Christopher Colarossi v University of Rochester

Colarossi v University of Rochester 2004 NY Slip Op 03705 [2 NY3d 773] May 6, 2004 Court of Appeals Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. As corrected through Wednesday, August 11, 2004

[*1] Christopher Colarossi, Appellant,
v
University of Rochester, Respondent.

Decided May 6, 2004

Colarossi v University of Rochester, 2 AD3d 1272, affirmed.

APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL

Petrone & Petrone, P.C., Rochester (Elizabeth C. Clarke and Janet F. Neumann of counsel), for appellant.

Ward Norris Heller & Reidy LLP, Rochester (Harold A. Kurland of counsel), for respondent.

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs.

Plaintiff, an undergraduate student, was shot without provocation by a nonstudent while standing outside a fraternity house located in a residential area of defendant's campus known as the "fraternity quad." Plaintiff alleged that inadequate security and lighting were a proximate cause of his injuries. Supreme Court denied defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, and by a divided Court the Appellate Division reversed and granted defendant summary judgment.

In opposition to defendant's prima facie showing of entitlement to summary judgment, [*2]plaintiff presented no evidence other than "[m]ere conclusions, expressions of hope or unsubstantiated allegations" that the alleged insufficient security and lighting in the fraternity quad were a proximate cause of the shooting (Rodriguez v New York City Housing Auth., 87 NY2d 887, 888 [1995] [internal quotation marks and citations omitted]), or that the criminal attack was foreseeable or preventable in the normal course of events (see Maheshwari v City of New York, 2 NY3d 288, 294-295 [decided today]). Accordingly, the Appellate Division properly granted defendant summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

Chief Judge Kaye and Judges G.B. Smith, Ciparick, Rosenblatt, Graffeo, Read and R.S. Smith concur.

On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.4 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.4), order affirmed, with costs, in a memorandum.