Opinion
03-21-2017
Robert DUFFY, et al., Plaintiffs–Respondents, v. 274 WEST 19, LLC, et al., Defendants–Appellants. [And Third–Party Actions].
Lester Schwab Katz & Dwyer, LLP, New York (Daniel Kotler of counsel), for appellants. Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, Newburgh (Lawrence D. Lissauer of counsel), for respondents.
Lester Schwab Katz & Dwyer, LLP, New York (Daniel Kotler of counsel), for appellants.
Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, Newburgh (Lawrence D. Lissauer of counsel), for respondents.
ACOSTA, J.P., RENWICK, MANZANET–DANIELS, WEBBER, GESMER, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Joan M. Kenney, J.), entered May 26, 2016, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, denied defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiffs' complaint, unanimously reversed, on the law, without costs, and the motion granted. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment accordingly.
Plaintiff Robert Duffy allegedly struck his head while attempting to walk through a low door that led to a machine room in a building owned by defendant 274 West 19, LLC and managed by defendant Beach Lane Management, Inc.
Defendants made a prima facie showing that the alleged New York City Building Code violations did not apply to the building, which was erected in 1899, before the enactment of the Code (see e.g. Vasquez v. Soriano, 106 A.D.3d 545, 545, 965 N.Y.S.2d 121 [1st Dept.2013] ). Plaintiffs' expert's opinion that "[t]he door and exterior stair w[ere] clearly not of the original construction and would violate whatever code edition was in effect at the time [the door and stairs] had been installed," was too conclusory and speculative to raise an issue of fact (see Cummo v. Children's Hosp. of N.Y., 113 A.D.3d 405, 406, 978 N.Y.S.2d 151 [1st Dept.2014] ).
Defendants are entitled to dismissal of plaintiff's common-law claim, as plaintiff's testimony established that the condition complained of was open and obvious and not inherently dangerous (see Boyd v. New York City Hous. Auth., 105 A.D.3d 542, 543, 964 N.Y.S.2d 10 [1st Dept.2013], lv. denied 22 N.Y.3d 855, 2013 WL 6065937 [2013] ).