Summary
finding that plaintiff, a participant in step aerobics classes, assumed the risk of injury by voluntarily participating in the class
Summary of this case from Pryce v. Town Sports Int'l, LLCOpinion
2013-10-23
Gloria L. RAMIREZ, appellant, v. LUCILLE ROBERTS HEALTH CLUBS, INC., respondent.
Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP, New York, N.Y. (Jeremy Schiowitz of counsel), for appellant. *573Kenny & Zonghetti, LLC, New York, N.Y. (Kenneth B. Danielsen of counsel), for respondent.
Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP, New York, N.Y. (Jeremy Schiowitz of counsel), for appellant. *573Kenny & Zonghetti, LLC, New York, N.Y. (Kenneth B. Danielsen of counsel), for respondent.
In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Rothenberg, J.), dated December 19, 2011, which granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.
The plaintiff allegedly sustained personal injuries while participating in a step aerobics class at the defendant's fitness center. Prior to the subject incident, the plaintiff had participated in at least 34 step aerobic classes at the defendant's facility and approximately 100 to 150 step aerobics classes in other facilities. The plaintiff commenced the instant action, and the defendant moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The Supreme Court granted the motion.
The doctrine of primary assumption of risk provides that a voluntary participant in a sporting or recreational activity “consents to those commonly appreciated risks which are inherent in and arise out of the nature of the sport generally and flow from such participation” ( Morgan v. State of New York, 90 N.Y.2d 471, 484, 662 N.Y.S.2d 421, 685 N.E.2d 202;see Stach v. Warwick Val. Cent. Sch. Dist., 106 A.D.3d 720, 721, 964 N.Y.S.2d 241;Lomonico v. Massapequa Pub. Schools, 84 A.D.3d 1033, 1034, 923 N.Y.S.2d 631;DiGiose v. Bellmore–Merrick Cent. High School Dist., 50 A.D.3d 623, 624, 855 N.Y.S.2d 199). In support of its motion, the defendant demonstrated its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter by establishing that, under the doctrine of primary assumption of risk, the plaintiff, an experienced participant in step aerobics classes, assumed the risk of injury by voluntarily participating in the subject class ( see Morgan v. State of New York, 90 N.Y.2d at 484, 662 N.Y.S.2d 421, 685 N.E.2d 202;Berry v. Bally Total Fitness Corp., 272 A.D.2d 354, 355, 707 N.Y.S.2d 219). In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact ( see Alvarez v. Prospect Hosp., 68 N.Y.2d 320, 324, 508 N.Y.S.2d 923, 501 N.E.2d 572). Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.