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PLAINTIFF FELL THROUGH AN UNPROTECTED HOLE IN THE ATTIC FLOOR AND WAS ENTITLED TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON HIS LABOR LAW 240(1) AND 241(6) CAUSES OF ACTION (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff was entitled to summary judgment on the Labor Law 240(1) and 241(6) causes of action. Plaintiff fell through an uncovered hole in the attic floor:

The plaintiffs’ evidence established that the injured plaintiff was exposed to an elevation risk within the ambit of Labor Law § 240(1) by virtue of the uncovered, unguarded opening in the attic floor … , that he was not provided with any safety devices to protect him from that hazard, and that the failure to provide him proper protection from the uncovered, unguarded opening was a proximate cause of his injuries … . * * *

… [T]he defendants violated Labor Law § 241(6) by failing to provide a substantial cover or safety railing for the opening in the floor in accordance with 12 NYCRR 23-1.7(b)(1)(i) and that this violation was a proximate cause of the accident … . Fuentes v 257 Toppings Path, LLC, 2024 NY Slip Op 01535, Second Dept 3-20-24

Practice Point: Plaintiff, who fell through an unprotected hole in the floor,, was entitled to summary judgment on the Labor Law 240(1) and 241(6) causes of action.

 

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PLAINTIFF’S DEMAND FOR MONETARY DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF IN THIS EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION CASE DID NOT WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL; PLAINTIFF COULD BE MADE WHOLE ENTIRELY BY A MONETARY AWARD (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the demand for both money damages and equitable relief in this employment discrimination case did not waive plaintiff’s right to a jury trial. The plaintiff could be made whole entirely with money damages:

CPLR 4101(1) provides, in pertinent part, that “issues of fact shall be tried by a jury, unless a jury trial is waived,” in any action “in which a party demands and sets forth facts which would permit a judgment for a sum of money only.” The “deliberate joinder of claims for legal and equitable relief arising out of the same transaction” may constitute a waiver of the right to a jury trial … . However, the right to a jury trial must be determined by the facts alleged in the complaint and not by the prayer for relief … , and “[w]here a plaintiff alleges facts upon which monetary damages alone will afford full relief, inclusion of a demand for equitable relief in the complaint’s prayer for relief will not constitute a waiver of the right to a jury trial” … . A jury trial will not be waived if the equitable relief sought by the plaintiff is “incidental to [his or her] demand for money damages” … .

Here, the gravamen of the plaintiff’s action is to recover damages for employment discrimination. Therefore, the character of the action is essentially legal, and even though the prayer for relief in the complaint contains demands for equitable relief, only an award of monetary damages would afford the plaintiff a full and complete remedy … . Blackman v Metropolitan Tr. Auth., 2024 NY Slip Op 01530, Second Dept 3-20-24

Practice Point: Although a demand for equitable relief may waive the right to a jury trial, here there was no waiver because plaintiff could be made whole with a monetary award.

 

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ALTHOUGH THE REAR DRIVER IN A REAR-END COLLISION IS NOT ALWAYS NEGLIGENT, THE ALLEGATION THE FRONT DRIVER SUDDENLY STOPPED FOR A YELLOW LIGHT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO AVOID SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF THE FRONT DRIVER (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff should have been awarded summary judgment in this rear-end collision case. The defendant rear driver alleged plaintiff stopped for a yellow light, which did not raise a question of fact about plaintiff’s negligence:

A rear-end collision with a stopped or stopping vehicle establishes a prima facie case of negligence on the part of the operator of the rear vehicle, thereby requiring that operator to rebut the inference of negligence by providing a nonnegligent explanation for the collision … . “A sudden stop of the lead vehicle may constitute a nonnegligent explanation for a rear-end collision” … . “But ‘vehicle stops which are foreseeable under the prevailing traffic conditions, even if sudden and frequent, must be anticipated by the driver who follows'” … .

Here, in support of his motion, the plaintiff submitted his own affidavit that established, prima facie, that the defendant driver was negligent when he struck the rear of the plaintiff’s stopped vehicle, and that the defendant driver’s negligence was the sole proximate cause of the accident … . In opposition, the defendants failed to raise a triable issue of fact. The defendant driver’s explanation for striking the plaintiff’s vehicle in the rear, set forth in his affidavit in opposition to the plaintiff’s motion, that the plaintiff’s vehicle stopped abruptly at a yellow light in front of the intersection’s thick white stop line, was insufficient to raise a triable issue of fact as to the defendant driver’s negligence or whether the plaintiff’s actions contributed to the happening of the accident … . Yawagyentsang v Safeway Constr. Enters., LLC, 2024 NY Slip Op 01580, Second Dept 3-20-24

Practice Point: There are more appellate decisions of late finding questions of fact about whether the rear-driver is negligent in a rear-end collision based upon the allegation the front-driver stopped suddenly for no apparent reason. Here the rear driver alleged the front driver stopped suddenly for a yellow light. That was not enough to raise a question of fact.

