Thiele v. Oakland Valley, Inc.

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Orange County (Slobod, J.), dated April 27, 2009, which granted the defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs. The defendant established its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by demonstrating that the plaintiffs claims were barred by a release the plaintiff signed before participating in a go-cart driving class the defendant offered at its facility (see Boateng v Motorcycle Safety School, Inc., 51 AD3d 702, 703 [2008]; see also Lago v Krollage, 78 NY2d 95, 99-100 [1991]). In opposition, the plaintiff, who offered no evidence from which it could be found that the release was “void as against public policy and wholly unenforceable” by reason of General Obligations Law § 5-326, failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see Baschuk v Diver’s Way Scuba, 209 AD2d 369, 370 [1994]; cf. Fusco v Now & Zen, 294 AD2d 466, 467 [2002]). Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly granted the defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The plaintiffs remaining contentions have been rendered academic in light of our determination. Covello, J.P., Florio, Miller and Eng, JJ., concur.