY COWAN, KELLY COWAN AND BRIAN COWAN,
PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
STAGECOACH GROUP, PLC, COACH USA, INC., INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING
BUSINESS AS COACH CANADA, INC.,
TRENTWAY-WAGAR, INC., ERIE COACH LINES COMPANY,
RYAN A. COMFORT, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS,
ET AL., DEFENDANTS.
(APPEAL NO. 4.)
COURTNEY COWAN, KELLY COWAN AND BRIAN COWAN,
PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
STAGECOACH GROUP, PLC, ET AL., DEFENDANTS,
J & J HAULING, INC., JOSEPH R. FRENCH, INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING BUSINESS
AS J & J TRUCKING, INC., AND/OR J & J HAULING, INC., AND PAMELA ZEISET, AS
ADMINSTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF ERNEST D. ZEISET, JR. (DECEASED),
DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS.
(APPEAL NO. 5.)
COURTNEY COWAN, KELLY COWAN, AND
BRIAN COWAN, PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
STAGECOACH GROUP, PLC, COACH USA, INC., INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING
BUSINESS AS COACH CANADA, INC.,
TRENTWAY-WAGAR, INC., ERIE COACH LINES COMPANY,
RYAN A. COMFORT, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS,
ET AL., DEFENDANTS.
(APPEAL NO. 6.)
MARCH 29, 2010
PAGE 3
MEAGAN GODWIN, CARRIE LONG, AND
CARLEIGH WELDON, PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
STAGECOACH GROUP, PLC, COACH USA, INC., INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING
BUSINESS AS COACH CANADA, INC.,
TRENTWAY-WAGAR, INC., ERIE COACH LINES COMPANY,
RYAN A. COMFORT, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS,
ET AL., DEFENDANTS.
(APPEAL NO. 7.)
MEAGAN GODWIN, CARRIE LONG, AND
CARLEIGH WELDON, PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
STAGECOACH GROUP, PLC, ET AL., DEFENDANTS,
J & J HAULING, INC., JOSEPH R. FRENCH, INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING BUSINESS
AS J & J TRUCKING, INC., AND/OR J & J HAULING, INC., AND PAMELA ZEISET, AS
ADMINSTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF ERNEST D. ZEISET, JR. (DECEASED),
DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS.
(APPEAL NO. 8.)
MEAGAN GODWIN, CARRIE LONG, AND
CARLEIGH WELDON, PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
STAGECOACH GROUP, PLC, COACH USA, INC., INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING
BUSINESS AS COACH CANADA, INC.,
TRENTWAY-WAGAR, INC., ERIE COACH LINES COMPANY,
RYAN A. COMFORT, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS,
ET AL. DEFENDANTS.
(APPEAL NO. 9.)
MARCH 29, 2010
PAGE 4
SHEILA ELIZABETH EDWARDS, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS EXECUTRIX OF THE
ESTATE OF RICHARD F. EDWARDS, DECEASED, AND AS ADMINISTRATRIX OF
THE ESTATE OF BRIAN EDWARDS, DECEASED, KELLY ELIZABETH EDWARDS,
JANNA MARIE DESMARAIS, ROBERT JOSEPH DESMARAIS, TRACY LYNN
DESMARAIS, JENNA M. UNDERWOOD, PATRICIA UNDERWOOD, DONALD
UNDERWOOD, CARLY A. LABADIE, GUY P. LABADIE, NANCY LABADIE,
MICHAEL W. COWAN, TORY J. GAULT, RANDY MICHAEL PAGEAU, LINDA JEAN
PAGEAU, JASON P. MAILLOUX, MARCEL MAILLOUX, LOU-ANN MAILLOUX,
TIFFANY STROUD, GARY LANGILL, AND CARRIE LANGILL,
PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
ERIE COACH LINES COMPANY, COACH CANADA, INC.,
TRENTWAY-WAGAR, INC., RYAN A. COMFORT, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS,
ET AL., DEFENDANTS.
(APPEAL NO. 10.)
SHEILA ELIZABETH EDWARDS, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS EXECUTRIX OF THE
ESTATE OF RICHARD F. EDWARDS, DECEASED, AND AS ADMINISTRATRIX OF
THE ESTATE OF BRIAN EDWARDS, DECEASED, KELLY ELIZABETH EDWARDS,
JANNA MARIE DESMARAIS, ROBERT JOSEPH DESMARAIS, TRACY LYNN
DESMARAIS, JENNA M. UNDERWOOD, PATRICIA UNDERWOOD, DONALD
UNDERWOOD, CARLY A. LABADIE, GUY P. LABADIE, NANCY LABADIE,
MICHAEL W. COWAN, TORY J. GAULT, RANDY MICHAEL PAGEAU, LINDA JEAN
PAGEAU, JASON P. MAILLOUX, MARCEL MAILLOUX, LOU-ANN MAILLOUX,
TIFFANY STROUD, GARY LANGILL, AND CARRIE LANGILL,
PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
ERIE COACH LINES COMPANY, ET AL., DEFENDANTS,
J & J TRUCKING, J & J HAULING, INC., JOSEPH R. FRENCH, AND PAMELA ZEISET,
ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF ERNEST D. ZEISET, JR., DECEASED,
DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS.
(APPEAL NO. 11.)
MARCH 29, 2010
PAGE 5
SHEILA ELIZABETH EDWARDS, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS EXECUTRIX OF THE
ESTATE OF RICHARD F. EDWARDS, DECEASED, AND AS ADMINISTRATRIX OF
THE ESTATE OF BRIAN EDWARDS, DECEASED, KELLY ELIZABETH EDWARDS,
JANNA MARIE DESMARAIS, ROBERT JOSEPH DESMARAIS, TRACY LYNN
DESMARAIS, JENNA M. UNDERWOOD, PATRICIA UNDERWOOD, DONALD
UNDERWOOD, CARLY A. LABADIE, GUY P. LABADIE,
NANCY LABADIE, MICHAEL W. COWAN, TORY J. GAULT, RANDY MICHAEL
PAGEAU, LINDA JEAN PAGEAU, JASON P. MAILLOUX, MARCEL MAILLOUX,
LOU-ANN MAILLOUX, TIFFANY STROUD, GARY LANGILL, AND CARRIE
LANGILL, PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
ERIE COACH LINES COMPANY, COACH CANADA, INC.,
TRENTWAY-WAGAR, INC., RYAN A. COMFORT, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS,
ET AL., DEFENDANTS.
(APPEAL NO. 12.)
MICHAEL ROACH, INDIVIDUALLY, AND AS REPRESENTATIVE OF ESTATE OF
CATHERINE ROACH, DECEASED, ERIN K. ROACH, STEPHEN M. ROACH AND
CHRISTOPHER D. ROACH, PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
COACH USA, INC., COACH CANADA, INC., ERIE COACH LINES COMPANY,
INDIVIDUALLY. AND DOING BUSINESS AS COACH CANADA, INC.,
TRENTWAY-WAGAR, INC., INDIVIDUALLY, AND DOING BUSNIESS AS COACH
CANADA, INC., TRENTWAY-WAGAR (PROPERTIES) INC., AND RYAN A.
COMFORT, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS,
ET AL., DEFENDANTS.
(APPEAL NO. 1.)
MARCH 29, 2010
PAGE 6
MICHAEL ROACH, INDIVIDUALLY, AND AS REPRESENTATIVE OF ESTATE OF
CATHERINE ROACH, DECEASED, ERIN K. ROACH, STEPHEN M. ROACH AND
CHRISTOPHER D. ROACH, PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
COACH USA, INC., ET AL., DEFENDANTS,
J & J HAULING, INC., AND ESTATE OF ERNEST D. ZEISET, JR., DECEASED,
DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS.
(APPEAL NO.2.)
LAURALEE DAVIDSON, PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
V
COACH USA, INC., COACH CANADA, INC., ERIE COACH LINES COMPANY,
INDIVIDUALLY, AND DOING BUSINESS AS COACH CANADA, INC.,
TRENTWAY-WAGAR, INC., INDIVIDUALLY, AND DOING BUSINESS AS COACH
CANADA, INC., TRENTWAY-WAGAR (PROPERTIES) INC., AND RYAN A.
COMFORT, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS, ET AL., DEFENDANTS.
(APPEAL NO. 3)
LAURALEE DAVIDSON, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
V
COACH USA, INC., ET AL., DEFENDANTS,
J & J HAULING, INC., AND ESTATE OF ERNEST D. ZEISET, JR., DECEASED,
DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS.
(APPEAL NO.4.)

