GOLDBERG v. TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD (2001)

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, etc., the defendant appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Adams, J.), dated September 11, 2000, which denied its motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, with costs, the motion is granted, and the complaint is dismissed.

Here, the infant plaintiff, a fairly experienced cyclist, was riding her bicycle on a dirt base path of a baseball field owned and maintained by the defendant.   She fell and injured her left ankle when her bicycle struck a hole in the ground that was open and obvious, as illustrated by a photograph submitted by the plaintiffs.

Since the risk of striking a hole and falling is an inherent risk in riding a bicycle on most outdoor surfaces (see, Schiavone v. Brinewood Rod & Gun Club, Inc., 283 A.D.2d 234, 726 N.Y.S.2d 615;  Calise v. City of New York, 239 A.D.2d 378, 657 N.Y.S.2d 430), and the defective condition in this case was open and obvious, the infant plaintiff assumed the risk associated with riding her bicycle on the ballfield (see, Sykes v. County of Erie, 94 N.Y.2d 912, 707 N.Y.S.2d 374, 728 N.E.2d 973, affg. 263 A.D.2d 947, 695 N.Y.S.2d 454;  Gamble v. Town of Hempstead, 281 A.D.2d 391, 721 N.Y.S.2d 385;  Paone v. County of Suffolk, 251 A.D.2d 563, 674 N.Y.S.2d 761;  Strauss v. Town of Oyster Bay, 201 A.D.2d 553, 607 N.Y.S.2d 730).   The defendant discharged its duty of care by making the field as safe as it appeared to be (see, Turcotte v. Fell, 68 N.Y.2d 432, 510 N.Y.S.2d 49, 502 N.E.2d 964;  Gallagher v. Town of N. Hempstead, 144 A.D.2d 637, 535 N.Y.S.2d 10).