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PLAINTIFF’S DECEDENT FELL FROM AN UNGUARDED TOP BUNK AT A TEMPORARY SHELTER AND WAS RENDERED A QUADRIPLEGIC; THE SHELTER’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED; THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE SHELTER HAD INSTALLED GUARDRAILS ON OTHER TOP BUNKS (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined the negligence cause of action against defendant temporary housing shelter (CAFLF) should not have been dismissed. Plaintiff’s decedent (Philips) was rendered a quadriplegic and later died after falling from an unguarded top bunk. The shelter’s maintenance director testified it was dangerous for anyone to sleep in an unguarded top bunk and that the shelter had installed guardrails on other top bunks:

Summary judgment should be denied to CAFLF. An unguarded top bunk is not an inherently dangerous instrumentality, and a property owner or manager has no duty to install guardrails absent notice that an unguarded top bunk presents a dangerous condition. However, Ida Morris, Philip’s late wife, testified that she and Philip had complained to a CAFLF social worker about the lack of guardrails before Philip’s accident. CAFLF’s maintenance director testified that he and his staff knew it was dangerous for anyone to sleep in an unguarded top bunk and that they installed guardrails on top bunks that were going to be slept in. While the breach of an internal policy that transcends the duty of reasonable care cannot be considered evidence of negligence … , this testimony raises an issue of fact as to whether CAFLF knew or should have known that the unguarded top bunk from which Philip fell was dangerous and, if so, whether CAFLF breached its duty to exercise reasonable care by failing to install a guardrail on the top bunk before Philip’s accident. Slaughter v City of New York, 2020 NY Slip Op 06972, First Dept 11-24-20

 

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