A METAL PROTRUSION IN A PARKING LOT MEASURING AN INCH OR LESS WAS A NON-ACTIONABLE TRIVIAL DEFECT, SUPREME COURT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined that a metal protrusion of an inch or less in a parking lot constituted a trivial defect which was not actionable in this slip and fall case:
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” … . “[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” … . 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” … .
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. Easley v U Haul, 2018 NY Slip Op 08008, Second Dept 11-21-18
NEGLIGENCE (SLIP AND FALL, A METAL PROTRUSION IN A PARKING LOT MEASURING AN INCH OR LESS WAS A NON-ACTIONABLE TRIVIAL DEFECT, SUPREME COURT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT))/SLIP AND FALL (A METAL PROTRUSION IN A PARKING LOT MEASURING AN INCH OR LESS WAS A NON-ACTIONABLE TRIVIAL DEFECT, SUPREME COURT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT))/EVIDENCE (NEGLIGENCE, TRIVIAL DEFECT, A METAL PROTRUSION IN A PARKING LOT MEASURING AN INCH OR LESS WAS A NON-ACTIONABLE TRIVIAL DEFECT, SUPREME COURT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT))/TRIVIAL DEFECT (SLIP AND FALL, A METAL PROTRUSION IN A PARKING LOT MEASURING AN INCH OR LESS WAS A NON-ACTIONABLE TRIVIAL DEFECT, SUPREME COURT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT))
