Byron Castillo, plaintiff- respondent, v. Amjack Leasing Corp., appellant, Rochris Real Estate Corp., defendant-respondent. (2011)

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

Byron Castillo, plaintiff- respondent, v. Amjack Leasing Corp., appellant, Rochris Real Estate Corp., defendant-respondent.

2010–05384 (Index No. 11300 /08)

Decided: May 31, 2011

DANIEL D. ANGIOLILLO, J.P. ANITA R. FLORIO ARIEL E. BELEN SHERI S. ROMAN, JJ.

O' Connor Redd, LLP, White Plains, N.Y. (Amy L. Fenno of counsel), for appellant. Lynn Law Firm, LLP, Syracuse, N.Y. (Patricia A. Lynn–Ford of counsel), for plaintiff-respondent. The plaintiff commenced this action against, among others, Amjack, alleging, inter alia, that Amjack was negligent in maintaining the truck.   Amjack moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all cross claims insofar as asserted against it, arguing, among other things, that, pursuant to the Graves Amendment (49 USC § 30106), it was not liable as the truck lessor for the plaintiff ‘s injuries because it was a bona fide commercial lessor of motor vehicles and the accident was not the result of any negligence on its part.   The Supreme Court denied the motion, determining that it had not been established that Amjack was a bona fide commercial lessor of motor vehicles or that no triable issue of fact existed regarding Amjack's negligence in maintaining the truck.   Amjack appeals, and we reverse. Amjack established its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by demonstrating the absence of any material issues of fact with respect to whether it was a commercial lessor of motor vehicles and that it was not negligent in maintaining the subject vehicle such that the Graves Amendment applied to shield it from liability for the plaintiff ‘s injuries (see 49 USC § 30106;  Graham v Dunkley, 50 AD3d 55, 57–58;  Yoon Young Lee v Rivera, 27 Misc.3d 1201[A];  2010 N.Y. Slip Op 50517[u] ).   In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact.