Mitchell v. Vill. of Monroe

• Docket Number: 2021–04298, 2021–06570,Index No. 1874/17
• Decision Date: 18 October 2023
• Citation: Mitchell v. Vill. of Monroe, 220 A.D.3d 853, 198 N.Y.S.3d 716 (N.Y. App. Div. 2023)
• Parties: Patricia MITCHELL, appellant, v. VILLAGE OF MONROE, et al., respondents.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

220 A.D.3d 853

198 N.Y.S.3d 716

Patricia MITCHELL, appellant,

v.VILLAGE OF MONROE, et al., respondents.

2021–04298, 2021–06570

Index No. 1874/17

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

Argued—May 4, 2023

October 18, 2023

Sanford F. Young, New York, NY, for appellant.

Drake Loeb PLLC, New Windsor, NY (Judith A. Waye and Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP [Brendan T. Fitzpatrick and Jamie R. Prisco ], of counsel), for respondents.

COLLEEN D. DUFFY, J.P., WILLIAM G. FORD, DEBORAH A. DOWLING, JANICE A. TAYLOR, JJ.

DECISION & ORDER

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the plaintiff appeals from (1) an order of the Supreme Court, Orange County (Sandra B. Sciortino, J.), dated May 12, 2021, and (2) a judgment of the same court dated August 31, 2021. The order granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The judgment, upon the order, is in favor of the defendants and against the plaintiff dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the appeal from the order is dismissed; and it is further,

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed; and it is further,

ORDERED that one bill of costs is awarded to the defendants.

The appeal from the order must be dismissed because the right of direct appeal therefrom terminated with the entry of the judgment in the action (see Matter of Aho, 39 N.Y.2d 241, 248, 383 N.Y.S.2d 285, 347 N.E.2d 647 ). The issues raised on the appeal from the order are brought up for review and have been considered on the appeal from the judgment (see CPLR 5501[a][1] ; Matter of Aho, 39 N.Y.2d at 248, 383 N.Y.S.2d 285, 347 N.E.2d 647 ).

The plaintiff commenced this action against the defendants, Village of Monroe and Village of Monroe Department of Public Works, to recover damages for personal injuries she allegedly sustained when she tripped and fell in a hole or depression in a grassy area in the Village.

The defendants moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground, among others, that they did not receive prior written notice of the alleged condition as required by Village Law § 6–628. In an order dated May 12, 2021, the Supreme Court granted the defendants’ motion. A judgment was thereafter entered upon the order in favor of the defendants and against the plaintiff dismissing the complaint. The plaintiff appeals.

A municipality for which a prior written notification law such as Village Law § 6–628 has been adopted "may avoid liability for a defect or hazardous condition that falls within the scope of the law if it can establish that it has not been notified in writing of the existence of the defect or hazard at a specific location" ( O'Sullivan v. City of Long Beach, 209 A.D.3d 757, 757, 176 N.Y.S.3d 660 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Amabile v. City of Buffalo, 93 N.Y.2d 471, 474, 693 N.Y.S.2d 77, 715 N.E.2d 104 ). "Such [prior written] notice is obviated where the plaintiff demonstrates that the municipality ‘created the defect or hazard through an affirmative act of negligence’ or that a ‘special use’ conferred a benefit on the municipality" ( Groninger v. Village of Mamaroneck, 17 N.Y.3d 125, 127–128, 927 N.Y.S.2d 304, 950 N.E.2d 908, quoting Amabile v. City of Buffalo, 93 N.Y.2d at 474, 693 N.Y.S.2d 77, 715 N.E.2d 104 ).

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