Opinion
October 1, 1984
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Monteleone, J.).
Order modified, on the law, by deleting the first and second decretal paragraphs thereof and substituting therefor a provision granting plaintiff Royal Farms, Inc.'s motion for summary judgment in the first action only to the extent of collaterally estopping defendant Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. from contesting the issue of its gross negligence, and setting the matter down for trial on all other relevant issues. As so modified, order affirmed, insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
Special Term correctly held that defendant Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) is precluded, pursuant to the doctrine of collateral estoppel, from contesting the issue of its gross negligence in causing the blackout which occurred on July 13, 1977 ( Shaid v Consolidated Edison Co., 95 A.D.2d 610; Goldstein v Consolidated Edison Co., 93 A.D.2d 589, aff'd 62 N.Y.2d 936). However, it erred in ordering a trial only on the issue of damages. All other relevant issues, including causation, comparative fault, and apportionment of fault between Con Edison and the defendant City of New York must also be tried ( Russo v Consolidated Edison Co., App Term, 2d and 11th Judicial Dists, Jan. 13, 1983, aff'd 97 A.D.2d 791; Goldstein v Consolidated Edison Co., 93 A.D.2d 589, 596, supra). Thompson, J.P., Weinstein, Rubin and Lawrence, JJ., concur.