Cortis v Town of Hempstead

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Cortis v Town of Hempstead 2011 NY Slip Op 32898(U) October 27, 2011 Sup Ct, Nassau County Docket Number: 15591/06 Judge: Thomas P. Phelan Republished from New York State Unified Court System's E-Courts Service. Search E-Courts (http://www.nycourts.gov/ecourts) for any additional information on this case. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. [* 1] SHORT FORM ORDER STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT Present: HON. THOMAS P. PHELAN. Justice. EDWARD CORTIS & GERTRUDE L. CORTIS TRIAL/IAS PART 2 NASSAU COUNTY 07/15/11 SUBMISSION DATE: 09/08/11 MOTION SEQUENCE ##004 005 006 ORIGINAL RETURN DATE: Plaintiff Index No. 15591/06 -against - THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD and THE VILLAGE OF HEMPSTEAD Defendants. THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD Third- Party Plaintiff -against - WATER AUTHORITY OF WESTERN NASSAU COUNTY, Third- Party Defendant. WATER AUTHORITY OF WESTERN NASSAU COUNTY Fourth- Party Plaintiff -against - STASI BROS. ASPHALT CORP. Fourth- Party Defendant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [* 2] RE: CORTIS v. TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD v. WATER AUTHORITY OF WESTERN NASSAU COUNTY v. STASI BROS. ASPHALT CORP. Page 2 The following papers read on this motion: Notice of Motion. . Notices of Cross- Motion.......................................... Third-party defendant (the " Water Authority ) moves (motion sequence #004), pursuant to CPLR 3212 , seeking an order granting summary judgment dismissing third- party plaintiff's complaint. Fourth- party defendant (" Stasi Bros. ) crossmoves (motion sequence #005), pursuant to CPLR 3212 , seeking an order granting summary judgment dismissing fourth-party plaintiff's complaint. Defendant Town of Hempstead (the " Town ), also cross moves (motion sequence #006) for an ordering granting summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all crossclaims against it. The motions are unopposed. was discontinued against the Incorporated Vilage of Hempstead s/h/a THE VILLAGE OF HEMPSTEAD by Stipulation of Discontinuance dated December 26 2006 (Ex. At the outset the court notes that the record indicates that the action C). It is well settled that on a motion for summary judgment movant must make a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by tendering sufficient Gervasio evidence to demonstrate the lack of any material issues of fact (Ayotte Prospect Hosp. 68 NY2d 320 (1986)). If such a showing is made , the burden shifts to the party opposing the summary judgment NY2d 1062 (1993); Alvarez motion to produce evidentiary proof in admissible form sufficient to establish the (Alvarez, 68 existence of material issues of fact which require resolution at trial NY2d at 324). This action was brought by plaintiffs to recover damages for personal injuries allegedly sustained by Edward Cortis as a result of an accident which occurred on or about November 18 , 2005 , when he was caused to fall while riding his bicycle on the roadway in front of premises known as 36 Elzey Avenue , Elmont , New York. Defendant Water Authority argues that the underlying action against the Town must be dismissed as the Town did not receive prior written notice of any roadway [* 3] RE: CORTIS v. TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD v. WATER AUTHORITY OF WESTERN NASSAU COUNTY v. STASI BROS. ASPHALT CORP. Page 3 make special use of the roadway. Moreover , Water Authority submits that it did not direct or control the patch work In support of its arguments performed by its independent contractor Stasi Bros. defect and did not create the condition or Water Authority submits the transcripts of the deposition testimony of the parties. Bruce Machen , a distribution inspector , testified on behalf of Water Authority. Mr. Machen testified that the Water Authority applied to the Town of Hempstead in 2002 for a permit to open the roadway for new water service at 33 Elzey Avenue. The record indicates that the work would have been done in house and the restoration was done by Stasi Bros. On or about April 23 , 2001 , Stasi Bros. and the