M.O., Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Lincoln Hall also known as Lincoln Hall Haven for Boys, Defendant-Appellant. (2024)

Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Alexander M. Tisch, J.), entered on or about July 26, 2023, which denied defendant Lincoln Hall a/k/a Lincoln Hall Boys Haven's motion to dismiss the complaint as against it pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7), unanimously affirmed, without costs.

The court properly denied the motion to dismiss plaintiff's claims of negligence arising from the allegation that he was sexually abused in or around 1985 or 1986 by a priest during his stay at Lincoln Hall, a residential school and facility for boys.  Plaintiff alleges that Lincoln Hall knew or should have known of the priest's dangerous propensities.  While Lincoln Hall argues that plaintiff fails to allege specific facts that it had notice of the priest's criminal proclivities or identify the priest by name, at this pre-answer stage of the litigation, such information is in the sole possession and control of Lincoln Hall (see G.T. v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y., 211 A.D.3d 413, 413, 180 N.Y.S.3d 75 [1st Dept. 2022]).  Therefore, dismissal of the negligence claims asserted against it was properly denied on this ground, as “facts essential to justify opposition may exist but cannot then be stated” (CPLR 3211[d];  see G.T. v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y., 211 A.D.3d at 413, 180 N.Y.S.3d 75;  ARK265 Doe v. Archdiocese of N.Y., 221 A.D.3d 422, 423, 199 N.Y.S.3d 473 [1st Dept. 2023]).

We have considered Lincoln Hall's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.