Haulsey v City of New York

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Haulsey v City of New York 2013 NY Slip Op 31940(U) August 14, 2013 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: 111382/2009 Judge: Kathryn E. Freed 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. SCANNED ON 811912013 [* 1] SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YQRK NEW YORK COUNTY PART dJ Index Number : 111382/2009 HAULSEY, SANDRA INDEX NO. vs MOTION DATE CITY OF NEW YORK Sequence Number : 003 DISMISS LA The following papers, numbered 1 to Notice of MotionlOrder to Show Cause Answering Affidavits tf4 9 5 MOTION SEQ. NO. - ,were read on this motion to/for - Affidavits - Exhibits INo(s). IW s ) . INo(+ - Exhibits Replying Affidavits Upon the foregoing papers, it is ordered that this motion is ,AUI: I ! 2013 ' ..................................................................... 0 CASE DISPOSED 2. CHECK AS APPROPRIATE: ........................... MOTION IS: [7 GRANTED 0DENIED 3. CHECK IF APPROPRIATE: ................................................0SETTLE ORDER 1. CHECK ONE: c DO NOT POST ] 0GRANTED IN PART 0OTHER 0SUBMIT ORDER 0FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT 0REFERENCE [* 2] SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK: Part 5 Plaintiff, -againstTHE CITY OF NEW Y O N , CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YO=, INC., and NICO ASPHALT PAVING, INC., DECISION/ORDER Index No. 11138212009 Seq.No. 003 FILED - # **$/ AUG 1 9 2013 RECITATION, AS REQUIRED BY CPLRg2219 (a), OF THE PAPERS CONSIDERED IN THE REVIEW OF THIS MOTION. PAPERS NOTICE OF MOTION AND AFFIDAVITS ANNEXED ................... ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AND AFFIDAVITS ANNEXED............ ANSWERING AFFIDAVITS................................................................ REPLYING AFFIDAVITS.................................................................... OTHER.. ................................................................................................. NUMBERED ......1-2 ( EXS.C-K) ...................... .........3 (Exs. A-D) ........4 ........... ....................... UPON THE FOREGOING CITED PAPERS, THIS DECISION/ORDER ON THE MOTION IS AS FOLLOWS: Defendant The City of New York ( the City ), moves for an Order pursuant to CPLR §321 l(a)(7), dismissing the complaint for failure to state a cause of action, or in the alternative, pursuant to CPLRS 3212, granting summary judgment. Plaintiff and eo-defendant Nico Asphalt Paving, Inc. ( Nico ) oppose. After a review of the papers presented, all relevant statutes and case law, the Court denies the motion. Factual and procedural background: Plaintiff seeks monetary damages for personal injuries she allegedly sustained on December [* 3] 10,2009, when she tripped and fell on a pothole in the crosswalk of West 143 dStreet along the west side of Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard in New York County. Thereafter, plaintiff commenced the instant action via service of a Summons and Complaint on or about August 1 1, 2009. The City served its Answer on or about September 4,2009. The co-defendants also served their respective Answers. On August 5,2009, plaintiff appeared for a General Municipal Laws 50-h hearing. On or about January 26, 2010, plaintiff served her Verified Bill of Particulars and subsequently two Supplemental Bills of Particulars. Positions of the parties: The City argues that it is entitled to summaryjudgment because it did not have prior written notice of the alleged condition, and because the gravamen of plaintiffs claim comes under the purview of Administrative Code $7-201( c)(2), a statute intended to limit its liability for nonfeasance, except where it fails or refuses to remedy a situation within a reasonable time after receipt of notice. The City also argues that it is entitled to summary judgment because it did not cause or create the alleged hazardous condition. It asserts that should plaintiff or a non-City defendant argue that it caused or created the alleged defect which caused plaintiffto trip and fall, this argument would inevitably fail because none of the thirteen permits returned to the Department of Transporation ( DOT ), were issued to City agencies or its contractors. Additionally, the City asserts that the only record which reflects that the City performed any work in the subject area is the maintenance and repair report ( FITS report), dated April 23,2007, as well as the corresponding gangsheet for the roadway work performed on April 24,2007. The City refers to and relies on the testimony of DOT Supervisor of Highway Repair, Como Mordente, supervisor ofthe subject scene on April 24,2007, when the roadway work was conducted, 2 [* 4] testified regarding the FITS reports and the handwritten version of the corresponding gangsheet. ( See Exhibit 1, p. 13; Exhibit I, p. 13 (FITS report and gangsheet). Mr. Mordente testified that the pothole referenced in the FITS report was filed on April 24,2007. He also testified that any existing defect on the block would have been repaired. Plaintiff argues that the City s motion warrants dismissal for two reasons. First, the City had prior written notice of the pothole from its own agency. Second, the City was on notice of the work it had performed on its behalf by Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ( Con