Leevson v. Bay Condos, LLC

Nov 24, 2009
Versions:67 A.D.3d 972
888 N.Y.S.2d 775

Victoria Leevson et al., Appellants, v Bay Condos, LLC, et al., Defendants, and Walgreen Eastern Co., Inc., Respondent. [888 NYS2d 775]—In an action, inter alia, to recover damages for injury to personal property, the plaintiffs appeal, as limited by their notice of appeal and brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Martin, J.), dated March 31, 2008, as denied their motion to strike the answer of the defendant Walgreen Eastern Co., Inc., based upon its spoliation of evidence and for summary judgment on the issue of liability insofar as asserted against that defendant.

Ordered that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.

The Supreme Court properly denied the plaintiffs’ motion to strike the answer of the defendant Walgreen Eastern Co., Inc. (hereinafter Walgreen), based on its spoliation of evidence and for summary judgment on the issue of liability insofar as asserted against Walgreen (see CPLR 3126; Mylonas v Town of Brookhaven, 305 AD2d 561, 562-563 [2003]). The plaintiffs failed to establish, as a matter of law, that Walgreen “intentionally or negligently failed to preserve crucial evidence after being placed on notice that such evidence might be needed for future litigation” (Sloane v Costco Wholesale Corp., 49 AD3d 522, 523 [2008]; see Dessources v Good Samaritan Hosp., 65 AD3d 1008, 1010 [2009]; Lovell v United Skates of Am., Inc., 28 AD3d 721 [2006]; Goll v American Broadcasting Cos., Inc., 10 AD3d 672, 673 [2004]; Baglio v St. John‘s Queens Hosp., 303 AD2d 341, 342 [2003]). Mastro, J.P., Santucci, Belen and Chambers, JJ., concur.