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Saraceno v. First National Supermarkets, Inc.

Citations: 246 A.D.2d 638; 668 N.Y.S.2d 234; 1998 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 612

Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York; January 25, 1998; New York; State Appellate Court

Narrative Opinion Summary

Grandview Contracting Corp. appeals the denial of its motion for summary judgment in a personal injury case involving plaintiff Vincent Saraceno, who was injured after slipping on ice while delivering to a supermarket owned by First National Supermarkets, Inc. (FNS) and located in a shopping center owned by Islandia Development Co. and managed by Skyline Management Corp. The court modified the previous order, granting Grandview's motion and dismissing the complaint against it, as it did not assume a duty of care to Saraceno under its snow removal contract with Islandia. The appeals by Islandia, Skyline, and FNS to dismiss the complaint and cross-claims were denied, as it remained unclear whether Saraceno fell on a common area maintained by Islandia and Skyline or on a sidewalk adjacent to FNS, which was FNS's responsibility to maintain. The decision was affirmed without costs or disbursements.

Legal Issues Addressed

Duty of Care under Snow Removal Contracts

Application: Grandview Contracting Corp. was granted dismissal as it did not assume a duty of care to the plaintiff under its snow removal contract with Islandia Development Co.

Reasoning: The court modified the previous order, granting Grandview's motion and dismissing the complaint against it, as it did not assume a duty of care to Saraceno under its snow removal contract with Islandia.

Liability in Common Area Maintenance

Application: The appeals by Islandia Development Co. and Skyline Management Corp. to dismiss the complaint were denied due to unresolved questions about the location of the accident and their maintenance responsibilities.

Reasoning: The appeals by Islandia, Skyline, and FNS to dismiss the complaint and cross-claims were denied, as it remained unclear whether Saraceno fell on a common area maintained by Islandia and Skyline or on a sidewalk adjacent to FNS, which was FNS's responsibility to maintain.

Responsibility for Sidewalk Maintenance

Application: First National Supermarkets, Inc.'s liability was questioned based on whether the accident occurred on a sidewalk which was their responsibility to maintain.

Reasoning: The appeals by Islandia, Skyline, and FNS to dismiss the complaint and cross-claims were denied, as it remained unclear whether Saraceno fell on a common area maintained by Islandia and Skyline or on a sidewalk adjacent to FNS, which was FNS's responsibility to maintain.