Sclafani v. Washington Mutual

• Decision Date: 16 January 2007
• Docket Number: 2006-07513.
• Citation: 2007 NY Slip Op 00290,829 N.Y.S.2d 553,36 A.D.3d 682
• Parties: BARBARA SCLAFANI, Appellant, v. WASHINGTON MUTUAL et al., Respondents.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

36 A.D.3d 682

829 N.Y.S.2d 553

2007 NY Slip Op 00290

BARBARA SCLAFANI, Appellant, v. WASHINGTON MUTUAL et al., Respondents.

2006-07513.

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

Decided January 16, 2007.

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Schmidt, J.), dated June 20, 2006, which granted the defendants' respective motions for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them.

Ordered that the order is affirmed, with one bill of costs.

Contrary to the plaintiff's contention, under the circumstances of this case, the defendants demonstrated "good cause" for the delay in filing their motions for summary judgment, since the note of issue was filed while there was significant discovery outstanding (see CPLR 3212 [a]; Brill v City of New York, 2 NY3d 648, 652 [2004]; Gonzalez v 98 Mag Leasing Corp., 95 NY2d 124, 129 [2000]; Olivier v Rodney, 27 AD3d 631, 632 [2006]; Herrera v Felice Realty Corp., 22 AD3d 723, 724 [2005]).

Moreover, the defendants each established their prima facie entitlement to summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them by presenting evidence that the concrete parking barrier over which the plaintiff tripped and fell was open and obvious, as it was readily observable by those employing the reasonable use of their senses and, as a matter of law, was not inherently dangerous (see Zimkind v Costco Wholesale Corp., 12 AD3d 593, 594 [2004]; Bryant v Superior Computer Outlet, 5 AD3d 343, 344 [2004]; Cupo v Karfunkel, 1 AD3d 48 [2003]). In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see Bryant v Superior Computer Outlet, supra; cf. Cupo v Karfunkel, supra at 52).

Spolzino, J.P., Ritter, Lunn and Angiolillo, JJ., concur.