Opinion
2013-11-15
Jermain STOKELY, by the Parent and Natural Guardian Rosina BELL, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. Douglas WRIGHT, Alonzo Gadsden, Defendants–Respondents, et al., Defendant.
Athari & Associates, LLC, Utica (MO Athari of Counsel), for Plaintiff–Appellant. Smith, Sovik, Kendrick & Sugnet, P.C., Syracuse (John D. Goldman of Counsel), for Defendant–Respondent Douglas Wright.
Athari & Associates, LLC, Utica (MO Athari of Counsel), for Plaintiff–Appellant. Smith, Sovik, Kendrick & Sugnet, P.C., Syracuse (John D. Goldman of Counsel), for Defendant–Respondent Douglas Wright.
Hurwitz & Fine, P.C., Buffalo (V. Christopher Potenza of Counsel), for Defendant–Respondent Alonzo Gadsden.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., SMITH, FAHEY, SCONIERS AND VALENTINO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Plaintiff commenced this action seeking damages for injuries he allegedly sustained as a result of his exposure to lead paint as a child in two apartments in which he resided (premises). Plaintiff asserted causes of action for negligent ownership and negligent maintenance of the premises, as well as negligent abatement of the lead paint hazard. Following joinder of issue and discovery, defendant Alonzo Gadsden, a landlord, moved for summary judgment dismissing, inter alia, the complaintagainst him. Plaintiff cross-moved for, inter alia, partial summary judgment on the issue of defendants' liability and dismissal of certain affirmative defenses. Supreme Court granted Gadsden's motion and denied plaintiff's cross motion with the exception of the request for dismissal of certain affirmative defenses asserted by defendant Douglas Wright and issuance of a subpoena. Plaintiff appeals.
“ ‘To establish that a landlord is liable for a lead-paint condition, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the landlord had actual or constructive notice of, and a reasonable opportunity to remedy, the hazardous condition’ ” and failed to do so (Pagan v. Rafter, 107 A.D.3d 1505, 1506, 969 N.Y.S.2d 265). We conclude that Gadsden met his burden of establishing that he had no actual or constructive notice of the hazardous lead paint condition prior to an inspection conducted by the Oneida County Department of Health ( see generally Chapman v. Silber, 97 N.Y.2d 9, 15, 734 N.Y.S.2d 541, 760 N.E.2d 329), and plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact by contending that Real Property Law § 235–b or 42 USC § 4581 placed Gadsden on notice or imposed liability ( see Pagan, 107 A.D.3d at 1507, 969 N.Y.S.2d 265; Watson v. Priore, 104 A.D.3d 1304, 1305, 961 N.Y.S.2d 696). Despite plaintiff's repeated assertions to the contrary, “[t]he factors set forth in Chapman ... (97 N.Y.2d 9, 20–21, 734 N.Y.S.2d 541, 760 N.E.2d 329 [2001] ) remain the bases for determining whether a landlord knew or should have known of the existence of a hazardous lead paint condition and thus may be held liable in a lead paint case” (Watson, 104 A.D.3d at 1305, 961 N.Y.S.2d 696; see Sykes v. Roth, 101 A.D.3d 1673, 1674, 956 N.Y.S.2d 758).
We agree with plaintiff, however, that the court erred in granting Gadsden's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint in its entirety against him inasmuch as he failed to address the cause of action for negligent abatement against him in his motion ( see Pagan, 107 A.D.3d at 1506, 969 N.Y.S.2d 265; see generally Alvarez v. Prospect Hosp., 68 N.Y.2d 320, 324, 508 N.Y.S.2d 923, 501 N.E.2d 572). Consequently, we modify the order accordingly, and we remit the matter to Supreme Court for further proceedings on that part of plaintiff's cross motion seeking dismissal of certain of Gadsden's affirmative defenses.
Contrary to plaintiff's contention, he was not entitled to judgment as a matter of law “on the issue of liability[,] including notice, negligence and substantial factor,” against Wright and Gadsden ( see Watson, 104 A.D.3d at 1305, 961 N.Y.S.2d 696; see generally Juarez v. Wavecrest Mgt. Team, 88 N.Y.2d 628, 648, 649 N.Y.S.2d 115, 672 N.E.2d 135; Derr v. Fleming, 106 A.D.3d 1240, 1242–1243, 965 N.Y.S.2d 209; Van Wert v. Randall, 100 A.D.3d 1079, 1080–1081, 953 N.Y.S.2d 363). No proof submitted by plaintiff showed that he was observed ingesting paint fragments in defendants' premises or that peeling paint was observed in defendants' premises prior to plaintiff's diagnosis of elevated levels of lead in his blood, and thus plaintiff failed to establish his entitlement to partial summary judgment on the issue of liability ( see generally Alvarez, 68 N.Y.2d at 324, 508 N.Y.S.2d 923, 501 N.E.2d 572). Finally, the court properly denied that part of plaintiff's cross motion to dismiss certain affirmative defenses of Wright inasmuch as plaintiff failed to show that those defenses lacked merit as a matter of law ( see Derr, 106 A.D.3d at 1244, 965 N.Y.S.2d 209; Van Wert, 100 A.D.3d at 1081, 953 N.Y.S.2d 363).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law by denying the motion in part and reinstating the cause of action for negligent abatement against defendant Alonzo Gadsden as well as the cross claim against him, and by vacating that part of the order denying the cross motion with respect to the affirmative defenses asserted by him, and as modified the order is affirmed without costs and the matter is remitted to Supreme Court, Oneida County, for further proceedings.