New York Supreme Court, New York County, 2025

James v. Harriet Tubman Gardens Apt. Corp.

New York Supreme Court, New York County · Decided January 9, 2025

2025 NY Slip Op 30141(U)

Opinion

James v Harriet Tubman Gardens Apt. Corp. 2025 NY Slip Op 30141(U) January 9, 2025 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 652541/2020 Judge: Lisa S. Headley Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service.

This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication.

FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/09/2025 03:25 PM INDEX NO. 652541/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 204 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/09/2025

SUPRE E COURT OF THE S A E OF EW YORK NEW YORK COU TY PRESE T: HON. LISA S. HEADLEY PART 28M Justice - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - X 1 DEX 65254 12 20 V NI LJ ES 10/09/2024 OTION DATE TION SEQ, 0, 4 -v- ARRIET TIJBM GARDENS AP.A. T EN RATIO I ROUS R ROUP DECISION + ORDER 0 IC OLAS OSS JU SS, Cl ZE S OTION

- - -- -- - - - - - - -- -----X !CHOI S G OSS, JULIA GROSS

BUC II I AU OMA IC SPRI KLER CORP., A LAS DESIGN CON RACTORS I C D ~ dant -------------------X Tre f · e- nts, lis ed by F docu t nu er 60, , 1 I 164, 165, 166, 67, 68 , 69 71 , 72, 173 174 1 92 , 1 I 98 ot10 to or IS ISS H fore t Court i - th· mo in, til ed by Third-Part. D • · n hnt Buckmiller . 1tomal·c • rinkl rCorp.· r·n d,miller'·Jforsunumuyjudgm·nt p1 uan ro CPLR 3...1-.todi~rni .. all ·r I-purl) claims as a ainst Buckmill ·r: l an to a, ·ard ·o ·c" ,di< me. · fee. and sa., •ons o Bu· · ·1 t:r fo r t e frh·olot15 ondt ·1 ·xh i itt<d b) Dden inn I hird-P ; P a·nti "s.• i ·h I <i ro . and Jura Gr ss (··u I defendants". u ~ u. ·ng to di. ontinuc all · aims ~ ~ r1cJ a!:!,ains Hu kmill . t, >:_· 1-."J• J)oc., o.. 1-- -1 ,- , ThcGro · ·f · int. filedopp sitiontoth·molior.(,_· , }.C .FDo. ·o . 19-l'il . B ckmillcr li ld repl_ a rs.( . c. • 1 CEF Doc. "'· / Yi 19 ).

Plainti1l V ·nil, J,irn~ , conmen cd ·sa ·tion r ulcofpropcrt) damug · 1h l l ccurr d on Jul_ 16. _on:. a.gait std fcndan ·. H rri ·1 Tu nan (jard"ns .\partm ·111 Co Real : hroup Inc. and ·ichol ~ ,md Ju ia (jross. Th Gr ,s d I~ dar ~ filed a thir - , lion 85264 /2020 JA ES, E I A L V& HARRIET TU GARDE Pg 1 oU otlon o. 004

1 of 4 [* 1] FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/09/2025 03:25 PM INDEX NO. 652541/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 204 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/09/2025 against Bu ·mill r and \ la.~ Dc:-ign Con ors lnc. Th 1. hird-party defenda.nt. Atla!, m1,c:I for n Ord r m. liluling Lh· inshtnl ·ion \1th a r·lat·d a·t"on. Fireman 's Fund flt ,ranee Campa.II) • • 0 Harrit.'I 1 uhmar1 <iurde1L\ Cmulominiwn and I li,rrit.•l Tuhmun ( iurd n • pl. Corp .. " I olha in/ere' ·1ed Ir ·ur cl.· und, r th(: poli . o in urm1ce v. "icholm Grm. _ rim /) . ign; ( 'onlru ·Jor.. lnde l . 1_- - ... 9). _o:w ar i lh Ji;,:lion. i:rc: m_ Ii al I purp\.J..: • or of di ·o, 'I) and a joint trial pursuant to Court Ord r dated August .,Q, _0..:.1. (. ·ee. . }tCf.J- Do •. . o. r, .

