Login
  • Bookmark
  • PDF
  • Share
  • CaseIQ

MENDOZA v. GREENPORT

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department.
Jun 24, 2008
Important Paras
Please sign up to view Important Paras.

Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs.

The plaintiff allegedly was injured when he tripped in a hole on an outdoor basketball court in a public park owned by the defendant Village of Greenport (hereinafter the defendant). Under the doctrine of primary assumption of risk, "by engaging in a sport or recreational activity, a participant consents to those commonly appreciated risks which are inherent in and arise out of the nature of the sport generally and flow from such participation" ( Morgan v State of New York, 90 NY2d 471, 484). "This encompasses risks associated with the construction of the playing field, and any open and obvious conditions on it" ( Paone v County of Suffolk, 251 AD2d 563, 564). The defendant established its prima facie entitlement to summary judgment by demonstrating that the plaintiff was aware of the hole, but nevertheless continued to play on the court and therefore assumed the risk of injury.

In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact. The plaintiffs statement in his affidavit that he had not seen the hole prior to his accident was contradicted by his testimony at his deposition and the General Municipal Law ยง 50-h hearing where he stated that he had. A party cannot create a triable issue of fact by feigning factual issues ( see Joseph v New York Racing Assn., 28 AD3d 105). Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it. [ See 2007 NY Slip Op 30145(U).]