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7/8 INCH HEIGHT DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND DOORWAY THRESHOLD WAS DEEMED TRIVIAL AS A MATTER OF LAW IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE; THE NYC BUILDING CODE, WHICH REQUIRES A HEIGHT DIFFERENTIAL OF NO MORE THAN 1/2 INCH, DID NOT APPLY TO THE HOME PURCHASED IN 1980 (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined the 7/8 height-differential between the floor and the threshold was trivial as a matter of law in thus slip and fall case. The court noted that the NYC Building Code, which requires a height-differential of no more than 1/2 inch did not apply to the home which was purchased in 1980:

The 7/8-inch height differential between defendant’s kitchen tile floor and the door saddle is readily discernible from the photographs authenticated by plaintiff, and the alleged defect had none of the characteristics of a trap or snare … . Plaintiff’s deposition testimony established that she was not distracted and could see the door saddle before the accident. Plaintiff had repeatedly walked over the saddle in the days leading up to her accident and had noticed the raised condition of the door saddle … . Defendant was not required to provide an expert’s affidavit to make a prima facie showing that the height differential was trivial … . * * *

“Existing buildings are generally exempt from the provisions of the current [New York City Building Code] unless there is substantial renovation or change in use” … . Defendant testified that the linoleum flooring adjacent to the door saddle was changed to tile in the “late” 1990s. However, plaintiff’s professional engineer made no showing that changing the flooring constituted a substantial renovation or change in use causing the 2008, 2010, and 2022 Building Codes to apply. Mejias v Basch, 2025 NY Slip Op 06137, First Dept 11-6-25

Practice Point: Here a 7/8 inch height differential between the floor and a doorway threshold was deemed trivial as a matter of law and the slip and fall case was dismissed. The Building Code, which requires a height differential of no more than 1/2 inch, did not apply because the home was purchased before that building code provision was enacted.

 

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