T · that the;: <.,ro im 1~ Lil :d th1:· op ljti m lo th· motio • , s was ~ r required su mission da: a cording to the p \>."CJ•.'/,. /Joe In a tit ion, lht: n mnnt arg JC:. ~ 1l H c: l po~it" · · o ·t.impl~ \ ·ith ~- . TC g(b. as the (rro s parti~ faikd o ubmi any resp nse to Buckmillcr"s SI tern ·nl of ·m1i · Jlc.: J F. c.:ls. Th· ·fo \ lh • op > ·ition P',,TS mu ·t i. Herr-. tbc ourt i. 1 o r quired o no on:-ider the o pos· ion to the motio, a . e o ~their ail re o ·uh 1i· u ·tut· l'Ill of mat ·• 'tt ·ts _2 • TCRR .. 0... - g. "Thl" applic bl· rule ·rmits a c un o require that part' e. submit a. er)af31e . wement of llate ial fact ,th an r 10 ion for mmar.> j u gm nt. bu it d c · n t obligate a ourt to im · ha rcquir ment." . Tavera v. /11 . J"il. oj Fret.y. ort. ::! ..5 .D..1J 21. - · 1<l J>c:p ·1 _ 1 ). Thu.·, lht: Court. in ils di., '-~lion. w·II wn. i c:r Lhl" o pos" ·on ape ·. ·tlJhc:pmporc:nlof nnma~jllrri:nlmotion 1·t uk primJf'i :w ·ngof" ·ntitl m ·nt to judgm nl • · of la, ·. t nd ring suffi ·i ·n e ·id ·n · to dcmonstrntc the a - t ce of any material i . l·ailure to r 1.ikc: 1 primu Jm:ie ire.. dc:r iaJ or th ·o reg ·s oflh · ·ulli ·i of th opposing papers.· A.frm- I 68 ·.Y.- _Q_ .,24 G . U nder ' 1.:... "(o]n a motion or sum, 1 nt.. fi i ed · nttc:l i ntosl~l\ll m- (.l\·ng 111) . CI'LR.'32 01u_ nl ·to r 2 . an u vits. argun cnts and cYiden e submitted. h's C urt at wnn ary j udg 1 entsh\) hc:'-=uu.-.e lhc: mmunt thir -p ) lld~n bnt ~ ·1 failc:d to km m tn1l~ ther ttrc: no ID.3l nul · sue of fa ·t. in sup rt of th m tion. m , ·anr argue: I at H ckr 1iller did rl\ t perfo n the: -." rk i11 tt ear rlrr c:nt m c:d by th· Gro_ · i • Apmtm nl F • t _23,:: F c ·rick Douglas Bouknrrd. e, · ork. e, · Yor · )_ Bu n illc: purt·c: i: m di· I th ,., r · pr ,po Ip · 1 . lo lh dal · of thl" a ·cid ;nl. Bu kmill r ....!U s that anoth r indi,.-idua.l or n itv en ~red c (1m. s· aparo em an ·e clusi el) au-.c:d H in ·i I nl I 1 o · · r by p . i ·ally er ·tur ing .i sprinkl ·r hl·ttd."" CEF D c. • ·o. 1.· . [n support of the , mtion 8u ·n iller su mits \\Tit: n corre:r 1de 1 e , t ert the: C.m s i1.-... • 1 c ·He.: 1 l · _· 1 on At g 1 ·t 14. 18. an thl· lnvoic · proYi d indiea d a O in ·oi e by H kmi le . ( e. }. · '/."/- /Joe. o. 170).

Tc• . , ml in · ·on. counsel for Gr ss arti ·ubmit th affirmation of . ·icholasGross. ·herei heanet-, l LonJur~llJ, .. O , t: pprl,c:IBu· milltr· mpm,al\\it, u n ·g, i,ll • pric · of approximat 1) ~ 0.0 , and on June ~ . 2018. :o n en arri · d at his apart, 1e 11. sre fi'-= lll_ . k C.iro ti · ·rt lh 1t Hi ;p,tni · ttn purp rting t 1 \Hl fr1r Du · ill · cam to his apartmcn and cl an ed the h me prinlde ead. to -hite pr' nk er heads. and paid lt: ir Ii, "th JI . Sf r in c.; h. d "• nol p o,id ·d \ ith u r ;c ·ipt. (. ' .e, '}: CEF Do o.

