Rivers v Villford Realty Corp.
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.
Friedman, J.P., Richter, Feinman, Gische, Clark, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Mary Ann Brigantti-Hughes, J.), entered October 18, 2011, which granted defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Plaintiff slipped on calcium chloride, a substance used to treat and prevent ice conditions, while exiting her apartment building. She admitted observing the calcium chloride pellets before her fall. The record shows that the presence of the calcium chloride was open and obvious and not inherently dangerous (see Verdejo v New York City Hous. Auth., ___ AD3d ___, 2013 NY Slip Op 02323 [1st Dept 2013]; Baynes v City of New York, 81 AD3d 423 [1st Dept 2011]). Defendants' safety consultant established that using calcium chloride to combat snow and ice conditions was a good, accepted, and safe practice, consistent with industry standards, and that there were no standards that required removing "ice melt" when ice was not present. The expert opined that the calcium chloride would have been soft and pliable and would not have been slippery at the time of the accident, and thus, not hazardous. His affidavit was not speculative since it was based upon his review of deposition testimony, the weather report for the relevant period, his personal inspections of the premises, and a sample of the calcium chloride used there.
In opposition, plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to the existence of a dangerous condition. Consideration of the building superintendent's deposition testimony does not alter this conclusion.
We have considered plaintiff's contention based on public policy and find it unavailing.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.
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