Opinion
2014-02-18
Beth ABOTT, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. The CITY OF NEW YORK, Defendant–Respondent.
Morelli Alters Rater, P.C., New York (Adam E. Deutsch of counsel), for appellant. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Dona B. Morris of counsel), for respondent.
Morelli Alters Rater, P.C., New York (Adam E. Deutsch of counsel), for appellant. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Dona B. Morris of counsel), for respondent.
SWEENY, J.P., RENWICK, MOSKOWITZ, RICHTER, GISCHE, JJ.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Carol E. Huff, J.), entered January 8, 2013, dismissing the complaint, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The court properly directed a verdict for defendant City, as there was no rational process that would lead the trier of fact to find for plaintiff, who was injured after stepping into a pothole ( see generally Szczerbiak v. Pilat, 90 N.Y.2d 553, 556, 664 N.Y.S.2d 252, 686 N.E.2d 1346 [1997] ). The Pothole Law's written notice requirement (Administrative Code of City of N.Y. § 7–201[c][2] ) contains a “written acknowledgement” provision which permits a lawsuit “where there is documentary evidence showing, as clearly as written notice to DOT would show, that the City knew of the hazard and had an opportunity to remedy it” ( Bruni v. City of New York, 2 N.Y.3d 319, 326, 778 N.Y.S.2d 757, 811 N.E.2d 19 [2004] ). However, repair orders or reports, reflecting only that pothole repairs had been made to the subject area more than a year before the accident, are insufficient to constitute prior written notice of the defect that allegedly caused a plaintiff's injuries ( see Khemraj v. City of New York, 37 A.D.3d 419, 420, 829 N.Y.S.2d 621, [2d Dept.2007];see also Walker v. City of New York, 34 A.D.3d 226, 825 N.Y.S.2d 445 [1st Dept.2006] ). Here, the record demonstrates that plaintiff presented no evidence or testimony which contradicted the City's documentation showing that the subject defect had been repaired, closed, and made safe, more than a year prior to the accident ( see Khemraj at 420, 829 N.Y.S.2d 621).
We have considered plaintiff's remaining contentions, including that the City's failure to honor so-ordered subpoenas warranted the striking of its answer, and find them unavailing.