 

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THE DISCOVERY DEMANDS IN THIS NEGLIGENT SUPERVISION ACTION AGAINST DEFENDANT SCHOOL DISTRICT ALLEGING SEXUAL ABUSE BY A TEACHER WERE OVERLY BROAD AND UNDULY BURDENSOME AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK IN THEIR ENTIRETY (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the discovery demands in this negligent supervision action against a school district, alleging the sexual abuse of plaintiff-student by a teacher, were overly broad and unduly burdensome. Therefore the demands should have been struck in their entirety with no attempt to prune them:

… [A] “‘ …party is not entitled to unlimited, uncontrolled, unfettered disclosure'” … . “Pursuant to CPLR 3103(a), the Supreme Court may issue a protective order striking a notice for discovery and inspection that is palpably improper” … . A notice for discovery and inspection is palpably improper if it is overbroad, burdensome, fails to specify with reasonable particularity many of the documents demanded, or seeks irrelevant or confidential information (see CPLR 3120[2] …). “Where the discovery demands are overbroad, the appropriate remedy is to vacate the entire demand rather than to prune it” … .

Here, many of the plaintiff’s discovery demands were palpably improper in that they were overbroad and burdensome … . The plaintiff’s discovery demands broadly sought, among other things, documents pertaining to any complaint of sexual abuse by any employee of the District from January 1, 1997, to the present and any suspected romantic or sexual relationship between any teacher and any student at the school from 1990 to the present. Thus, the Supreme Court should have denied the plaintiff’s motion pursuant to CPLR 3124 to compel the District to comply with the plaintiff’s first and second demands for discovery and granted the District’s application pursuant to CPLR 3103(a) for a protective order striking those demands in their entirety instead of pruning them … . Ferrara v Longwood Cent. Sch. Dist., 2024 NY Slip Op 01293, Second Dept 3-13-24

Practice Point: In this negligent supervision action against a school district alleging sexual abuse by a teacher plaintiff’s discovery demands included “documents pertaining to any complaint of sexual abuse by any employee of the District from January 1, 1997, to the present and any suspected romantic or sexual relationship between any teacher and any student at the school from 1990 to the present”. The demand was overly broad and unduly burdensome and was struck in its entirety.

 

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PLAINTIFF AND DEFENDANTS ARE NEIGHBORS; PRIVATE NUISANCE CAUSES OF ACTION BASED UPON DEFENDANTS’ YEARLY FIREWORKS DISPLAYS AND EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM POOL EQUIPMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED; A TRESPASS CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON DEBRIS FROM THE FIREWORKS FALLING ON PLAINTIFF’S PROPERTY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined certain causes of action for private nuisance and trespass should not have been dismissed. Plaintiff and defendants are neighbors. The private nuisance causes of action based upon defendant’s fireworks displays every year and excessive noise from defendants’ pool equipment should not have been dismissed. In addition, the trespass action based upon debris falling on plaintiff’s property from the fireworks should not have been dismissed:

“The elements of a private nuisance cause of action are: (1) an interference substantial in nature, (2) intentional in origin, (3) unreasonable in character, (4) with a person’s property right to use and enjoy land, (5) caused by another’s conduct in acting or failure to act” … . “Not every annoyance will constitute a nuisance. Nuisance imports a continuous invasion of rights—a pattern of continuity or recurrence of objectionable conduct” … . “Except for the issue of whether the plaintiff has the requisite property interest, each of the other elements is a question for the jury, unless the evidence is undisputed” … * * *

“The elements of a cause of action sounding in trespass are an intentional entry onto the land of another without justification or permission, or a refusal to leave after permission has been granted but thereafter withdrawn” … . “An invasion of another’s property or airspace need not be more than de minimis in order to constitute a trespass” … . “Generally, intangible intrusions, such as by noise, odor, or light alone, are treated as nuisances, not trespass because they interfere with nearby property owners’ use and enjoyment of their land, not with their exclusive possession of it” … . Del Vecchio v Gangi, 2024 NY Slip Op 01292, Second Dept 3-13-24

Practice Point: The elements of private nuisance and trespass explained in the context of allegations by one neighbor against another concerning fireworks displays and excessive noise from pool equipment.

