SKETCHES OF COURT: Queens car accident case litigated in Brooklyn court
In this courtroom sketch, Hon. Bernadette Bayne listens as plaintiff’s attorney David E. Kaston (standing), of the law firm Kaston & Aberle, of counsel to the law offices of Michael Kimmelman PC, conducts a cross-examination in the motor vehicle accident trial of Joan Roney v. Mohammed Hoque, Peter Keszthelyi and Dina Keszthelyi last week in Kings County Civil Term. Defendant Hoque is represented by William Swift (seated, center) of the law firm O’Connor, O’Connor, Hintz & Deveney. Co-defendants Peter and Dina Keszthelyi were represented by Jacqueline S. Kim (seated, right) of the law firm James G. Bilello & Assoc. Court reporter Doreen Gaeta-Milella transcribes the proceedings.
The accident, which happened at the intersection of Francis Lewis Boulevard and 23rd Avenue in Whitestone, Queens, in November 2010, occurred as defendant Hoque was at the wheel of his livery cab. The plaintiff was his passenger. The defendant attempted a sudden left U-turn from the right lane and struck the co-defendants’ car, which was proceeding forward in the left lane. The defendant’s car then briefly veered into the oncoming traffic lane, subsequently struck a parked car and came to rest on a private driveway. The co-defendants’ car was owned by Peter Keszthelyi and driven by Dina Keszthelyi.
The defendant’s attorney sought to implicate the co-defendants as negligent in failing to keep a proper lookout. Nevertheless, the jury found 100 percent negligence against Hoque in the liability phase of this bifurcated trial. The damages phase of the trial continues this week.
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