Court reinstates jury verdict in Boyer v. City of New York case

A New York appellate court has reinstated a jury verdict in favor of Aeliana Boyer, who suffered injuries after being struck by an ambulance. The decision, made on July 1, 2026, affects Boyer and the City of New York, as well as the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). This ruling is significant as it emphasizes the importance of jury decisions in personal injury cases.

The case, Boyer v. City of New York, was filed under docket number 2024-07642. It arose from an incident where Boyer was riding her bicycle through a green light at the intersection of Bond Street and Union Street in Brooklyn. She was struck by an ambulance, which did not stop after the collision. Boyer alleged that the ambulance was owned and operated by the FDNY and the City of New York.

Initially, the case went to trial, where the jury found that the ambulance was indeed involved in the accident and that the defendants were liable for Boyer's injuries. However, the City of New York and the FDNY later challenged this verdict, claiming it was legally insufficient. They argued that there was not enough evidence to support the jury's conclusion that the ambulance was theirs.

The dispute reached the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York after the trial court agreed with the defendants. The trial court set aside the jury’s verdict on liability and dismissed Boyer’s amended complaint against them. Boyer then appealed this decision, seeking to have the jury's original verdict reinstated.

In its ruling, the Appellate Division reversed the trial court's decision. The court noted that the jury's verdict should be reinstated because there was a rational basis for the jury's conclusion. The judges stated, "There was a valid line of reasoning and permissible inferences which could have led a rational jury to conclude that the ambulance was an FDNY ambulance." This finding was supported by GPS evidence placing the ambulance at the accident scene shortly after the collision.

The judges in the Appellate Division included Lara J. Genovesi, Lillian Wan, Janice A. Taylor, and Donna-Marie E. Golia. They emphasized that the jury's decision must be respected unless it is found to be utterly irrational, which was not the case here. The court also stated that the plaintiff is entitled to the presumption that the jury credited her testimony and that of a witness who identified the ambulance.

This ruling is important as it reinforces the role of juries in personal injury cases. It highlights that as long as there is a reasonable basis for a jury's decision, that decision should stand. The court's decision also awarded Boyer one bill of costs, further supporting her claim against the City and the FDNY.

Going forward, this ruling means that Boyer can continue her pursuit of damages from the City of New York and the FDNY. It underscores the importance of jury findings in personal injury cases and sets a precedent that may influence future cases involving similar circumstances.

As for the next steps, it is unclear if the defendants plan to appeal this decision to a higher court. Details were not available in the court filing regarding any related cases or further actions the defendants may take.