Opinion
2018–00809 Index No. 707778/15
11-21-2018
Robert EASLEY, respondent, v. U HAUL, et al., appellants.
Nicoletti Gonson Spinner Ryan Gulino Pinter LLP, New York, N.Y. (Benjamin Gonson and Kevin Pinter of counsel), for appellants. Mallilo & Grossman, Flushing, N.Y. (Yelena Ruderman of counsel), for respondent.
Nicoletti Gonson Spinner Ryan Gulino Pinter LLP, New York, N.Y. (Benjamin Gonson and Kevin Pinter of counsel), for appellants.
Mallilo & Grossman, Flushing, N.Y. (Yelena Ruderman of counsel), for respondent.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., SANDRA L. SGROI, COLLEEN D. DUFFY, HECTOR D. LASALLE, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, with costs, and the defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is granted.
The plaintiff allegedly was injured when he tripped and fell on a half-inch to one-inch metal protrusion sticking out of the ground while walking into a U Haul parking lot maintained and operated by the defendants. The plaintiff subsequently commenced this personal injury action against the defendants, asserting negligent maintenance of the property. After the completion of discovery, the defendants moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, arguing that the defect was too trivial to be actionable. In an order entered November 22, 2017, the Supreme Court denied the motion, and the defendants appeal. Whether a dangerous or defective condition exists on property so as to give rise to liability depends on the particular circumstances of each case and is generally a question of fact for the jury (see Pellegrino v. Trapasso, 114 A.D.3d 917, 980 N.Y.S.2d 813 ; Acevedo v. New York City Tr. Auth., 97 A.D.3d 515, 947 N.Y.S.2d 599 ; Stoppeli v. Yacenda, 78 A.D.3d 815, 911 N.Y.S.2d 119 ). However, not every injury related to an elevated defect need be submitted to a jury (see Trincere v. County of Suffolk, 90 N.Y.2d 976, 665 N.Y.S.2d 615, 688 N.E.2d 489 ; Kehoe v. City of New York, 88 A.D.3d 655, 656, 930 N.Y.S.2d 252 ).
In determining whether a defect is trivial, courts "must examine all of the facts presented, including the width, depth, elevation, irregularity and appearance of the defect along with the time, place and circumstance of the injury" ( Kavanagh v. Archdiocese of the City of N.Y., 152 A.D.3d 654, 655, 58 N.Y.S.3d 579 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Trincere v. County of Suffolk, 90 N.Y.2d at 978, 665 N.Y.S.2d 615, 688 N.E.2d 489 ). "[T]here is no ‘minimal dimension test’ or per se rule that a defect must be a certain minimum height or depth in order to be actionable" ( Trincere v. County of Suffolk, 90 N.Y.2d at 977, 665 N.Y.S.2d 615, 688 N.E.2d 489 ). However, a defendant "may not be cast in damages for negligent maintenance by reason of trivial defects on a walkway, not constituting a trap or nuisance, as a consequence of which a pedestrian might merely stumble, stub his toes, or trip over a raised projection" ( Hutchinson v. Sheridan Hill House Corp., 26 N.Y.3d 66, 78, 19 N.Y.S.3d 802, 41 N.E.3d 766 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Liebl v. Metropolitan Jockey Club, 10 A.D.2d 1006, 1006, 204 N.Y.S.2d 670 ).
The defendants presented evidence that the alleged defect was an inch or less in size, that the incident occurred in the daytime hours under clear conditions, and that the area immediately surrounding the alleged defect was clear of debris and not dangerous or trap-like. This evidence was sufficient to establish, prima facie, that the defect was trivial and nonactionable as a matter of law (see Kam Lin Chee v. DiPaolo, 138 A.D.3d 780, 782, 31 N.Y.S.3d 509 ; Gaud v. Markham, 307 A.D.2d 845, 846, 764 N.Y.S.2d 241 ; see also Trincere v. County of Suffolk, 90 N.Y.2d 976, 665 N.Y.S.2d 615, 688 N.E.2d 489 ).
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 ), since he relied on conclusory allegations (see Boise Cascade Office Prods. Corp. v. Gilman & Ciocia, Inc., 30 A.D.3d 454, 816 N.Y.S.2d 374 ; Becker v. Shore Drugs, 296 A.D.2d 515, 745 N.Y.S.2d 492 ).
Accordingly, the Supreme Court should have granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.
MASTRO, J.P., SGROI, DUFFY and LASALLE, JJ., concur.