Water Authority entered into a contract whereby Stasi Bros. agreed to " perform all work necessary in connection with the paving of street and sidewalk openings " (Ex. T). Diane Posillico testified on behalf of Stasi Bros. Ms. Posilico stated that it was the practice of Stasi Bros. to cut out the temporary patch and install a new permanent patch. Stasi Bros . reiterates the argument of the Water Authority that since the Town did not receive prior written notice of any roadway defect and did not create the condition or make special use of the roadway, there can be no liabilty against the Town. Moreover , it is submitted that there is no evidence of negligence on the part of Stasi Bros. Defendant Town alleges that it did not have prior written notice of the alleged dangerous or defective condition prior to the occurrence as required by Town Code 996- 1 and 6- 4 as a condition precedent for liability against it and by extension to the Water Authority and Stasi Bros. In support of its position , the Town has provided transcripts of the deposition testimony of Peter Rizzo , a highway inspector for the Town , and Sheila Dauscher who is employed by the Town s Highway Department as Clerk Three and the Records Access Officer. Mr. Rizzo testified that to his knowledge no work was done in the area during the six months before September 28 , 2005. Ms. Dauscher testified as to the Town s procedure with regard to written complaints. If a notice of claim is received , Ms. Dauscher would do a search of [* 4] RE: CORTIS v. TOWN OI? HEMPSTEAD v. WATER AUTHORITY OF WESTERN NASSAU COUNTY v. STASI BROS. ASPHALT CORP. Page 4 Town records. In the instant matter a search was made of the records in her office revealing no prior written notice for the roadway in front of 36 Elzey Avenue Elmont , New York. Plaintiff , Edward Cortis , testified at his deposition that he never made any complaints prior to the accident. The Town has made its prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by proffering sufficient evidence that it had not been provided with prior written notice of the alleged defective condition as required under Town Code 99644 AD3d 101 (2d Dept. 2007)). Once this initial burden has been met by the Town , the burden then shifts to plaintiff to submit evidentiary proof in admissible form sufficient to create material issues of Prospect Hosp. 68 NY2d 320 (1986)). 1 and 6.4. (See, Lopez v. fact requiring a trial to resolve. Gonzalez, (Alvarez This the plaintiffs have failed to do in that they did not submit any papers in opposition to the motions. Accordingly, the Town s cross-motion for summary judgment is granted. Water Authority and Stasi Bros. have also made prima facie showings of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by tendering. sufficient evidence to (Alvarez demonstrate the lack of any material issues of fact. Prospect Hosp. , 68 NY2d 320 (1986)). Accordingly, the Water Authority s motion for summary judgment and Stasi Bros. ' cross-motion are granted. According, the actions are dismissed , without costs. This decision constitutes the order of the court. HON THOMAS P. PHElAN Dated: 7-// THOMAS P. PHE , J. ENTERED OCT 31 2011 NAI8AU COUNTY OFFICE COUN CLIRK" [* 5] RE: CORTIS v. TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD v. WATER AUTHORITY OF WESTERN NASSAU COUNTY v. STASI BROS. ASPHALT CORP. Attorneys of Record Falk & Klebanoff, PC Attorneys for Plaintiffs 392 Woodside Road West Hempstead , New York 11552 Joseph J. Ra, Esq. Attorney for Defendant/Third- Party Plaintiff Hempstead Town Hall One Washington Street Hempstead , New York 11550 Berkman , Henoch , Peterson, Peddy & Fenchel , P. Attention: Wesley C. Glass , Esq. Attorneys for Defendant/Third- Party Plaintiff 100 Garden City Plaza Garden City, New York 11530 Law Office of Andrea G. Sawyers Attention: Dominic P. Zafonte , Esq. Attorneys for Third- Party Defendant 3 Huntington Quadrangle , Suite 102S O. Box 9028 Melvile , New York 11747 Docket No. 0980915 DPZ White & McSpedon , P. Attention: Sally A. Monteleone , Esq. Attorneys for Fourth- Party Defendant 875 A venue of the Americas , Suite 800 New York , New York 10001 Page 5

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