Ed ) and Nico. Additionally, plaintiff argues that the failure of the City s Answer to raise an affirmative defense regarding written notice warrants dismissal of its motion. Plaintiff also argues that the instant case falls into one of the exceptions to New York Administrative Code $7-201( c)(2), that being the fact that the City had its own written acknowledgment of the defect and failed to correct it within fifteen days. Nico argues that the instant motion necessitates denial because the City cannot establish with any degree of certainty, that it did not have written notice of the subject pothole. It asserts that the City performed pothole repair at the crosswalk on April 24,2007. Nico also argues that the City s motion is deficient because it does not seek dismissal of any cross-claims asserted by the codefendants. Therefore, even if plaintiff s causes of action are dismissed, the cross-claims still remain. Moreover, Nico argues that the City conveniently omitted the deposition transcript of GreyTalen Oneza, who testified on behalf of the City at a deposition on October 19, 2012. Mr. Oneza, a Supervisor of Highway Repair Division of the DOT, testified as to the existence of the defect on West 1431dStreet between 7thand 8th Avenues, which is listed on the FITS report and corresponding computerized gangsheet marked into evidence during his deposition. The defect detail sheet for 3 [* 5] this specific defect indicates that the defect was located at crosswalk ( pp. 15-16), and the location was 7th Avenue to West 1431dStreet (pp. 15-16). Said defect was ultimately repaired by the City on April 24,2007. Con Ed adopts and incorporates the arguments proffered by Nico. It essentially argues that genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether the subject defective condition was either caused or created by the City, which would naturally defeat its motion for summary judgment. Conclusions of law: The proponent of a summary judgment motion must demonstrate that there are no material issues of fact in dispute, and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law ( Dallas-Stephenson v. Waisman,39 A.D.3d 303,306 [lstDept. 20071, citing Winegrad v. New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 N.Y .2d 85 1, 853 [ 19851 ). Once the proponent has proffered evidence establishing a prima facie showing, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to present evidence in admissible form raising a triable issue of material fact ( see Zuckerman v. City ofNew York, 49 N.Y.3d 557 [1989]; People Dept. 20081 ). Mere conclusory assertions, devoid of ex re1 Spitzer v. Grasso, 50 A.D.3d 535 [lst evidentiary facts, are insufficient for this purpose, as is reliance upon surmise, conjecture or speculation ( Morgan v. New York Telephone, 220 A.D.2d 728 [2d Dept. 19851 ). If there is any doubt as to the existence of a triable issue of fact, summary judgment must be denied ( Rotuba Extruders v. Ceppos, 46 N.Y.2d 223 [ 19781; Grossman v. Amalgamated Hous. Corp., 298 A.D.2d 224 [lstDept. 20021 ). Pursuant to New York Administrative Code 57-201( c)(2), no civil action may be maintained against the City arising from a dangerous or defective condition on a sidewalk unless the plaintiff pleads and proves that the City received prior written notice ( see Minew v. City of New York, 106 4 [* 6] A.D.3d 1060 [2d Dept. 20131 ). Where amunicipality has enacted aprior written notice law, it may not be subjected to liability for injuries emanating from a dangerous roadway condition unless it has received prior written notice of the dangerous condition, or an exception to the prior written notice requirement applies ( see Amabile v. City o BuffaZo, 93 N.Y.2d 471,474 [1999] ). The Court of f Appeals recognizes only two statutory exceptions to the prior written notice requirement: where the municipality itself created the defect through an affirmative act of negligence, or where the defect resulted from a special use by the municipality ( see Amabile v. City of BuffaZo, 93 N.Y.2d 471 at 474; see also Oboler v. City of New York, N.Y.3d 888,889 [2007]; Yarborough v. City o New 9 f York,10 N.Y.3d 726,728 [2008] ). While it is plaintiff who bears the burden of establishing trial that the City had written notice at trial,( see Katz v. City ofNew York,87 N.Y.2d 241,243 [1995], she does not bear this burden at the pleading stage. Indeed, it is the City, as the moving party, who must establish the absence of written notice ( McNeilZ v. City of New York, A.D.3d 823,824 [2d Dept. 20071 ). 40 The Court has reviewed the transcribed deposition testimony of Mr. Como Mordente, annexed to the City s motion as Exhibit I. Mr. Mordente is employed by DOT as a Supervisor of Highway Repair, wherein he oversees the repair and/or the ripping out of streets. (Id. at lines 6-7). During his testimony, a four page gangsheet, which he reviewed prior to testifying, was marked into evidence. The first page was a FITS report. Mr. Mordente identified the FITS report as basically an interoffice piece of paper ...which are seen, but not worked with on a daily basis. ( Id. at lines 1521). Said FITS report indicated that a pothole patch was performed at the location of 131 West 143rd Street, Adam Clayton Boulevard on April 24,2007, and five potholes had been filled in the vicinity of West 143rdStreet and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. 