State v. Fermenta ASC Corp.

162 Misc. 2d 288, 616 N.Y.S.2d 702, 1994 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 399
New York Supreme Court·Decided July 28, 1994·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Mary M. Werner, J.

This motion by defendants Fermenta ASC Corporation and [290]*290SDS Biotech Corporation (Fermenta) for an order pursuant to CPLR 3211 dismissing all counts of the complaint of the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA), or in the alternative, an order pursuant to CPLR 3024 requiring Suffolk County Water Authority to clearly set forth its first, second and third causes of action and to specifically set forth the special damages it has suffered is granted in part and denied in part as set forth below.

BACKGROUND

The factual background of this case was set forth in detail in this court’s January 4, 1994 memorandum decision which is reported at State of New York v Fermenta ASC Corp. (160 Misc 2d 187 [Sup Ct, Suffolk County 1994]). Since that decision was rendered, the Suffolk County Water Authority was granted leave to intervene by short form order dated March 31, 1994. As stated above, Fermenta now seeks to dismiss SCWA’s complaint.

DISCUSSION

"Upon a motion to dismiss, the sole criterion is whether the subject pleading states a cause of action, and if, from the four corners of the complaint, factual allegations are discerned which, taken together, manifest any cause of action cognizable at law, then the motion will fail * * * Furthermore, upon a motion to dismiss for failure to state a cause of action, a pleading must be given the benefit of every possible favorable inference to be drawn, and every fact alleged must be assumed to be true” (Maurillo v Park Slope U-Haul, 194 AD2d 142, 145 [2d Dept 1993] [citations omitted]; see also, Weiss v Cuddy & Feder, 200 AD2d 665 [2d Dept 1994]).

Applying this standard the court finds that SCWA has stated a cause of action for a public and private nuisance and therefore denies that part of Fermenta’s motion seeking to dismiss SCWA’s first, second and third causes of action. However, since SCWA has failed to state a cause of action with respect to the causes of action sounding in nuisance per se and trespass, the fourth and fifth causes of action are dismissed.

PUBLIC NUISANCE

For a first and third cause of action SCWA claims that defendants’ conduct constitutes a public nuisance. Fermenta [291]*291seeks dismissal arguing first that SCWA is not an appropriate party to bring a public nuisance action as it is not acting as an agent of the State and second that SCWA has failed to allege special damages. These arguments are without merit.

The Suffolk County Water Authority is a public benefit corporation (Public Authorities Law § 1077 [1]). SCWA’s enabling legislation further provides: "It is hereby determined and declared that the authority and the carrying out of its powers, purposes and duties are in all respects for the benefit of the people of the county of Suffolk and the state of New York, for the improvement of their health, welfare and prosperity and that the said purposes are public purposes and that the authority is and will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by this title” (Public Authorities Law § 1077 [3]).

Fermenta argues that SCWA’s allegations that its wells have been contaminated and therefore taken out of service relate solely to SCWA’s business activities. However, SCWA, in its complaint, specifically alleges that the acts of Fermenta have made the water supplying its wells unfit for human consumption. In seeking to protect the integrity of the water supply, SCWA is acting in its sovereign capacity, and, as stated by Justice Doyle, is not acting "merely as the proprietor of a few wells” (Suffolk County Water Auth. v Union Carbide Corp., NYLJ, May 2, 1991, at 28, cols 1, 2).

That SCWA has already taken steps to protect the public from the alleged contamination by closing the wells does not preclude SCWA from commencing an action in public nuisance, and Fermenta cites no authority otherwise. Whether SCWA can prevail on its cause of action for public nuisance, of course, is a question of fact which will be determined at the trial of this action.

Fermenta makes the further argument that SCWA has failed to allege special damages. Since the court has already found that SCWA is functioning in its governmental capacity in bringing this suit, allegations of special damages are not necessary. However, even if SCWA were acting in a private capacity and therefore required to show special damages (Leo v General Elec. Co., 145 AD2d 291 [2d Dept 1989]), the court finds that the complaint adequately alleges such special damages.

More specifically, the complaint alleges, inter alla, that various wells belonging to SCWA have been contaminated, [292]*292and that well number 6 has been taken out of service. Assuming such damage to SCWA is true, which the court must do, then SCWA has sufficiently alleged special damages. "Special damages” in an action for public nuisance brought by a private person must be " 'of a different kind from that suffered by other persons exercising the same public right’ ” (Burns Jackson Miller Summit & Spitzer v Lindner, 59 NY2d 314, 334 [1983]). "Allegations of pecuniary injury may be sufficient to satisfy the peculiar injury test * * * so long as the injuries involved are not common to the entire community exercising the same public right” (Leo v General Elec. Co., supra, at 294). The court finds that the necessity of closing wells and obtaining alternate sources of water is a different kind of damage than that suffered by others drawing water on Long Island. Therefore SCWA has sufficiently alleged special damages to sustain its public nuisance causes of action.

PRIVATE NUISANCE

For a second cause of action SCWA alleges that the conduct of Fermenta constitutes a private nuisance and that Fermenta is strictly liable for abatement of such nuisance pursuant to RPAPL 841.

In order to succeed in an action to recover for a private nuisance, a plaintiff must show that defendant’s invasion is "(1) intentional and unreasonable, (2) negligent or reckless, or (3) actionable under the rules governing liability for abnormally dangerous conditions or activities” (Copart Indus. v Consolidated Edison Co., 41 NY2d 564, 569 [1977]). In addition, a private nuisance threatens one person or a relatively few (supra).

In its complaint, SCWA alleges that the contamination of its property and water is "intentional, unreasonable, negligent or reckless, or actionable under the rules governing liability for abnormally dangerous conditions or activities”.

The requisite elements of intent or recklessness are set forth as "bare legal conclusion[s] in the complaint” and are unsupported by any factual allegations and they are "therefore * * * not entitled to the usual favorable inferences accorded on a motion to dismiss” (Gold Mech. Contrs. v Lloyds Bank P.L.C., 197 AD2d 384 [1st Dept 1993]; see also, WFB Telecommunications v NYNEX Corp., 188 AD2d 257 [1st Dept 1992]; Vella v United Cerebral Palsy, 141 Misc 2d 976 [Sup Ct, NY County 1988]).

[293]*293However, this court has already held in its January 4, 1994 decision that factual questions exist as to whether Fermenta has engaged in an abnormally dangerous activity (State of New York v Fermenta ASC Corp., 160 Misc 2d 187, 198, supra).

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State v. Fermenta ASC Corp., 162 Misc. 2d 288, 616 N.Y.S.2d 702, 1994 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 399 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1994).

162 Misc. 2d 288 (State v. Fermenta ASC Corp.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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