Pacella v. Masone
Opinion of the Court
—In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, etc., the defendant third-party plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Roberto, J.), entered April 7, 1998, which denied his motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and granted the cross motion of the third-party defendant for summary judgment dismissing the third-party complaint.
Ordered that the order is affirmed, with one bill of costs to the respondents appearing separately and filing separate briefs.
Moreover, the injured plaintiffs predisposition to injury due to his genetic connective tissue disorder does not absolve the appellant of liability as a matter of law. “It is a familiar tort doctrine that one who is negligent is chargeable for all of the harm that the negligent act causes, even if the injuries are activated or exacerbated by a preexisting vulnerability or condition” (Martin v Volvo Cars, 241 AD2d 941, 943).
Finally, the Supreme Court correctly dismissed the third-party complaint. The infant plaintiffs physician informed the third-party defendant that the infant plaintiff was free to engage in all activities, including athletics. Accordingly, the appellant failed to submit any evidence indicating that the third-party defendant failed to “exercis[e] ordinary reasonable care in protecting the plaintiff from unassumed, concealed or unreasonably increased risks” by allowing him to participate in outdoor recess (see generally, Benitez v New York City Bd. of Educ., 73 NY2d 650; Edelson v Uniondale Union Free School Dist., 219 AD2d 614; Baker v Briarcliff School Dist., 205 AD2d 652). Santucci, J. P., Joy, Goldstein and Schmidt, JJ., concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.