In Whitney v. Quaker Chem. Corp. (90 NY2d 845, 683 NE2d 768, 660 NYS2d 862 [1997]), plaintiff's action was time-barred because he was "aware of the primary condition for which damages are sought" more than four years after: (1) he made repeated trips to a local hospital and a center; (2) the doctors' reports reflected a diagnosis that coolant exposure caused plaintiff's illness; (3) plaintiff told an attending nurse that "the coolant is killing me"; (4) plaintiff filed a workers' compensation claim and Employer's Report of Injury/Illness forms, outlining the same symptoms and stating that the coolant exposure was at fault (id. at 847).