Case Name: Lynne Crowell, Appellant, v. City of New York, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1996-06-20
Citations: 228 A.D.2d 322
Docket Number: 
Parties: Lynne Crowell, Appellant, v City of New York, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 228
Pages: 322–322

Head Matter:
Lynne Crowell, Appellant, v City of New York, Respondent.
[644 NYS2d 231]

Opinion:
Petitioner served a notice of claim on the City two days late, and then waited almost a full year before moving for leave to file the late claim, giving no explanation at all for the delay. The City is prejudiced by weather-related changes in the condition of the allegedly defective sidewalk during the period of delay (cf., Matter of Sutton v Town of Schuyler Falls, 185 AD2d 430, 431-432), and by its inability to identify and interview witnesses (see, Aviles v City of New York, 202 AD2d 530, 532, lv denied 84 NY2d 813). Denial of the motion to file a late notice of claim in these circumstances was not an improvident exercise of discretion (see, Zapata v City of New York, 225 AD2d 543). Concur—Murphy, P. J., Milonas, Wallach, Ross and Nardelli, JJ.