4!2St 1'2tJ20 JA ES, VENITA V& HARRI TIJ GARD pg z • lion o. 004

2 of 4 [* 2] FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/09/2025 03:25 PM INDEX NO. 652541/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 204 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/09/2025 l'JJ .. fr.Gro.:·fi.Jrlhc:r ~em; ha: 1 Jun _8,201 .thc:h 1ldin ·swat n s hutdm na<;it,;as r ·qui.re.xi r ,r t 1e work r to ·ban.. c.· lh sprin ler I e . Ho, ·, :r, Bl L: n ill er a<; rts tha Gm · · fti m·i i ing th I t • r ontrn fr,r 50) i. tal:e and submits, u m.ui ·te 01 y o the pro · hap 9. } ( f.1- I oc. . ·o. 1 . ln I~. t 1e n OY lhe l1i , i of Patrick Bl ·r., h at· is a long-standing p iii . th.a Bu· efuse cac;l L'Ill 1 >. l'H, . F in 1, id dl. i · ti .c p :-r o 'O • nan E arr srs tha h • n ·ith r ~ lorr 1ed h for any purpo u.rth rmon:, i tion. ill :r a s ·rt ey qu d. 1.m1ir l ar e in Jut· _o I, 11 er _O..:..., ril eG · · disconti1 u the lhi J-p:111, . lc::n ·u · th· a ·ti m. t I p· rt.. Jajms "ii• lit n. <rntractu . .- o t f •• pr ur • in.sum c:. 1-irst. the mo ·ant 1s a ·an· · Hli r p o Jc: , <1J oi c marking the: c:sur 1 d ,111 , that no , ork o . cn ic s ,,as pro, idc: 1. ru1d co, act ,al and la,· ind mnilic i m It e. no :irg ,r: that ir1 • ·• I . ·timo l) and · tc::-d of th· t imlll ilkr. Th1..· din . John L. t ~ ·r i<lc: lt ti ·I tc, the c . 1e at G ' d · and the. a · · to ti\ oid lol 1.:hir "nld ·r e Yo. J ·,. ·t·~· ul." 1-:.:c ,. J ·on. the moYant su 1h L l larriet K. rn 1s or d~r dan Kyrous· onl 1 thl' s t ead and tl at · ' it o be fu ~ . id. 1of·. the.' ubmit. t ·.·t _e , ce::n <iros. and fill • lo ard Powell. , P ma cs that ·C_j • th uch ·d the.' h • 1 l in · nt bcfor • lhc: in i em oc urr d s Gros \\.LS in th· b'tlhn ►rn t er1 t11ey h ard Al l:.rh l1 . e. B c ·mill r ar!!m~s lb.a th· G arties ar ·n1·t1 l con ac ral ind Enilic.: lilm c ~e Ciross is una le lo • t<1bli t I edom o ncgli enc· , . I 1c:re i. .,.j n ·ct f :ing oing of Gro s, ith int :rfr ·n__, l r disturbing th sprinklt:r. . to th laun for I re ch of ontm l for foilt rt I , prl 1..:ure in·uran c. Bu kmill · ~uc:~ fat th r as n p isi< n in th· p up 1. ·..JI l< pn. t.:ur~ i l. uraJlc . lei at E. ·h . n · miller aJso argu • c 1:11 thi: i.:r ·. Jauus a!. ed are concl ·ol} sit · ut · h ar. · da.1 ages~ taint.: b_ lh pl inti ff ,. re aus ·din, t ,le or in part b_ th· 1 ·t <' or i. . kin of c -d fen ants I Iere. is Coun f n s th· · ir i .., c:s of fa u. in 1 din~ as l lit c: ne h JI -.as n ad for Tl· joh. er an . of n J1..: miller ~rformc l • jn Gro · p JTli s· 1e 1t. JJ ' ar on.Hi ·1 ·ng u f. ichol~ s G , s un<l P rtick Bl Ed w Oli,· o b ·th· u 11 ·rforrntd t e WM· in •. l'hung • 1,,r ad pa. 'Ill ·nl. Fur h ntll re. ere arc q sti ns of fi:ti.:t J o he I r Gro · · hiiruit r c ntrihutc to th· $525'1 020 S, V GA s p 3 ' Otion 0. 004 3 of 4 [* 3] FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/09/2025 03:25 PM INDEX NO. 652541/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 204 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/09/2025 incidcn. ·· umn ary jud1!lllcn is a drasti rem dy. to b .irrantcd only \\h r; n O\'ffig party has trn i:rct1 sullil'.it::rtl e\ idc=nl'.c tn de: mms r. le: the= 1h~n ·c: 11" my rrmtc:ria i s 1c:s of lit· ur thc:n only ii upon th mo\·ing party·s m crin. of this burdca the non-movin .111}. ails to establisl Ht e i..,ter c.:e o ·r tc:ri ,1 i e of ·H.:l hi ·h re 1ir ct lri I oflhc: ·tion.- r'egu ,·. Re luni Cun Ir.

Corp.. . .3d 499. 50. 0 12 [in emal c· ion. and qu ion marks o 1itted]. As such. e ll\ I Bl ' i l r· ID lion fi.1r Summar) j t<lgm ·nl lo u·. . .. lh • thinl-p ) ·omplainl i!> om· xJ In a dition. h movant see ·s costs. attorneys· fees and sru ction. • st I e hm. s partie. for th··ir failu~ to di ontinu all laim.s af!ains Bu kmill r ba d on th · n d onstrnting tt at B ckmil c=r had 1 nnr edio 1 tt c= uhject incide t. id t lat he Ci . r,artie 1a kn~1 n abo 1t the mo,·ant •s a · of liabil · ty for O\ er si. years. Th Court h rcb · deni ·s su h rcqm.·st for :-.ar ction: ar d n, rr e · I~:-. ithi ·1.: di ~ ion . .l! 1e <·, urt h~ de ennined 1 xist o pr Jude summary j _mt: n in avor of tl c movant. Buckmiller.

o ·on for SUIIlIIlaI)' ju gm ·nt is 1)1., rn D: and it i· u e ORDERED \hat r · 1u ·stcd r ·lie sough drcs ·J hc-r ·in has n ncthc . - l · · • rthe ORllF: mo Hkf ml h 11 ne c p_ lll t ,i~ ntry.

This onslilut · an Or<kro th· Co L -~ 2• 12025 DAE --------------......- LISAS. HEADLEY, J.S.C.

~ ED ED GR EDINPART N AP UCAllON · SU DER ES ERIR.EASSIGN HU1~,HT AP IIEHT REFERENCE

62641 020 A S V ITAL AR GAR NS otlon No. 004

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