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Defendant Failed to Raise Question of Fact About Lack of Notice of Icy Condition

Over a dissent, the First Department determined the defendant in a slip and fall case failed to raise a question of fact re: its claim it did not have notice of the icy condition on the sidewalk. The court explained that the defendant failed to offer sufficient evidence of the condition of the sidewalk before the fall:

Plaintiff correctly contends that defendants failed to satisfy their prima facie burden since they did not submit evidence sufficient to establish that they did not have constructive notice of the hazardous icy condition on the sidewalk in front of their franchise restaurant on which plaintiff allegedly slipped …. In cases involving slip and falls on icy sidewalks, a defendant moving for summary judgment must proffer evidence from a person with personal knowledge as to when the sidewalk was last inspected or as to its condition before the accident … . …

Defendants’ supervisor, who only visited that franchise twice per week, attested that the employees would typically respond to winter storms by shoveling the sidewalk, and then applying rock salt. However, she had no personal knowledge of whether this procedure was followed in response to this storm, did not aver that she was present on either the day of the storm or the accident, and offered no evidence as to when the sidewalk had last been inspected or cleaned of snow, ice, or other debris. Hence, defendants’ evidence was “not probative of lack of actual or constructive notice,” and the evidence of their general procedures, standing alone, was insufficient to satisfy their burden on summary judgment …. As defendants failed to meet their initial burden, the motion should have been denied regardless of the sufficiency of plaintiff’s opposition papers … . Rodriguez v Bronx Zoo Rest. Inc, 2013 NY Slip Op 06294, 1st Dept 10-1-13

 

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