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Brown v. Elm Plumbing Supply, Limited

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Apr 13, 2000
271 A.D.2d 469 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000)

Opinion

Argued March 2, 2000.

April 13, 2000.

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, etc., the defendants Western American Manufacturing, Inc., and Elm Plumbing Supply, Limited, separately appeal, as limited by their respective briefs, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (I. Aronin, J.), dated January 28, 1999, as denied their respective motion and cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all cross claims insofar as asserted against them.

Ahmuty Demers McManus, New York, N.Y. (George S. Evans and Joseph A. Oliva of counsel), for appellant Elm Plumbing Supply, Limited.

Turner Owen, New York, N.Y. (Hillary P. Kahan of counsel), for appellant Western American Manufacturing, Inc.

Druckman, Raphan Sinel (Eliot Sinel and Pollack, Pollack, Isaac DeCicco, New York, N.Y. [Brian J. Isaac and Julie T. Mark] of counsel), for respondents.

MYRIAM J. ALTMAN, J.P., ANITA R. FLORIO, HOWARD MILLER, ROBERT W. SCHMIDT, JJ.


DECISION ORDER

ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, with one bill of costs, the motion and cross motion are granted, and the complaint and all cross claims are dismissed.

While the identity of a manufacturer/distributor and/or seller of a defective product may be established by circumstantial evidence (see, Healey v. Firestone Tire Rubber Co., 87 N.Y.2d 596, 601 ), the circumstantial evidence must establish that it is reasonably probable, not merely possible, that a defendant was the source of the offending product (see, Healey v. Firestone Tire Rubber Co., supra). The plaintiffs did not establish that it was reasonably probable that the appellants were the source of the allegedly defective product. Moreover, assuming that the appellants, Western American Manufacturing, Inc., and Elm Plumbing Supply, Limited, were the respective manufacturer/distributor and seller of the product which allegedly caused the infant plaintiff's injuries, the plaintiffs failed to establish that the product was in fact defective (see, Rosado v. Proctor Schwartz, 66 N.Y.2d 21, 25 ; D'Elia v. Martin A. Gleason, Inc., Funeral Homes, 250 A.D.2d 803 ).

The plaintiffs' remaining contentions are without merit.


Summaries of

Brown v. Elm Plumbing Supply, Limited

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Apr 13, 2000
271 A.D.2d 469 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000)
Case details for

Brown v. Elm Plumbing Supply, Limited

Case Details

Full title:MIRIAM BROWN, ETC., et al., respondents, v. ELM PLUMBING SUPPLY, LIMITED…

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

Date published: Apr 13, 2000

Citations

271 A.D.2d 469 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000)
706 N.Y.S.2d 909

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