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Biondo v. Linden Hill United Methodist Cemetery Corp.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Feb 20, 2001
280 A.D.2d 570 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)

Opinion

Argued January 18, 2001

February 20, 2001.

In an action, inter alia, to recover damages for breach of contract, the plaintiffs appeal from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Lockman, J.), entered November 29, 1999, as granted those branches of the defendant`s motion which were for summary judgment dismissing the second and third causes of action alleging negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Michael A. Cervini, Jackson Heights, N.Y. (Robin Mary Heaney of counsel), for appellants.

Curtis, Vasile, Devine McElhenny, Merrick, N.Y. (Michael J. Dorry of counsel), for respondent.

Before: BRACKEN, ACTING P.J., GOLDSTEIN, MILLER, FEUERSTEIN, JJ.


DECISION ORDER

ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.

Deceased members of the family of the plaintiff Vito Biondo are interred in section 2G of the defendant cemetery. At the time of internment, monuments were placed at the heads of the graves. Without notice to, or the consent of, the plaintiffs, and allegedly based on safety concerns, the defendant relocated the monuments from the heads of the graves to a permanent foundation built at the foot of the graves.

The Supreme Court properly dismissed the second and third causes of action alleging negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Assuming that the relocation of the monument harmed the plaintiffs' property interest, damages may not be recovered for emotional distress caused by an intentional or negligent harm to personal property (see, Stanley v. Smith, 183 A.D.2d 675, 676; Fowler v. Town of Ticonderoga, 131 A.D.2d 919).


Summaries of

Biondo v. Linden Hill United Methodist Cemetery Corp.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Feb 20, 2001
280 A.D.2d 570 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)
Case details for

Biondo v. Linden Hill United Methodist Cemetery Corp.

Case Details

Full title:VITO BIONDO, ET AL., APPELLANTS, v. LINDEN HILL UNITED METHODIST CEMETERY…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Feb 20, 2001

Citations

280 A.D.2d 570 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)
720 N.Y.S.2d 558

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