A New York appellate court has ruled in favor of Jonathan DeJesus in a case involving a traffic accident with a bus. The decision, issued on September 29, 2026, confirms that DeJesus was not liable for the accident that occurred on March 19, 2019. This ruling affects not only the parties involved but also sets a precedent for future traffic accident cases in New York.

The case, Diaz v. DeJesus, was filed under Index No. 34973/19 and Appeal No. 7063. It reached the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York after a lower court granted DeJesus summary judgment on the issue of his liability. The ruling is significant as it clarifies the standards for proving negligence in traffic accident cases.

Background

The parties involved in this case are Argelio Diaz, the plaintiff, and Jonathan DeJesus, the defendant-respondent. The case also includes the New York City Transit Authority and the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority as defendants-appellants. The dispute arose from a car accident in which Diaz was a passenger in DeJesus' vehicle when it was sideswiped by a bus.

The accident took place at an intersection in the Bronx, where DeJesus claimed he was stopped when the bus collided with his car. Diaz and DeJesus provided one version of events, while the bus driver offered a conflicting account, stating that his bus was not involved in the accident. This discrepancy in testimonies led to the legal dispute over liability.

The case was initially heard in the Supreme Court of Bronx County, where Justice Myrna Socorro granted DeJesus' motion for summary judgment, effectively ruling that he was not negligent. The decision was then appealed by the Transit defendants, leading to the current ruling from the Appellate Division.

The Ruling

The Appellate Division unanimously affirmed the lower court's decision, stating that summary judgment in favor of DeJesus was warranted. The court noted, "DeJesus demonstrated the absence of a triable issue of fact as to his negligence through his deposition testimony that he was stopped at an intersection at the time his car was sideswiped by a bus." This statement underscores the court's finding that DeJesus did not act negligently during the incident.

The court further explained that the conflicting testimonies between DeJesus and the bus driver did not create a material issue of fact. The opinion stated, "the testimony that DeJesus' car was stopped at the intersection at the time it was sideswiped was unrefuted." This indicates that the court found no credible evidence to suggest that DeJesus was at fault for the accident.

Judges Scarpulla, Gesmer, Shulman, O'Neill Levy, and Chan participated in the ruling, reinforcing the decision's authority. The court also noted that the Transit defendants and Diaz failed to present sufficient evidence to imply DeJesus' negligence, which was crucial in their decision.

Impact

This ruling has significant implications for similar traffic accident cases in New York. By affirming that DeJesus was not liable, the court has set a standard for how negligence is determined in situations where multiple parties provide conflicting accounts of an accident.

The decision may influence how future cases are approached, particularly those involving public transportation vehicles. It highlights the importance of clear, credible evidence when establishing liability. The ruling could lead to more drivers and passengers feeling secure in their positions when involved in accidents where they can demonstrate they were not at fault.

What's Next

Details were not available in the court filing regarding whether this ruling can be appealed. However, the case's outcome may serve as a reference point for ongoing and future litigation involving similar circumstances.