Opinion
2015-05-01
Christopher HAMILTON, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. John MILLER, David Miller, Jules Musinger, Doug Musinger and Singer Associates, Defendants–Respondents.
Athari & Associates, LLC, New Hartford (MO Athari of Counsel), for Plaintiff–Appellant. Sliwa & Lane, Buffalo (Stanley J. Sliwa of Counsel), for Defendants–Respondents John Miller and David Miller.
Athari & Associates, LLC, New Hartford (MO Athari of Counsel), for Plaintiff–Appellant. Sliwa & Lane, Buffalo (Stanley J. Sliwa of Counsel), for Defendants–Respondents John Miller and David Miller.
Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy LLP, Rochester (Joshua M. Agins of Counsel), for Defendants–Respondents Jules Musinger, Doug Musinger and Singer Associates.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., SMITH, VALENTINO, WHALEN, AND DeJOSEPH, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Plaintiff commenced this action seeking damages for injuries he allegedly sustained as the result of exposure to lead paint in apartments rented by his mother from defendants when he was a child. Defendants John Miller and David Miller moved for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff's complaint as against them. Plaintiff cross-moved for, inter alia, partial summary judgment against the Millers, as well as the remaining defendants (Musinger defendants), on the issues of “liability (notice, negligence and substantial factor),” and dismissal of various affirmative defenses. Supreme Court granted the Millers' motion and denied plaintiff's cross motion. We affirm.
“In order for a landlord to be held liable for a lead paint condition, it must be established that the landlord had actual or constructive notice of the hazardous condition and a reasonable opportunity to remedy it, but failed to do so” (Spain v. Holl, 115 A.D.3d 1368, 1369, 983 N.Y.S.2d 192; see Pagan v. Rafter, 107 A.D.3d 1505, 1506, 969 N.Y.S.2d 265; see generally Juarez v. Wavecrest Mgt. Team, 88 N.Y.2d 628, 646, 649 N.Y.S.2d 115, 672 N.E.2d 135). We agree with the Millers that they met their burden on their motion with respect to the cause of action for negligent ownership and maintenance of the premises by establishing that they did not have actual or constructive notice of the hazardous lead paint condition, and plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact ( see Spain, 115 A.D.3d at 1369, 983 N.Y.S.2d 192; see generally Chapman v. Silber, 97 N.Y.2d 9, 15, 734 N.Y.S.2d 541, 760 N.E.2d 329). We further agree with the Millers that they “met their burden with respect to the negligent abatement cause of action by establishing that they abated the lead paint hazard in a reasonable manner, and plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact” (Moye v. Giambra, 125 A.D.3d 1411, 1412; cf. Pagan, 107 A.D.3d at 1506–1507, 969 N.Y.S.2d 265). For the same reasons, we conclude that the court properly denied plaintiff's cross motion for partial summary judgment against the Millers.
Plaintiff further contends that the court erred in denying that part of his cross motion for partial summary judgment against the Musinger defendants on the issues of “liability (notice, negligence and substantial factor).” We reject that contention. Under the circumstances of this case, we conclude that there is an issue of fact whether the Musinger defendants had notice of the dangerous lead paint condition in the subject apartment “for such a period of time that, in the exercise of reasonable care, it should have been corrected” (Juarez, 88 N.Y.2d at 646, 649 N.Y.S.2d 115, 672 N.E.2d 135; see Heyward v. Shanne, 114 A.D.3d 1212, 1213, 980 N.Y.S.2d 202). With regard to constructive notice, we conclude that there are issues of fact with respect to the first Chapman factor, i.e., whether the Musinger defendants retained a right of entry to the premises, and the third Chapman factor,i.e., whether the Musinger defendants were aware that paint was peeling on the premises ( see Watson v. Priore, 104 A.D.3d 1304, 1305–1306, 961 N.Y.S.2d 696, lv. dismissed in part and denied in part21 N.Y.3d 1052, 973 N.Y.S.2d 85, 995 N.E.2d 1157; see also Heyward, 114 A.D.3d at 1214, 980 N.Y.S.2d 202; see generally Chapman, 97 N.Y.2d at 15, 20–21, 734 N.Y.S.2d 541, 760 N.E.2d 329). We also conclude that there is an issue of fact as to causation ( see Heyward, 114 A.D.3d at 1214, 980 N.Y.S.2d 202; Robinson v. Bartlett, 95 A.D.3d 1531, 1534–1535, 944 N.Y.S.2d 777).
Finally, the court properly denied that part of plaintiff's cross motion seeking to dismiss certain affirmative defenses asserted by the Musinger defendants inasmuch as plaintiff failed to show that those defenses lacked merit as a matter of law ( see Heyward, 114 A.D.3d at 1214–1215, 980 N.Y.S.2d 202; Pagan, 107 A.D.3d at 1507, 969 N.Y.S.2d 265).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.