Source: http://www.garyrosenberg-law.com/blog/2011/december/raised-manhole-cover-in-parking-lot-a-trivial-de/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 18:34:31+00:00

Document:
Case: Schenpanski v. Promise Deli, Inc.
Comment: Plaintiff tripped over a raised manhole cover in a parking lot. Defense summary judgment motion is granted because, based on photographs, the court finds that the condition is a "trivial defect." This means the court is dismissing the lawsuit and, basically, telling the plaintiff to be more careful.
Definitely not a nice legal doctrine; no hint is given in the case as to this accident victim's injury.
In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, etc., the plaintiffs appeal (1) from an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Diamond, J.), entered March 10, 2010, and (2), as limited by their brief, from so much of an amended order of the same court entered April 19, 2010, as granted the motion of the defendant Cliff Realty Corp. for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it and, in effect, searched the record and awarded summary judgment to the defendant Promise Deli, Inc., dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it.
The injured plaintiff allegedly tripped and fell over a raised manhole cover in the parking lot of premises owned by the defendant Cliff Realty Corp. (hereinafter Cliff Realty), and leased to the defendant Promise Deli, Inc. (hereinafter Promise Deli). The Supreme Court granted the motion of Cliff Realty for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it and, upon searching the record, awarded summary judgment to Promise Deli, on the ground that the alleged defect was trivial and, thus, not actionable. We affirm.
Generally, the issue of whether a dangerous or defective condition exists depends on the particular facts of each case, and is properly a question of fact for the jury (see Copley v. Town of Riverhead, 70 A.D.3d 623, 895 N.Y.S.2d 452). However, a property owner may not be held liable in damages for trivial defects, not constituting a trap or nuisance, over which a pedestrian might merely stumble, stub his or her toes, or trip (see Richardson v. JAL Diversified Mgt., 73 A.D.3d 1012, 901 N.Y.S.2d 676; Joseph v. Villages at Huntington Home Owners Assn., Inc., 39 A.D.3d 481, 835 N.Y.S.2d 231). In determining whether a defect is trivial, the court must examine all of the facts presented, including the "width, depth, elevation, irregularity, and appearance of the defect, along with the 'time, place, and circumstances' of the injury" (Trincere v. County of Suffolk, 90 N.Y.2d 976, 978, 665 N.Y.S.2d 615, 688 N.E.2d 489, quoting Caldwell v. Village of Is. Park, 304 N.Y. 268, 274, 107 N.E.2d 441; see Trampakoulous v. Independent Coach Bus Co., 18 A.D.3d 739, 795 N.Y.S.2d 711). "[T]here is no 'minimal dimension test' or per se rule that a defect must be of a certain minimum height or depth in order to be actionable" (Trincere v. County of Suffolk, 90 N.Y.2d at 977, 665 N.Y.S.2d 615, 688 N.E.2d 489). Photographs which fairly and accurately represent the accident site may be used to establish that a defect is trivial and not actionable (see Aguayo v. New York City Hous. Auth., 71 A.D.3d 926, 897 N.Y.S.2d 239; Fisher v. JRMR Realty Corp., 63 A.D.3d 677, 880 N.Y.S.2d 187; Outlaw v. Citibank, N.A., 35 A.D.3d 564, 826 N.Y.S.2d 642; Maiello v. Eastchester Union Free School Dist., 8 A.D.3d 536, 778 N.Y.S.2d 716). Here, upon reviewing the photographs acknowledged by the injured plaintiff as accurately reflecting the condition of the manhole cover as it existed at the time of the accident, and considering all other relevant factors, Cliff Realty established, prima facie, that the alleged defect was trivial as a matter of law and, therefore, not actionable (see Aguayo v. New York City Hous. Auth., 71 A.D.3d 926, 897 N.Y.S.2d 239; Trampakoulous v. Independent Coach Bus Co., 18 A.D.3d 739, 795 N.Y.S.2d 711; Morris v. Greenburgh Cent. School Dist. No. 7, 5 A.D.3d 567, 774 N.Y.S.2d 74; Cicero v. Selden Assoc., 295 A.D.2d 391, 743 N.Y.S.2d 551; Neumann v. Senior Citizens Ctr., 273 A.D.2d 452, 710 N.Y.S.2d 382). In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact. Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly granted Cliff Realty's motion. Further, the Supreme Court properly, in effect, searched the record and awarded summary judgment to Promise Deli dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it on the same ground (see CPLR 3212[b]).

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