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Fernandez v. Highbridge

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Mar 11, 2008
49 A.D.3d 318 (N.Y. App. Div. 2008)

Opinion

No. 3014.

March 11, 2008.

Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Stanley Green, J.), entered December 1, 2006, which granted defendants' motions for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Trolman, Glaser Lichtman, P.C., New York (Michael T. Altman of counsel), for appellants.

Maroney O'Connor LLP, New York (Thomas J. Maroney of counsel), for Highbridge Realty Associates and United Property Services, Inc., respondents.

Fiedelman McGaw, Jericho (James K. O'Sullivan of counsel), for P M Management Realty Corp., respondent.

Before: Tom, J.P., Buckley, Sweeny and Moskowitz, JJ.


Summary judgment was properly granted to defendant building owners in this action where plaintiff was injured when, while descending a multiple-flight stairway owned by the City of New York and running between two avenues, a loose stair wobbled and caused him to fall. Although Administrative Code of the City of New York § 7-210 requires owners of real property to maintain abutting sidewalks in a reasonably safe condition, the section does not define "sidewalk," and, viewing the legislative history of the section, we find that the definition of "sidewalk" set forth in Administrative Code § 19-101 (d), which does not encompass the subject multiple-flight stairway, should govern ( see also Vucetovic v Epsom Downs, Inc., 45 AD3d 28). The definition of "sidewalk" in Administrative Code § 7-201 (c) (1) (b), urged by plaintiff's and which includes "step[s] and stairway[s]," applies by its terms only "[a]s used in this subdivision," and addresses the requirement in actions against the City for prior written notice of a defect to the City.

We further note that the record evidence establishes that even following the enactment of Administrative Code § 7-210, the City has continued to exercise control over the subject stairway, including snow removal and making repairs.


Summaries of

Fernandez v. Highbridge

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Mar 11, 2008
49 A.D.3d 318 (N.Y. App. Div. 2008)
Case details for

Fernandez v. Highbridge

Case Details

Full title:JONATHAN FERNANDEZ, an Infant, by His Mother and Natural Guardian, ANA…

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

Date published: Mar 11, 2008

Citations

49 A.D.3d 318 (N.Y. App. Div. 2008)
2008 N.Y. Slip Op. 2015
853 N.Y.S.2d 71

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