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QUESTIONS OF FACT WHETHER DEFENDANT WAS AN OUT-OF-POSSESSION LANDLORD PRECLUDED SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF THE LANDLORD IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court in this slip and fall case, determined there were questions of fact whether the landlord was an out-of-possession landlord:

“A property owner has a duty to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition” … . “That duty is premised on the landowner’s exercise of control over the property, as the person in possession and control of property is best able to identify and prevent any harm to others” … . “It has been held uniformly that control is the test which measures generally the responsibility in tort of the owner of real property” … . “Thus, a landowner who has transferred possession and control is generally not liable for injuries caused by dangerous conditions on the property” … .

… [D]efendants failed to establish their prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them on the ground that they were out-of-possession landlords. Although the defendants submitted a lease establishing that a tenant leased the entire office building and was responsible for the maintenance of vestibules and entrances, the defendants’ submissions also demonstrated that they maintained an office in the building and that, each work day, the defendants’ employee used the building entrance where the plaintiff’s slip and fall occurred. The defendants’ submissions further demonstrated that this employee would report any defects in the building to the building’s security, and the tenant would then remedy those defects. Under these circumstances, triable issues of fact exist as to the defendants’ control of the subject property and whether they were out-of-possession landlords … . Grullon v 57-115 Assoc., L.P., 2024 NY Slip Op 03811, Second Dept 7-17-24

Practice Point: Here, even though the lease made the tenant responsible for maintenance, the fact that the landlord had an office in the building raised a question of fact whether the landlord could escape liability for a slip and fall as an out-of-possession landlord.​

 

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