Opinion
06-09-2017
Kenneth M. QUINNIEY and Verlaine D. Quinniey, Plaintiffs–Respondents, v. Nina H. BLUMLEIN, Defendant, Nissan–Infiniti LT, and Nilt, Inc., Defendants–Appellants.
London Fischer LLP, New York City (Clifford B. Aaron of Counsel), for Defendants–Appellants. Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP, Buffalo (John A. Collins of Counsel), for Plaintiffs–Respondents.
London Fischer LLP, New York City (Clifford B. Aaron of Counsel), for Defendants–Appellants.
Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP, Buffalo (John A. Collins of Counsel), for Plaintiffs–Respondents.
PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., SMITH, CARNI, CURRAN, AND SCUDDER, JJ.
Memorandum:
Plaintiffs commenced this action against, inter alia, Nissan–Infiniti LT and Nilt, Inc. (defendants), seeking damages for personal injuries allegedly resulting from a motor vehicle accident. Defendants are the owners of a leased motor vehicle allegedly involved in the accident. The complaint alleges, insofar as relevant to this appeal, that defendants are vicariously liable as the owners of the vehicle pursuant to Vehicle and Traffic Law § 388, but further alleges that the subject accident "was caused as a result of the negligent, careless, reckless and unlawful conduct on the part of" defendants. Defendants moved pursuant to CPLR 3211 to dismiss the complaint against them on the ground that the action is barred by the Graves Amendment (49 U.S.C. § 30106 ). Defendants now appeal from an order that granted their motion with respect to the allegations that they are vicariously liable, but denied the motion insofar as the complaint alleges that defendants are directly liable for their own negligence. We affirm.
It is well settled that, "[t]he Graves Amendment provides, generally, that the owner of a leased or rented motor vehicle cannot be held liable for personal injuries resulting from the use of such vehicle by reason of being the owner of the vehicle for harm to persons or property that results or arises out of the use, operation, or possession of the vehicle during the period of the rental or lease if: (1) the owner is engaged in the trade or business of renting or leasing motor vehicles, and (2) ‘there is no negligence or criminal wrongdoing on the part of the owner (or an affiliate of the owner)’ " (Cioffi v. S.M. Foods, Inc., 129 A.D.3d 888, 892, 10 N.Y.S.3d 620, quoting 49 U.S.C. § 30106 [a] ). Contrary to defendants' contention, however, "the Graves Amendment (49 U.S.C. § 30106 ) [does] not apply where, as here, ... plaintiffs seek to hold [defendants] directly liable for [their own] alleged" negligence (Terranova v. Waheed Brokerage, Inc., 78 A.D.3d 1040, 1041, 912 N.Y.S.2d 253 ; see Olmann v. Neil, 132 A.D.3d 744, 745, 18 N.Y.S.3d 105 ; cf. Gluck v. Nebgen, 72 A.D.3d 1023, 1023–1024, 898 N.Y.S.2d 881 ). Consequently, Supreme Court properly denied defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint insofar as it alleges that the accident was the result of defendants' negligence.
Finally, defendants' contention that the complaint fails to allege sufficiently that they are directly liable for their own negligence is raised for the first time on appeal and thus is not properly before us (see generally Oram v. Capone, 206 A.D.2d 839, 840, 615 N.Y.S.2d 799 ; Ciesinski v. Town of Aurora, 202 A.D.2d 984, 985, 609 N.Y.S.2d 745 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.