 

EVEN IF PLAINTIFF’S STAIRWAY FALL RESULTED FROM A MISSTEP, EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF WAS “LOOKING FOR A HANDRAIL” RAISED A QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER THE ABSENCE OF A HANDRAIL WAS A PROXIMATE CAUSE OF THE FALL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court in this stairway slip and fall case, determined that plaintiff’s testimony that he was “looking for a handrail” at the time he fell was sufficient to raise a question of fact whether the absence of a handrail was a proximate cause of the fall. Even if a fall is the result of a misstep, the absence of a handrail could be a proximate cause of the fall:

… [E]ven if a plaintiff’s fall is precipitated by a misstep, where the plaintiff testifies that he or she reached out to try to stop his or her fall, the absence of a handrail, if required by law, may raise an issue of fact as to whether the absence of the handrail was a proximate cause of his or her injury” … . In contrast, the absence of a handrail will not create an issue of fact where the plaintiff does not offer testimony demonstrating “that she [or he] reached out for a handrail either before or during her [or his] fall” or otherwise showing that “the lack of handrails contributed to [the] accident” … .

… Although he was not sure what caused him to lose his balance, the injured plaintiff testified that he was “looking for a handrail” before descending the final set of steps but observed that no handrails were available. “Even if the [injured] plaintiff’s fall was precipitated by a misstep,” his testimony indicating that he would have been using a handrail at the time of his accident had one been available was sufficient to create “an issue of fact as to whether the absence of [an accessible] handrail was a proximate cause of h[is] injur[ies]” … . Curto v Kahn Prop. Owner, LLC, 2024 NY Slip Op 01290, Second Dept 3-13-24

Practice Point: In a stairway-fall case, if the plaintiff indicates they reached for a handrail at the time of the fall, that raises a question of fact whether the absence of a handrail was a proximate cause of the fall, even if the fall was due to a misstep.

 

PLAINTIFF FELL WHEN HER FOOT BECAME ENTANGLED IN CORDS OR TUBES CONNECTED TO MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN A HOSPITAL ROOM; DEFENDANT DID NOT DEMONSTRATE THE CORDS OR TUBES WERE OPEN AND OBVIOUS AND NOT INHERENTLY DANGEROUS; DEFENDANT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARDED SUMMARY JUDGMENT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the tubes or cords attached to medical equipment in a neurologic intensive care unit which caused plaintiff’s slip and fall were not demonstrated to be “open and obvious and not inherently dangerous:”

“While a possessor of real property has a duty to maintain that property in a reasonably safe condition, there is no duty to protect or warn against an open and obvious condition that, as a matter of law, is not inherently dangerous” … . “A condition is open and obvious if it is readily observable by those employing the reasonable use of their senses, given the conditions at the time of the accident” … . Moreover, “[a] condition that is ordinarily apparent to a person making reasonable use of his or her senses may be rendered a trap for the unwary where the condition is obscured or the plaintiff is distracted” … . The question of whether a condition is open and obvious is usually a question of fact properly resolved by a jury … .

Here, the defendant failed to establish, prima facie, that the alleged condition of the tubes or cords was open and obvious and not inherently dangerous under the circumstances surrounding the accident … . Butler v NYU Winthrop Hosp., 2024 NY Slip Op 01289, Second Dept 3-13-24\

Practice Point: Whether a condition is open and obvious and not inherently dangerous is usually a question for the jury. Here, in this slip and fall case, there was a question of fact whether cords or tubes connected to medical equipment constituted an open and obvious condition which was not inherently dangerous.

 

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IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE, STEPS WHICH DO NOT HAVE UNIFORM RISER HEIGHTS COULD CONSTITUTE A DANGEROUS CONDITION UNDER COMMON LAW NEGLIGENCE PRINCIPLES, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO WHETHER A BUILDING CODE WAS VIOLATED; BOTH THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE SUBLESSEE COULD BE LIABLE (FIRST DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court in this slip and fall case, determined the steps which did not have uniform riser heights could constitute a dangerous condition for which the property owner and the sublessee could be liable:

Here, the record demonstrates that the riser heights of the steps were not uniform and that the top riser was approximately three inches taller than the bottom riser. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiff as the nonmoving party … , we find that both the defendant owner and the defendant car service [the sublessee] failed to demonstrate, prima facie, that a dangerous condition did not exist on the steps or that the disparity in riser heights was not a proximate cause of the accident … . Amparo v Christopher One Corp., 2024 NY Slip Op 01286, 3-13-24

Practice Point: Steps which do not have uniform riser heights can constitute a dangerous condition which is  the proximate cause of a slip and fall under common law negligence principles, irrespective of whether the non-uniform riser heights violated a building code.

