THE INSPECTION PIT, WHICH DID NOT VIOLATE ANY STATUTE OR REGULATION, WAS OPEN AND OBVIOUS AND NOT INHERENTLY DANGEROUS; PLAINTIFF’S FALL INTO THE PIT WAS NOT ACTIONABLE (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the inspection pit into which plaintiff fell was open and obvious and therefore not actionable:

… “[T]here is no duty to protect or warn against an open and obvious condition that, as a matter of law, is not inherently dangerous” ,,, , or “where the condition on the property is inherent or incidental to the nature of the property, and could be reasonably anticipated by those using it” … .

Here, the defendants established, prima facie, that the inspection pit was an open and obvious condition that was inherent or incidental to the nature of the property and was not inherently dangerous … . In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact. The speculative and conclusory affidavit of the plaintiff’s expert submitted in opposition to the motion did not allege that there was a violation of any applicable statute or relevant industry standard, and it was insufficient to raise a triable issue of fact … . Lebron v City of New York, 2022 NY Slip Op 04960, Second Dept 8-17-22

Practice Point: The open and obvious condition, an inspection pit, into which plaintiff fell, was open and obvious and did not violate any statute or code provision. Therefore, plaintiff’s fall was not actionable.