Opinion
2014-02-6
Luis BERRIOS, Plaintiff–Respondent, v. The CITY OF NEW YORK, Defendant–Appellant, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., et al., Defendants, Tri–Messine Construction Co., Defendant–Respondent. [And a Third–Party Action].
Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Kathy H. Chang of counsel), for appellant. Lefkowicz & Gottfried, LLP, New York (Eric J. Gottfried of counsel), for Luis Berrios, respondent.
Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Kathy H. Chang of counsel), for appellant. Lefkowicz & Gottfried, LLP, New York (Eric J. Gottfried of counsel), for Luis Berrios, respondent.
Law Offices of James J. Toomey, New York (Eric P. Tosca of counsel), for Tri–Messine Construction Co., respondent.
Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Larry S. Schachner, J.), entered August 22, 2011, which denied defendant City of New York's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and cross claims as against it, unanimously reversed, on the law, without costs, and the motion granted. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment accordingly.
Eight days before plaintiff's accident, a City highway inspector employed by the Department of Transportation prepared a Highway Inspection and Quality Assurance Report identifying a two-inch-deep defect in the street at the location of the accident, and issued a Corrective Action Request for repairs. These documents constitute a “written acknowledgement from the city of the defective, unsafe, dangerousor obstructed condition,” i.e., one of the three alternative prerequisites to bringing an action against the City for personal injuries caused by a defect in the public street ( see Administrative Code of City of N.Y. § 7–201[c][2]; Bruni v. City of New York, 2 N.Y.3d 319, 778 N.Y.S.2d 757, 811 N.E.2d 19 [2004] ). However, the same provision of the Administrative Code also provides the City with a 15–day grace period within which to repair or otherwise render safe the defective condition (§ 7–201[c][2] ). Since the “written acknowledgement” was received by the City only eight days before the accident, this action may not be maintained against the City.
Plaintiff has identified no circumstances warranting an exception to the notice requirement of the Administrative Code or the 15–day grace period ( see Walker v. City of New York, 34 A.D.3d 226, 825 N.Y.S.2d 445 [1st Dept.2006]; Campisi v. Bronx Water & Sewer Serv., 1 A.D.3d 166, 766 N.Y.S.2d 560 [1st Dept.2003]; compare Kelly v. City of New York, 172 A.D.2d 350, 568 N.Y.S.2d 744 [1st Dept.1991] ). SWEENY, J.P., ANDRIAS, FREEDMAN, RICHTER, CLARK, JJ., concur.