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PLAINTIFF COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF HIS STAIRWAY FALL BUT HE TESTIFIED HE REACHED FOR A HANDRAIL AND THERE WAS NONE; DEFENDANTS DID NOT PRESENT ANY EVIDENCE ON THE PRESENCE OR NEED FOR A HANDRAIL; THERE CAN BE MORE THAN ONE PROXIMATE CAUSE OF A FALL; DEFENDANTS WERE NOT ENTITLED TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendants were not entitled to summary judgment in this stairway slip and fall case. Although plaintiff could not identify the initial cause of his fall, plaintiff, in his deposition, testified he reached for a handrail, but there was none. Defendants did not present evidence there was a handrail or a handrail was not required. In the usual case, the inability to identify the cause of a fall is fatal to the action. But here there is a question of fact whether there was an additional proximate cause of the fall, i.e., the absence of a handrail:

… [T]he defendants established, prima facie, that a jury would be required to speculate that cement dust caused the plaintiff to fall. In support of their cross-motion, they submitted the plaintiff’s deposition testimony that, after his fall, he noticed concrete dust on his face, hair, and uniform. The plaintiff admitted, however, that he did not notice the cement dust before his fall or see it on the landing of the stairs after his fall, and he failed to point to any additional evidence that might create a reasonable inference that the cement dust, rather than a misstep or loss of balance, was a proximate cause of his fall.

However, “[t]here can be more than one proximate cause of an accident, and [g]enerally, it is for the trier of fact to determine the issue of proximate cause” … . Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiff as the nonmoving party, the defendants failed to establish that a handrail was present or was not required, or that its alleged absence was not a proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries … . Adzei v Edward Bldrs., Inc., 2023 NY Slip Op 05580, Second Dept 11-8-23

Practice Point: Here plaintiff’s inability to identify the cause of his fall was not fatal to the action. There can be more than one proximate cause of a fall. Plaintiff testified he reached for a handrail but there was none and defendants presented no evidence of the presence or the need for a handrail.

 

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