Brown v. Congel

• Decision Date: 31 July 1997
• Docket Number: No. 2,No. 1,1,2
• Parties: , 1997 N.Y. Slip Op. 6970 Margaret L. BROWN, Respondent, v. Robert J. CONGEL et al., Doing Business as Pyramid Crossgates Company, et al., Appellants. (Action) Margaret L. BROWN, Respondent, v. HOYTS CINEMA CORPORATION, Appellant. (Action) (And a Third-Party Action.)
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 507

660 N.Y.S.2d 507

241 A.D.2d 880, 1997 N.Y. Slip Op. 6970

Margaret L. BROWN, Respondent, v. Robert J. CONGEL et al., Doing Business as Pyramid

Crossgates Company, et al., Appellants. (Action No. 1.)

Margaret L. BROWN, Respondent, v. HOYTS CINEMA CORPORATION, Appellant. (Action No. 2.)

(And a Third-Party Action.)

Supreme Court, Appellate Division,

Third Department.

July 31, 1997.

Shanley, Sweeney, Reilly & Allen (Marie Flynn Danek, of counsel), Albany, for Robert J. Congel and others, appellants.

Carter, Conboy, Case, Blackmore, Napierski & Maloney (Kathleen M. Baynes, of counsel), Albany, for Hoyts Cinema Corporation, appellant.

Powers & Santola (Danetter K. Flynn, of counsel), Albany, for respondent.

Before CARDONA, P.J., and MIKOLL, CREW, CASEY and YESAWICH, JJ.

CASEY, Justice.

Appeals (1) from an order of the Supreme Court (Harris, J.), entered September 20, 1996 in Albany County, which denied defendant's motion in action No. 2 for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all cross claims against it, and (2) from an order of said court, entered November 26, 1996 in Albany County, which, inter alia, denied defendants' motion in action No. 1 to bifurcate the trial.

On July 1, 1992 at approximately 9:15 P.M., plaintiff was assaulted in the parking lot at Crossgates Mall in Albany County after having attended a movie with a friend in a theater operated by defendant Hoyts Cinema Corporation. The assault occurred after plaintiff and her friend had parted company and while plaintiff was attempting to unlock her car door. Plaintiff was attacked from behind and robbed, resulting in serious injuries and the loss of her pocketbook.

Plaintiff commenced action No. 1 against Pyramid Crossgates Company, as owner of the mall, and action No. 2 against Hoyts. The two actions were joined and Hoyts then cross-claimed against Pyramid based, inter alia, on a lease provision between these parties which placed the responsibility for the care of all common areas, including the parking lots, on Pyramid. Pyramid Management Group Inc. (hereinafter PMGI) was joined as a third-party defendant by Hoyts in action No. 2 and plaintiff amended the complaint in action No. 1, naming PMGI as an additional defendant.

Hoyts moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all cross claims in action No. 2, which all of the other parties opposed. Supreme Court denied the motion, finding a question of fact regarding whether Hoyts "did occupy, control or have 'special use' of the 'late lighting area' where the plaintiff was assaulted and thereby owed a duty to the plaintiff with regard to dangerous conditions on the property". An order was entered on September 20, 1996 from which Hoyts now appeals.

Pyramid and PMGI then moved for a bifurcated trial claiming that they could not receive fair and impartial consideration if plaintiff was allowed to introduce proof of her injuries at the liability trial. Hoyts cross-moved for a bifurcated trial, leave to reargue the summary judgment motion and for summary judgment. Plaintiff opposed both motions. Supreme Court granted reargument but adhered to its prior determination. The court then denied the motions for a bifurcated trial on the basis that the type, kind and severity of plaintiff's injuries had an important bearing on the issue of liability. Hoyts, Pyramid and PMGI appeal from this order entered November 26, 1996.

We find that Supreme Court improperly denied Hoyts' motion...