Case Name: Joseph Auwarter, an Infant, by His Parent and Natural Guardian, John Auwarter, et al., Respondents-Appellants, v. Malverne Union Free School District, Appellant-Respondent, and Big Toys Northeast, Inc., Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2000-07-31
Citations: 274 A.D.2d 528
Docket Number: 
Parties: Joseph Auwarter, an Infant, by His Parent and Natural Guardian, John Auwarter, et al., Respondents-Appellants, v Malverne Union Free School District, Appellant-Respondent, and Big Toys Northeast, Inc., Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 274
Pages: 528–531

Head Matter:
(July 31, 2000)
Joseph Auwarter, an Infant, by His Parent and Natural Guardian, John Auwarter, et al., Respondents-Appellants, v Malverne Union Free School District, Appellant-Respondent, and Big Toys Northeast, Inc., Respondent.
[715 NYS2d 852]

Opinion:
—In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, etc., the defendant Malverne Union Free School District appeals, as limited by its brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Adams, J.), dated December 6, 1999, as denied its motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all cross claims insofar as asserted against it, and the plaintiffs cross-appeal, as limited by their brief, from so much of the same order as denied their motion for leave to serve an amended and" supplemental complaint, and granted that branch of the cross motion of the defendant Big Toys Northeast, Inc., which was for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it.
Ordered that the order is modified, on the law, by deleting the provision thereof denying the motion of the defendant Malverne Union Free School District, and substituting therefor a provision granting that motion; as so modified, the order is affirmed insofar as appealed and cross-appealed from, with one bill of costs to the defendants payable by the plaintiffs.
The infant plaintiff was injured when he fell while playing on and around "jungle gym" type playground equipment. By engaging in a sport or recreational activity, a participant consents to those commonly appreciated risks which are inher ent in and arise out of the nature of the sport generally and which flow from such participation (see, Morgan v State of New York, 90 NY2d 471, 484-486). We find that the infant plaintiff consented to all of the risks which were inherent in and flowed from his playing on the equipment.
Given the plaintiffs' extended delay in moving to amend and supplement the complaint, and the lack of a reasonable excuse for the delay in seeking that relief, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the plaintiffs' motion for that relief (see, Volpe v Good Samaritan Hosp., 213 AD2d 398).
The plaintiffs' remaining contention is without merit. Bracken, J. P., Joy, Thompson and Feuerstein, JJ., concur.