SCHONDER v. KALIKOW FAMILY PARTNERSHIP (2022)

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.

Plaintiffs commenced this small claims action to recover $5,000 as the cost of removing paint splatter from their belongings, which splatter was allegedly caused by a painter hired by defendants to paint plaintiffs’ apartment. After a nonjury trial, at which the only proof of damages plaintiffs submitted was a single estimate to reupholster their sofa and love seat, the District Court dismissed the action.

In a small claims action, our review is limited to a determination of whether “substantial justice has ․ been done between the parties according to the rules and principles of substantive law” (UDCA 1807; see UDCA 1804; Ross v Friedman, 269 AD2d 584 [2000]; Williams v Roper, 269 AD2d 125, 126 [2000]).

Section 1804 of the Uniform District Court Act provides, in pertinent part, as follows:

“An itemized bill or invoice, receipted or marked paid, or two itemized estimates for services or repairs are admissible in evidence and are prima facie evidence of the reasonable value and necessity of such services and repairs.”

A review of the record indicates that plaintiffs failed to meet their burden of proof to establish their alleged damages, as plaintiffs failed to submit such documents as required by UDCA 1804 or to present expert testimony sufficient to establish the reasonable value and necessity of the repairs (see Rodriguez v Mitch's Transmission, 32 Misc 3d 126[A], 2011 NY Slip Op 51225[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2011]; Monteforte v Jamisha Auto. Corp., 23 Misc 3d 144[A], 2009 NY Slip Op 51096[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2009]).

As plaintiffs failed to prove their damages by competent evidence, the court's dismissal of the action rendered substantial justice between the parties (see UDCA 1804, 1807).

We reach no other issue.

Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed.

GARGUILO, P.J., EMERSON and DRISCOLL, JJ., concur.