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Popfinger v. Terminix International Co.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jun 22, 1998
251 A.D.2d 564 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)

Summary

declining to dismiss claim for negligently performing termite treatments

Summary of this case from Anunziatta v. Orkin Exterminating Co., Inc.

Opinion

June 22, 1998

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Schmidt, J.).


Ordered that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.

The plaintiff claims that the defendant negligently failed to discover the presence of termites in the subject premises, negligently failed to eradicate the termite infestation, and breached an alleged agreement to protect the premises from termites. Prior to commencing the action, the plaintiff had the termite damage repaired and discarded the damaged wood without notifying the defendant. We agree with the Supreme Court that under these circumstances, the plaintiff should not be sanctioned for intentional spoliation of evidence. The defendant failed to demonstrate that the' plaintiffs action was an intentional attempt to hide or destroy evidence. Furthermore, while sanctions may be imposed for negligent or nonintentional destruction of evidence (see, Kirkland v. New York City Hous. Auth., 236 A.D.2d 170), we find that the imposition of sanctions is inappropriate here.

O'Brien, J. P., Thompson, Friedmann and Goldstein, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

Popfinger v. Terminix International Co.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jun 22, 1998
251 A.D.2d 564 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)

declining to dismiss claim for negligently performing termite treatments

Summary of this case from Anunziatta v. Orkin Exterminating Co., Inc.

repairing and discarding termite-damaged wood prior to commencement of action against exterminator for negligence, not found to be "an intentional attempt to hide or destroy evidence," nor, under the circumstances, negligent

Summary of this case from Yager v. Thompson
Case details for

Popfinger v. Terminix International Co.

Case Details

Full title:JOAN POPFINGER, Respondent, v. TERMINIX INTERNATIONAL COMPANY LIMITED…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Jun 22, 1998

Citations

251 A.D.2d 564 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)
674 N.Y.S.2d 769

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