Case Name: Edward Briggs, Individually and as Parent and Natural Guardian of Natasha Briggs, an Infant, Respondent, v. Thomas Taggert et al., Respondents, and Donald Wells, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1998-11-13
Citations: 255 A.D.2d 980
Docket Number: 
Parties: Edward Briggs, Individually and as Parent and Natural Guardian of Natasha Briggs, an Infant, Respondent, v Thomas Taggert et al., Respondents, and Donald Wells, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 255
Pages: 980–981

Head Matter:
Edward Briggs, Individually and as Parent and Natural Guardian of Natasha Briggs, an Infant, Respondent, v Thomas Taggert et al., Respondents, and Donald Wells, Appellant.
[680 NYS2d 137]

Opinion:
—Order unanimously reversed on the law without costs, motion granted and complaint against defendant Donald Wells dismissed. Memorandum: Supreme Court erred in denying the motion of Donald Wells (defendant) for summary judgment dismissing the complaint against him. Plaintiff brought this action to recover damages for injuries sustained by his four-year-old daughter when she was attacked by a dog owned by defendant's tenants. Defendant established his entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by submitting proof that he was not aware of the dog's alleged vicious propensities (see, Mehl v Fleisher, 234 AD2d 274, 275). Plaintiff failed to come forward with evidentiary proof in admissible form showing the existence of a triable issue of fact. Plaintiff invites sheer speculation when he contends that such knowledge may be inferred from the close relationship between defendant's wife and her daughter, defendant Karen Taggert, who was one of the tenants (see, Eddy v Tops Friendly Mkts., 91 AD2d 1203, affd 59 NY2d 692). (Appeal from Order of Supreme Court, Chautauqua County, Gerace, J. — Summary Judgment.) Present — Green, J. P., Pine, Wisner, Balio and Boehm, JJ.