 

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PORTIONS OF DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT PROPERLY DENIED AS UNTIMELY; THE PORTION OF THE UNTIMELY MOTION WHICH HAD BEEN TIMELY RAISED BY ANOTHER DEFENDANT WAS PROPERLY CONSIDERED; THE LABOR LAW 241(6) CAUSE OF ACTION PROPERLY RELIED ON INDUSTRIAL CODE PROVISIONS REQUIRING THAT ELECTRICAL POWER BE SHUT DOWN TO PROTECT ELECTRICAL WORKERS (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court in this Labor Law 241(6, 200 and common law negligence action, determined; (1) portions of a defendant’s summary judgment motion brought more than a month after the ordered deadline where properly dismissed as untimely; (2) the aspect of the untimely summary judgment motion which had been timely raised in another defendant’s summary judgment motion was properly considered; (3) the industrial code requires shutting down the electricity when worker’s are doing electrical work, therefore plaintiff’s Labor Law 241(6) cause of action should not have been dismissed. Plaintiff was in an aerial bucket working on electrical lines when injured in an explosion:

Absent a “satisfactory explanation for the untimeliness,” constituting good cause for the delay, an untimely summary judgment motion must be denied without consideration of the merits … . However, “[a]n untimely motion or cross motion for summary judgment may be considered by the court where a timely motion was made on nearly identical grounds” … . * * *

… [T]he defendants … failed to establish their prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law dismissing the cause of action alleging a violation of Labor Law § 241(6), which was predicated on 12 NYCRR 23-1.13(b)(3) and (4). 12 NYCRR 23-1.13(b)(3) provides, among other things, that where the performance of the work may bring any person into physical or electrical contact with an electric power circuit, the employer “shall advise his [or her] employees of the locations of such lines, the hazards involved and the protective measures to be taken.” 12 NYCRR 23-1.13(b)(4) requires, in pertinent part, that employees who may come into contact with an electric power circuit be protected against electric shock “by de-energizing the circuit and grounding it or by guarding such circuit by effective insulation or other means” … . These regulations, which refer to the duty of employers, also impose a duty upon owners … . Wittenberg v Long Is. Power Auth., 2024 NY Slip Op 01329

Practice Point: A summary judgment motion brought a month after the ordered deadline may be dismissed as untimely.

Practice Point: A portion of an untimely summary judgment motion which was timely raised by another defendant may be considered.

Practice Point: The industrial code provisions requiring that electrical power be shut down to protect electrical workers supported plaintiff’s Labor Law 241(6) cause of action.

 

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IN THIS ACTION BY A PROPERTY OWNER WHO LOST THE PROPERTY TO FORECLOSURE: (1) THE JUDGE SHOULD NOT HAVE GRANTED DEFENDANT REAL ESTATE BROKERS SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON A GROUND NOT RAISED IN THE MOTION; AND (2) THE BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY, BREACH OF REAL PROPERTY LAW 441-C, AND CONSTRUCTIVE TRUST CAUSES OF ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversed Supreme Court in this action against real state brokers who, plaintiff alleged, did not provide plaintiff with proper documentation for a short sale of plaintiff’s property. The short sale was not approved by the lender and plaintiff lost the property in foreclosure. The Second Department determined: (1) the judge should not have granted summary judgment to defendants on the ground plaintiff suffered no damages because that issue was not raised by defendants in the motion; (2) the breach of fiduciary duty cause of action should not have been dismissed; (3) the Real Property Law section 441-c action alleging defendants acted with “untrustworthiness and incompetency” should not have been dismissed; and (4) the constructive-trust cause of action should not have been dismissed:

A court is generally limited to the issues or defenses that are the subject of the motion … . * * *

“[I]t is well settled that a real estate broker is a fiduciary with a duty of loyalty and an obligation to act in the best interests of the principal” … . * * *

… [T]he causes of action pursuant to Real Property Law § 441-c(1)(a) and 19 NYCRR 175.4, alleging that they acted with “untrustworthiness and incompetency” in dealing with the plaintiff and the property [should not have been dismissed].. … [T]here exists a private right of action for such offenses … . Perez v Mendicino, 2024 NY Slip Op 01323, Second Dept 3-13-24

Practice Point: A judge does not have the authority to grant summary judgment on a ground not raised in the motion papers;

Practice Point: Real estate brokers owe a fiduciary duty to their clients.

Practice Point: There exists a private right of action for a violation of Real Property Law 441-c for a real estate broker’s “untrustworthiness and incompetency.”

 

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