Case ID: ny-st-rep_12/html/0870-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Pratt, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JOHN TRACY, App’lt, v. CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE, Resp’t.
    Negligence—Liability oe municipal corporation eor slippery sidewalk.
    Appeal from a judgment of non-suit, entered in this action at the close of plaintiff’s case, upon the trial thereof before a jury at the Dutchess county circuit.
    
      C. Moeschauser, for app’lt; C. B. Herrick, for resp’t.
   Pratt, J.

We think this case fairly falls within the principle laid down by the general term, and afterwards affirmed in the court of appeals in the case of Muller v. The City of Newburgh (32 Hun, 24).

It seems- that the plaintiff fell on a small piece of smooth ice covered with falling snow on the sidewalk of one of the principal streets of Poughkeepsie. There is no proof that the sidewalk was defective. The street slopes to the west somewhat, and the flow of water from a vacant lot is discharged over the sidewalk at the place in question.

, There is no proof that the defendant had notice that there was any obstruction or any ice upon the sidewalk at the place where the plaintiff fell; nor was there any evidence to go to the jury to establish the fact that the street had been in a dangerous condition a sufficient length of time to show that the city could have constructive notice that the walk was in a dangerous condition In fact the proof fails to show that the plaintiff slipped and fell upon any spot where ice had been previously seen.

We fail to see anything in the case to call the attention of the defendant to the fact that this part of the sidewalk was in a dangerous condition, oi to show that the best possible care was not taken of the walk at this place.

The fact that the sidewalk sloped at this point is not material, as there is no proof to show that any walers were gathered upon the adjacent lands, except such as came from the natural rain and snowfall. It was not incumbeht upon the city to drain this lot underneath the surface of the ground, neither could the city be compelled to dam up this water to prevent its flowing over the sidewalk; therefore, we think the plaintiff utterly failed to make out a case of negligence sufficient to warrant a submission to the jury.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.

Barnard, P. J., and Dykkman, J., concur.