FRESHLY PAINTED AND SEALED FLOOR WILL NOT SUPPORT A SLIP AND FALL CASE IN THE ABSENCE OF PROOF THE DEFENDANTS HAD ACTUAL, CONSTRUCTIVE OR IMPUTED KNOWLEDGE THE PAINT AND SEALANT COULD RENDER THE FLOOR DANGEROUSLY SLIPPERY (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department determined that the allegation that a freshly painted floor was slippery was not enough to support a slip and fall case. The defendants’ motion for summary judgment was properly granted:
The plaintiff Stephanie Faiella (hereinafter the injured plaintiff) slipped and fell on a recently painted walkway at her place of employment. The walkway was painted several days prior to her accident. … The walkway was first painted with an epoxy-based paint and then covered with a clear sealant. …
A defendant may not be held liable for the application of “wax, polish, or paint to a floor . . . unless the defendant had actual, constructive, or imputed knowledge” that the product could render the floor dangerously slippery … . Faiella v Oradell Constr. Co., Inc., 2019 NY Slip Op 02851, Second Dept 4-17-19
