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QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER AN UNGUARDED, UNILLUMINATED SEAWALL AT THE BACK OF DEFENDANTS’ YARD CONSTITUTED AN ACTIONABLE DANGEROUS CONDITION; PLAINTIFF, AT NIGHT, FELL OVER THE WALL DOWN TO THE BEACH BELOW (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department determined there was a question of fact whether the unguarded seawall in defendants’ backyard constituted a dangerous condition. Plaintiff was at defendants’ party and walked to the back of the yard to relieve himself when he fell over the wall, which was 20 feet above the lake:

Defendants’ backyard is approximately 20 feet above the lake, separated by a natural cliff that runs along the shoreline. Built into the face of the cliff is the 15-foot-high seawall, which consists of two levels, with an upper and a lower platform, and a cement staircase built into the center of the seawall that permits access from the backyard to the lower platform. Defendants’ backyard includes a cement sidewalk that leads to the top of the seawall’s staircase. Plaintiff fell off the seawall down to the beach below and sustained various injuries. * * *

… [D]efendants failed to eliminate all triable issues of fact whether the alleged hazard posed by the cliff and seawall, given the lighting conditions at the time of the accident, “was visible and obvious or presented a latent, dangerous condition” … . Stempien v Walls, 2021 NY Slip Op 02683, Fourth Dept 4-30-21

 

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