Fitzgerald v. Federal Signal Corp.

• Citation: 63 A.D.3d 994,2009 NY Slip Op 05288,883 N.Y.S.2d 67
• Decision Date: 23 June 2009
• Docket Number: 2008-09534.,2008-02236.
• Parties: GERARD FITZGERALD et al., Appellants, v. FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION, Respondent, et al., Defendants.
• Court: New York Supreme Court Appellate Division

63 A.D.3d 994

883 N.Y.S.2d 67

2009 NY Slip Op 05288

GERARD FITZGERALD et al., Appellants, v. FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION, Respondent, et al., Defendants.

2008-02236.

2008-09534.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department.

Decided June 23, 2009.

In an action, inter alia, to recover damages for personal injuries based on strict products liability, the plaintiffs appeal, as limited by their brief, (1) from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Saitta, J.), dated January 4, 2008, as granted that branch of the motion of the defendant Federal Signal Corporation, pursuant to CPLR 3211 (a) (7), which was to dismiss the causes of action alleging failure to

warn insofar as asserted against it, and (2) from so much of an order of the same court dated September 24, 2008, as denied that branch of their motion which was for leave to renew and as upon, in effect, granting reargument, adhered to the original determination.

Ordered that the appeal from the order dated January 4, 2008, is dismissed, as that order was superseded by so much of the order dated September 24, 2008, as was made upon reargument; and it is further,

Ordered that the order dated September 24, 2008, is affirmed insofar as appealed from; and it is further,

Ordered that one bill of costs is awarded to the defendant Federal Signal Corporation.

The plaintiffs are four firefighters who allege that they sustained permanent hearing damage while employed by the Fire Department of the City of New York (hereafter FDNY) as a result of repeated exposure to sirens manufactured by the defendant Federal Signal Corporation (hereafter Federal) and installed on FDNY fire trucks. The plaintiffs seek compensation based on Federal's alleged failure to warn them of the risk of hearing loss from prolonged exposure to the sirens. Insofar as is relevant to these appeals, Federal moved, pursuant to CPLR 3211 (a) (7), to dismiss the failure-to-warn claims insofar as asserted against it, contending, inter alia, that it owed no duty to warn as the risk of hearing loss was open and obvious. The Supreme Court granted the motion, and we affirm.

"Upon a motion to dismiss for failure to state a cause of action under CPLR 3211 (a) (7), the court must determine whether from the four corners of the pleading `factual allegations are discerned which taken together manifest any cause of action cognizable at law'" (Salvatore v Kumar, 45 AD3d 560, 562-563 [2007], quoting Morad v Morad, 27 AD3d 626, 627 [2006]; see Arnav Indus., Inc. Retirement Trust v Brown, Raysman, Millstein, Felder & Steiner, 96 NY2d 300, 303 [2001]; Leon v Martinez, 84 NY2d 83, 87-88 [1994]). "In determining such a motion, the court may freely consider additional facts contained in affidavits submitted by the plaintiff to remedy any defects in the complaint" (Sheridan v Carter, 48 AD3d 444, 445 [2008]; see International Oil Field Supply Servs. Corp. v Fadeyi, 35 AD3d 372, 375 [2006]).

Viewing the allegations in the complaint as true, and according the plaintiffs the benefit of every...