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David McCOLLIN, Jr., etc., et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK, et al., Defendants-Respondents.
Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Howard R. Silver, J.), entered June 8, 2006, which granted defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Dismissal of the complaint was warranted in this action, where the infant plaintiff, an eighth-grade student at defendant school, was injured during the course of a basketball practice when a ninth-grader, who was a recent graduate of the school and at the practice to assist the school's basketball coach, kicked infant plaintiff in the face. Defendants made a prima facie case of entitlement to summary judgment by establishing that the infant plaintiff's injuries were the result of a sudden, unforeseeable, and spontaneous attack that could not have been prevented by greater supervision (see Baker v. Trinity-Pawling School, 21 A.D.3d 272, 800 N.Y.S.2d 10 [2005], lv. dismissed 7 N.Y.3d 739, 819 N.Y.S.2d 860, 853 N.E.2d 229 [2006] ). Plaintiffs' opposition failed to adduce sufficient evidence to demonstrate that defendants did not exercise ordinary reasonable care in its supervision of the infant plaintiff (see Benitez v. New York City Bd. of Educ. 73 N.Y.2d 650, 656, 543 N.Y.S.2d 29, 541 N.E.2d 29 [1989]; Capotosto v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Ctr., 2 A.D.3d 384, 385-386, 767 N.Y.S.2d 857 [2003] ).
We have considered plaintiffs' remaining arguments and find them unavailing.
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Decided: November 27, 2007
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
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FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
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