RARE CASE WHERE DEFENDANT SUBMITTED SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO DEMONSTRATE SNOW REMOVAL EFFORTS DID NOT CREATE OR EXACERBATE A DANGEROUS CONDITION; DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED.

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendant (Sailsman) was entitled to summary judgment in a slip and fall case. Defendant demonstrated that his snow removal efforts did not create or exacerbate a dangerous condition. [This case is noteworthy because the vast majority of defendants’  motions for summary judgment in similar cases are denied for failure to present the necessary evidence.]:

Sailsman made a prima facie showing that his property is a two-family home in which he resides, not subject to liability pursuant to Administrative Code of City of NY § 7-210 (b), and that his voluntary snow removal efforts did not create or exacerbate the alleged hazardous condition on the sidewalk … . Sailsman testified that the day before the accident, he removed the snow and ice from the sidewalk and applied enough salt to completely melt the ice, and provided a neighbor’s affidavit confirming that the sidewalk was clear and safe to walk on, as well as photographs taken shortly after the accident. Montiel v Sailsman, 2015 NY Slip Op 08968, 1st Dept 12-8-15

MONTHLY COMPILATION INDEX ENTRIES FOR THIS CASE:

NEGLIGENCE (PROPERTY OWNER DEMONSTRATED SNOW REMOVAL EFFORTS DID NOT CREATE DANGEROUS CONDITION)/SNOW REMOVAL EFFORTS (DEFENDANT DEMONSTRATED IT DID NOT CREATE DANGEROUS CONDITION)/SLIP AND FALL (SNOW REMOVAL DID NOT CREATE DANGEROUS CONDITION)