Matter of Shumway v. Town of HempsteadMatter of Shumway v. Town of Hempstead
Gruenberg Kelly Della, Ronkonkoma, NY (Zachary M. Beriloff of counsel), for appellant.
Harris Beach PLLC, Uniondale, NY (Wayne Gladstone and Jack M. Martins of counsel), for respondent.
DECISION & ORDER
In a proceeding pursuant to
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.
The petitioner allegedly was injured on December 30, 2017, when he slipped and fell on ice in a parking lot owned by the Town of Hempstead. By order to show cause filed May 30, 2018, the petitioner commenced this proceeding pursuant to
In determining whether to grant leave to serve an untimely notice of claim, the court must consider all relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, whether (1) the municipality or public corporation acquired actual knowledge of the essential facts constituting the claim within 90 days after the claim arose or a reasonable time thereafter, (2) the delay would substantially prejudice the municipality or public corporation in its defense, and (3) the petitioner demonstrated a reasonable
Here, the petitioner failed to establish that the Town had actual knowledge of the essential facts constituting the claim within 90 days of its accrual, or within a reasonable time thereafter (see Matter of Naar v City of New York, 161 AD3d 1081, 1083; Matter of Bhargava v City of New York, 130 AD3d 819, 820-821; Matter of Hampson v Connetquot Cent. Sch. Dist., 114 AD3d 790, 791). The petitioner also failed to provide a reasonable excuse for his failure to serve a timely notice of claim (see Matter of Dell‘Italia v Long Is. R.R. Corp., 31 AD3d 758, 759).
To establish lack of substantial prejudice, the petitioner must meet a threshold burden of presenting some evidence or plausible argument that supports a finding of no substantial prejudice (see Matter of Newcomb v Middle Country Cent. Sch. Dist., 28 NY3d at 460-461; Matter of Ruiz v City of New York, 154 AD3d 945, 947). Once this initial showing has been made, the respondent must respond “with a particularized evidentiary showing” that it will be substantially prejudiced if the late notice is allowed (Matter of Newcomb v Middle Country Cent. Sch. Dist., 28 NY3d at 467). Here, the petitioner presented a plausible argument that the late notice will not substantially prejudice the Town because the alleged icy condition was highly transitory such that the Town would have been in the same position regarding any investigation even if the notice of claim had been timely served (see Matter of Mercado v City of New York, 100 AD3d 445, 446; Matter of Caridi v New York Convention Ctr. Operating Corp., 47 AD3d 526, 526; Matter of Cox v City of Peekskill, 297 AD2d 735, 736; Rosenblatt v City of New York, 160 AD2d 927, 928).
In opposition, the Town failed to demonstrate that it has, in fact, been substantially prejudiced. Therefore, we disagree with the Supreme Court‘s determination that the Town would be substantially prejudiced if the petitioner were permitted to serve a late notice of claim.
Nevertheless, weighing all of the appropriate factors, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying
RIVERA, J.P., LASALLE, BARROS and IANNACCI, JJ., concur.
ENTER:
Aprilanne Agostino
Clerk of the Court