Sykes v. County of Erie

263 A.D.2d 947, 695 N.Y.S.2d 454, 1999 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 7909

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: July 9, 1999
• Status: Published

Opinions

—Order reversed on the law without costs, motion granted and complaint dismissed. Memorandum: Plaintiffs commenced this action seeking to recover damages for a knee injury sustained by Lester Sykes, Jr. (plaintiff) while playing basketball on an outdoor court owned by defendant. Plaintiff was injured when he stepped into a recessed drain near the free throw line.

Supreme Court erred in denying defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. Plaintiff assumed those risks inherent in playing on the outdoor basketball court, including those risks associated with the construction of the court and its open and obvious condition (see, Sheridan v City of New York, 261 AD2d 528; Retian v City of New York, 259 AD2d 684; Paone v County of Suffolk, 251 AD2d 563; Walner v City of New York, 243 AD2d 629; Reynolds v Jefferson Val. Racquet Club, 238 AD2d 493; McKey v City of New York, 234 AD2d 114, 115; Steward v Town of Clarkstown, 224 AD2d 405, 406, lv denied 88 NY2d 815; cf., Worrell v New York City Hous. Auth., 255 AD2d 438; Cronson v Town of N. Hempstead, 245 AD2d 331). Here, the parties’ submissions establish that the recessed drain on the court was “clearly visible” (Paone v County of Suffolk, supra, at 564; see, Brown v City of New York, 251 AD2d 361), and thus plaintiff assumed the risk of injury from stepping into it (see, Paone v County of Suffolk, supra, at 564; Brown v City of New York, supra; McKey v City of New York, supra, at 115; Steward v Town of Clarkstown, supra, at 406; see also, Touti v City of New York, 233 AD2d 496).

All concur except Pine and Callahan, JJ., who dissent and vote to affirm in the following Memorandum.