5 [* 7] The Court also reviewed the transcribed testimony of Patrick Keough, ( annexed as Ex. B in plaintiffs Aff. in Opp.). Mr. Keough testified that he is a Specialist employed by Con Edison. During his testimony, Mr. Keough identified and explained the contents of a permit authorizing Con Ed to open the roadway and or sidewalk at West 143 d Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. Accompanying documentation also indicated that said opening/cut was backfilled ( a closing of the excavation), on May 9.2008. The Court further reviewed the deposition testimony of Gre-Talan Oneza, Supervisor of Highway Repair for DOT. During his deposition, Mr. Oneza was shown gangsheets and FITS reports, which indicated that a defect in the form of a pothole existed in the vicinity of 7 Avenue to West 1431dStreet. Said documents also indicated that this defect had been remedied. Additionally, the Court reviewed the transcribed deposition testimony of John Denegall, ( Id., Ex. C). Mr. Denegall testified that he is a Superintendent for defendant Nico. Mr. Denegall testified that he oversees all of the asphalt paving crews, interfaces with Con Ed and manages the office. He testified that Nico supplies the permanent restoration of asphalt roadways in Manhattan, and would come to a job site after an excavation had been backfilled and based. Prior to testifying, Mr. Denegall stated that he reviewed several opening tickets and also a paving order, which revealed that Nico had worked on the southwestern corner of Seventh Avenue and West 143 dStreet between 7 hand SthAvenues. Finally, the Court also reviewed the affidavit of Stacey Williams, annexed as Exhibit J in the City s Affirmation in Support. In her affidavit, Ms. Williams states that she is employed by the DOT in the Office of Litigation Services and Records Management. She also states that at the behest of the New York City Law Department, she conducted a search in the relevant electronic databases, and 6 [* 8] identified and requested a search for corresponding paper records of permits, applications for permits, corrective action requests, notices of violation, inspections, contracts, maintenance and repair orders, complaints, gangsheets for roadway work, milling and resurfacing records and Big Apple Maps for the roadway located at West 143rdStreet between Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (a.k.a. 7'h Avenue) and Frederick Douglass Boulevard, (a.k.a. 8'h Avenue) in Manhattan. Said search encompassed a period of two years prior to and including December 10,2008, and revealed 13 permits, 3 applications for permits, 14 inspections, 3 notices of violation, 1 maintenance and repair record, 1 gangsheet for roadway work, and a Big Apple Map. Ms. Williams also states that she determined that said Big Apple Map had been served upon DOT by the Big Apple Pothole and Sidewalk Protection Corporation on October 23,2003. However, it is important to note that a copy of said Big Apple Map has not been annexed to any of the papers presented, thus denying the Court an opportunity to review it. The Court finds that all of the referenced testimony clearly indicates that potholes existed at the subject location, and that repairs to same were done. Moreover, plaintiff testified at her 50-h hearing that she personally called 3 11 on two separate occasions and reported the subject pothole, describing it in great detail. After a review of the aforementioned testimony, the Court finds that a real question of fact exists as to whether the City had prior written notice of the subject pothole. The Court notes that it is well aware that other courts are of the opinion that repair orders and reports, such as FITS reports, do not constitute prior written notice ( see Marshall v. City oflvew York, 52 A.D.3d 586, 587 [2d Dept. 20081; Cross v. The City oflvew York, 32 Misc.3d 1219(A), 20 11 Slip Op. 5 1362(U) ( Sup Ct, NY County 201 1) ). However, the Court is mindful that the FITS reports indicate that a pothole existed at the subject location, that its existence had been reduced to 7 [* 9] writing after being reported via plaintiffs telephone calls, and that it was ultimately repaired. Certainly, at the very least, these reports raise an issue of fact as to whether the City had obtained the requisite prior notice of the defect ( see Bruni v. City oflvew York, 2 N.Y.3d 3 19 [2004] ). The Court also finds instructive, the holding rendered by Court of Appeals in Bruni, that a written statement showing that the city agency responsible for repairing a condition had first-hand knowledge both of the existence and the dangerous nature of the condition is an acknowledgment sufficient to satisfy the Pothole Law ( I d . at 325; see also Sacco v. City oflvew York, 92 A.D.3d 529 [lst Dept. 20121; Boniello v. The Ct oflvew York,106 A.D.3d 612 [lstDept. 20131 ). iy In the case at bar, the Court finds that the City has failed to make out a prima facie entitlement to summary judgment as a matter of law. Therefore, in accordance with the foregoing, it is hereby ORDERED that the City s motion for summary judgment is denied; and it is further ORDERED that this constitutes the decision and order of the Court. DATED: August 14,2013 FILED ! AUG 19 2013 COUNTY CLERK S OFFICE NEW YORK 8 on. Kathryn E. Freed J.S.C.

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