Case Name: Felix Pagan, an Infant, by His Mother and Natural Guardian, Nellie Pagan, et al., Respondents, v. New York City Housing Authority, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1990-10-30
Citations: 166 A.D.2d 390
Docket Number: 
Parties: Felix Pagan, an Infant, by His Mother and Natural Guardian, Nellie Pagan, et al., Respondents, v New York City Housing Authority, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 166
Pages: 390–390

Head Matter:
Felix Pagan, an Infant, by His Mother and Natural Guardian, Nellie Pagan, et al., Respondents, v New York City Housing Authority, Appellant.

Opinion:
Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Barry Salman, J.), entered July 14, 1989, denying defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiffs' complaint, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
In light of the state of mental retardation of the infant plaintiff and his inability to speak, plaintiffs have tendered an acceptable excuse for not offering his statement with respect to the conditions existing at the time of his slip and fall upon the rampway used to transport garbage out of the defendant's building. The infant's mother's affidavit interpreting the hand language of the infant was sufficient. In addition, the statement by the infant's mother with respect to the length of time that the wood and debris which allegedly caused the accident remained upon the rampway, while somewhat contrary to her testimony during the 50-h hearing before trial, is not incredible as a matter of law, and raises an issue of credibility which should be determined at trial. Concur—Ross, J. P., Milonas, Asch, Ellerin and Rubin, JJ.