Defendants-respondents Stagecoach Group, PLC, Coach USA, Inc., Coach Canada, Inc., Trentway-Wagar, Inc. Erie Coach Lines Company and Ryan A. Comfort having moved to consolidate the appeals taken from orders of the Supreme Court entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Livingston on March 24, 2009 scheduled for oral argument during the April

DOCKET NOS. CA 09-01531, CA 09-01532, CA 09-01533, CA 09-01534, CA 09-01535, CA 09-01536, CA 09-01537, CA 09-01538, CA 09-01539, CA 09-01547, CA 09-01548,

CA 09-01549, CA 10-00068, CA 10-00069, CA 10-00070, AND CA 10-00072

MARCH 29, 2010

PAGE 7

term of this Court (Docket Nos. CA 09-01531, CA 09-01532, CA 09-01533, CA 09-01534, CA 09-01535, CA 09-01536, CA 09-01537, CA 09-01538, CA 09-01539, CA 09-01547, CA 09-01548, and CA 09-01549) with the appeals scheduled for oral argument during the May term of this Court (Docket Nos. CA 10-00068, CA 10-00069, CA 10-00070, AND CA 10-00072), and to adjourn oral argument of the appeals scheduled to be heard during the April term,

Now, upon reading and filing the affirmation of Anthony J. Piazza dated March 5, 2010, the notice of motion with proof of service thereof, the opposing affirmation of Marc S. Albert dated March 12, 2010, the statement of Lawrence T. D'Aloise, Jr. dated March 10, 2010, the statement of Thomas E. Kelly dated March 16, 2010, and due deliberation having been had thereon,

It is hereby ORDERED that the motion is denied.

Entered: March 29, 2010

Patricia L. Morgan, Clerk