Duntley v. Barr

10 Misc. 3d 206
CourtSyracuse City Court
DecidedSeptember 22, 2005
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 10 Misc. 3d 206 (Duntley v. Barr) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Syracuse City Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Duntley v. Barr, 10 Misc. 3d 206 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2005).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

David S. Gideon, J.

[207]*207Plaintiff/claimant herein brings the instant action seeking monetary damages of $5,000 incurred by him, allegedly caused by defendant’s smoking in the adjoining apartment.

The case at bar uniquely presents the next step in establishing what recovery, if any, is available for damages incurred privately, versus publicly, attributable to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), oftentimes referred to as “secondhand smoke.”

There is no question that the State of New York has specifically recognized the human health dangers inherent in ETS when article 13-E of the Public Health Law was enacted by the New York State Legislature in 1989. In passing article 13-E of the Public Health Law, the Legislature stated, “[T]here is a substantial body of scientific research showing that breathing secondhand smoke is a significant health hazard for nonsmokers.” (L 1989, ch 244, § 1.)

Recent New York State court decisions have reiterated this legislative finding in a myriad of circumstances. (See, DeMatteo v DeMatteo, 194 Misc 2d 640, 641 [Sup Ct, Oneida County 2002, Julian, J.] [wherein the court took judicial notice that “environmental tobacco smoke is a carcinogen and causes lung cancer in otherwise healthy nonsmokers and that the children of smoking parents suffer a higher incidence of respiratory infections and smaller rates of increases in lung functions”]; McCormick v Moran, 182 Misc 2d 568 [Watertown City Ct 1999] [wherein the court found that tobacco smoke residue left by a tenant, due to excessive smoking, created an offensive odor and a potential health risk that may arise to others who may use the premises, establishing the grounds for a monetary recovery sought by the landlord to clean the premises]; Herbert Paul, CPA, P.C. v 370 Lex, L.L.C., 7 Misc 3d 747 [Sup Ct, NY County 2005] [wherein the court, while recognizing that Public Health Law article 13-E regulates smoking in certain public areas and that no private cause of action was created by this article, nonetheless recognized that one who smokes may be liable for a private nuisance due to smoke infiltration].)

While it is clear that article 13-E of the Public Health Law regulates smoking and exposure in certain public areas, it is equally clear, however, that the Legislature specifically exempted applicability of the article to “private residences.” (Public Health Law § 1399-q.) The Legislature, therefore, while recognizing that ETS is a significant health hazard, wherever it may be encountered, chose to regulate only exposure in selected public places.

[208]*208Plaintiff/claimant’s recovery, if any, therefore must lie under the theory that the defendant herein created a private nuisance for which she is liable, either intentionally or negligently.

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Related

Schuman v. Greenbelt Homes, Inc.
69 A.3d 512 (Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, 2013)
Ewen v. Maccherone
32 Misc. 3d 12 (Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York, 2011)

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Bluebook (online)
10 Misc. 3d 206, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/duntley-v-barr-nysyrcityct-2005.