SCHAAF v. PORK CHOP INC (2005)

 Plaintiff commenced this action to recover damages for injuries she sustained when her foot became caught in a crack in the sidewalk adjacent to defendants' business, causing her to fall forward into the building.   Supreme Court erred in granting defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.   Defendants failed to meet their burden of establishing as a matter of law that they are relieved of liability because they did not create the defect in the sidewalk or because the defect was open and obvious (see Pagano v. Rite-Aid Corp., 266 A.D.2d 854, 698 N.Y.S.2d 129), nor did they establish as a matter of law that the crack was too trivial to constitute a dangerous or defective condition (see Stewart v. 7-Eleven, 302 A.D.2d 881, 753 N.Y.S.2d 786;  McKenzie v. Crossroads Arena, 291 A.D.2d 860, 860-861, 738 N.Y.S.2d 779, lv. dismissed 98 N.Y.2d 647, 745 N.Y.S.2d 504, 772 N.E.2d 607).   Defendants also failed to meet their burden of establishing that they lacked actual or constructive notice of the allegedly dangerous condition that caused the accident (see Romero v. Jamaica Hosp., 295 A.D.2d 492, 744 N.Y.S.2d 848).   In any event, even assuming, arguendo, that defendants met their burden with respect to actual or constructive notice, we conclude that the affidavit of plaintiff's investigator raises a triable issue of fact with respect thereto.   Contrary to defendants' contention, the admissions attributed to defendant Billy Roesch in the investigator's affidavit constitute admissible evidence (see Reynolds v. City of New York, 221 A.D.2d 185, 633 N.Y.S.2d 300;  Prince, Richardson on Evidence § 8-202 [Farrell 11th ed.] ).   Although plaintiff's attorney should have disclosed Roesch's admissions in response to defendants' discovery demand, there is no indication that the failure to do so was willful or contumacious (see Gutz v. County of Monroe, 221 A.D.2d 838, 839-840, 634 N.Y.S.2d 776).   Moreover, the prejudice to defendants was minimal because they had notice of the investigator's interview with Roesch (see id. at 840, 634 N.Y.S.2d 776), and they may still depose the investigator (see Martin v. NYRAC, 258 A.D.2d 443, 443-444, 684 N.Y.S.2d 605).   Thus, the investigator's affidavit may properly be considered in opposition to defendants' motion (see generally Gutz, 221 A.D.2d at 840, 634 N.Y.S.2d 776).

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from be and the same hereby is unanimously reversed on the law with costs, the motion is denied and the complaint is reinstated.

MEMORANDUM: