You are here: / / IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE, THE JURY PROPERLY FOUND THE LANDLORD NEGLIGENTLY...
,

IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE, THE JURY PROPERLY FOUND THE LANDLORD NEGLIGENTLY FAILED TO MAINTAIN A HANDRAIL BUT THE LOOSE HANDRAIL WAS NOT A PROXIMATE CAUSE OF THE FALL (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, over a dissent, determined the jury in this slip and fall case properly rejected plaintiff’s testimony because it was inconsistent. The jury found that the landlord negligently failed to maintain a handrail which had become loose, but that the loose handrail was not a proximate cause of plaintiff’s fall:

Given the nature of the plaintiff’s testimony, there is no basis to disturb the jury’s determination. “Where, as here, ‘there is a reasonable view of the evidence under which it is not logically impossible to reconcile a finding of negligence but no proximate cause, it will be presumed that, in returning such a verdict, the jury adopted that view'” … .

Moreover, the jury was not required to accept the testimony of the plaintiff’s expert to the exclusion of the facts and circumstances provided by other testimony and evidence—including the plaintiff’s own inconsistent version of the accident … . Although the plaintiff’s expert opined that the proximate cause of the accident was the loose handrail, the expert admitted at trial that the plaintiff’s testimony that she was disposing of a bag of garbage prior to the accident was not included in his report. Thus, the jury was free to reject the opinion proffered by the plaintiff’s expert despite the absence of a defendant’s expert. Galeano v Giambrone, 2023 NY Slip Op 03909, Second Dept 7-26-23

Practice Point: Because of the plaintiff’s inconsistent testimony about how she fell, the jury properly rejected her testimony as well and the plaintiff’s expert’s testimony, despite the absence of a defense expert. The jury could have properly determined the landlord was negligent in failing to maintain a handrail, but the loose handrail was not a proximate cause of the plaintiff’s fall.

 

You might also like
Fraud Sufficiently Pled; Six-Year Statute of Limitations Applied
INSURED DID NOT VIOLATE THE SUM POLICY BY SETTLING WITH THE OTHER DRIVER WITHOUT THE SUM CARRIER’S CONSENT, THE SUM CARRIER WAS INFORMED OF THE SETTLEMENT AND TOOK NO ACTION WITHIN 30 DAYS (SECOND DEPT).
SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE SERVICE OF A LATE NOTICE OF CLAIM AGAINST A MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL ALLEGING MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, MEDICAL RECORDS PROVIDED NOTICE OF THE CLAIM (SECOND DEPT).
THE CHILDREN’S HEARSAY EVIDENCE AND KNOWLEDGE FATHER LEGALLY POSSESSED A FIREARM DID NOT SUPPORT THE NEGLECT FINDING; THE EVIDENTIARY CRITERIA FOR NEGLECT ARE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL (SECOND DEPT).
CANDIDATE DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO CHALLENGES TO SIGNATURES ON THE DESIGNATING PETITION, ALTHOUGH THE SUBSCRIBING WITNESS HAD TEMPORARILY MOVED OUT OF THE RESIDENCE DESCRIBED IN THE STATEMENT OF WITNESS SHE INTENDED TO RETURN, DESIGNATING PETITION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INVALIDATED (SECOND DEPT).
A FAMILY OFFENSE PROCEEDING MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE FAMILY MEMBER RESIDES, AS WELL AS IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE OFFENSE OCCURRED (SECOND DEPT). ​
Pre-Deposition Motion to Dismiss in Rear-End Collision Case Not Premature
DEFENDANTS DID NOT SHOW THERE WAS A COMPELLING NEED FOR DISCOVERY OF ‘ALCOHOL/DRUG TREATMENT/MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION/HIV-RELATED INFORMATION’ IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE, DISCOVERY REQUEST SHOULD HAVE BEEN DENIED (SECOND DEPT).

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2025 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

PURSUANT TO THE FORECLOSURE ABUSE PREVENTION ACT (FAPA) THE BANK IS ESTOPPED... ​THE BUYER WAS NOTIFED TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE IN THIS REAL ESTATE DEAL AND...