Purcell v. New York World's Fair 1964/1965 Corp.

In a negligence action to recover damages for personal injuries, medical expenses, etc., defendant appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau ‘County, entered January 20, 1969 in favor of plaintiffs upon a jury verdict. Judgment affirmed, with costs. Plaintiff Rosemary Purcell, while walking, as a business invitee, in a parking lot operated and maintained by defendant on its fair grounds, tripped and fell over a vertical pavement rise therein of about two inches. The rise had been created by blacktop macadam placed on the top of part of the original blacktop pavement in the lot, so as to produce a reinforced peripheral roadway for buses using the lot. This condition had existed for three months prior to the accident; it was not readily discernible; and parts of this peripheral roadway had white paint lines, to alert persons walking in the lot to the rise. But, at the place plaintiff fell there were no such white paint lines, according to plaintiffs’ testimony. The fair grounds police officer who reported the accident did not remember whether such painted lines were at the place where the injured plaintiff fell. The case was submitted to the jury on a comprehensive charge by the Trial Justice concerning whether the condition complained of was dangerous, whether defendant had actual or constructive knowledge thereof, and whether the injured plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. No exceptions were taken to the charge. It is our opinion that the issues were properly submitted to the jury and the jury’s verdict is not contrary to the law or the weight of evidence (cf. Loughran v. City of New York, 298 N. Y. 320; Wilson v. Jaybro Realty & Development Co., 289 N. Y. 410; Foster v. City of New York, 6 N Y 2d 852; McDermott v. City of New York, 7 A D 2d 745, affd. 6 N Y 2d 822; Moshier v. City of New York, 190 App. Div. 111, app. dsmd. 228 N. Y. 612; Carbin v. City of New York, 276 App. Div. 980, affd. 301 N. Y. 646; Dynes v. Village of Waverly, 2 A D 2d 937 ; 40 N. Y. Negligence, Warren, Sidewalks, §§ 5.04, 5.05). Beldock, P. J., Christ, Brennan, Hopkins and Martuscello, JJ., concur.