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Fagan v. Dime Savings Bank

Citations: 258 A.D.2d 357; 683 N.Y.S.2d 62

Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York; January 4, 1999; New York; State Appellate Court

Narrative Opinion Summary

In a case before the Supreme Court of New York County, the court addressed motions for summary judgment filed by defendant Dime Savings Bank and third-party defendant Anchor Maintenance Services, Inc., concerning a plaintiff's negligence claim following a fall. Justice Alice Schlesinger presided over the matter and issued an order on June 5, 1998, affirming the denial of these motions. The court determined that the plaintiff had presented sufficient evidence indicating that snow removal efforts had occurred shortly before the incident, thus establishing triable issues regarding potential negligence. Furthermore, Dime's motion for conditional summary judgment against Anchor was also denied, as factual disputes persisted regarding Dime's oversight of Anchor's snow removal operations at the bank. Despite these denials, the court permitted Dime to amend its third-party complaint, noting the absence of any undue surprise or prejudice to Anchor. The appellate decision was unanimously affirmed, with all justices concurring and no costs awarded to either party.

Legal Issues Addressed

Amendment of Third-Party Complaint

Application: The court allowed Dime to file an amended third-party complaint, determining that there was no surprise or prejudice to the third-party defendant, Anchor.

Reasoning: The court granted Dime the right to file an amended third-party complaint, determining that there was no surprise or prejudice to Anchor.

Conditional Summary Judgment Against Third Parties

Application: The denial of Dime's conditional summary judgment against Anchor was based on unresolved factual questions about Dime's supervision over Anchor's activities.

Reasoning: Dime's motion for conditional summary judgment against Anchor was also denied due to unresolved factual questions regarding Dime's supervision and control over Anchor's snow removal activities at the bank branch.

Denial of Summary Judgment

Application: The court found that the evidence provided by the plaintiff raised triable issues of fact, thus justifying the denial of summary judgment motions by the defendants.

Reasoning: The court found that evidence provided by the plaintiff demonstrated that snow removal measures had been performed in the days leading up to the plaintiff's fall, raising triable issues of fact about potential negligence.