Early v. Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 A.D.3d 559 (N.Y. App. Div. 2010). · Go Syfert
Early v. Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 A.D.3d 559 (N.Y. App. Div. 2010). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
44 citation events (44 in the last 25 years) across 5 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Baisley v. Slade Industries, Inc. (nysd, 2024-06-13)
Treatment trajectory · 2011 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2011 2018 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 31 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Baisley v. Slade Industries, Inc.
S.D.N.Y. · 2024 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
the absence of evidence demonstrating how long a condition existed prior to a plaintiff's accident constitutes a failure to establish the existence of constructive notice as a matter of law.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Clark v. Target Corporation
S.D.N.Y. · 2020 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
the absence of evidence demonstrating how long a condition existed prior to a plaintiff's accident constitutes a failure to establish the existence of constructive notice as a matter of law.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Valencia v. Sol Goldman Invs. LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2026 · confidence medium
These incidents raise issues of fact as to whether KONE had actual knowledge of a recurring dangerous condition involving the elevator, such that it may be charged with notice of the specific condition that caused plaintiffs' accident ( see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp. , 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]; Uhlich v Canada Dry Bottling Co. of N.Y. , 305 AD2d 107, 107 [1st Dept 2003]; cf. Gutz v County of Monroe , 221 AD2d 838, 839 [3d Dept 1995] [the "plaintiff's proof would allow a jury to find that (the) defendant had constructive notice of the dangerous condition of the tiles on the stairs by v…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Pizzola v. Tutor Perini Corp.
N.Y. Sup. Ct., New York Cty. · 2025 · confidence medium
That said, “a defendant may be charged with constructive notice of a hazardous condition if it is proven that the condition is one that recurs and about which the defendant has actual notice” (Early v Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010] [internal citations omitted]).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Sanchez v. Bronx United in Leveraging Dollars, Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2025 · confidence medium
Assoc., L.P. , 102 AD3d 554 [1st Dept 2013]; Early v Hilton Hotels Corp. , 73 AD3d 559, 562 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Alburquerque v. Bedford Park Deli, Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2024 · confidence medium
Plaintiff alleges that he slipped on a patch of ice in front of 26-28 Bedford Park Boulevard, which is owned by defendant Villford Realty Corp. and managed by defendant Tri State Management, Inc. There was no testimony as to when the patch of ice plaintiff slipped on was formed and thus no proof that it existed for a sufficient time to provide notice ( see Early v Hilton Hotels, Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Valladares v. Henry V. Murray Senior, LLC
N.Y. Sup. Ct., New York Cty. · 2024 · confidence medium
To sustain a common-law negligence claim for an injury resulting from a dangerous premises condition, a plaintiff must demonstrate that an owner or other responsible entity either created the allegedly dangerous condition or had actual or constructive notice of it (see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 560-561 [1st Dept 2010]).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Kirbaran v. Target Corporation
S.D.N.Y. · 2024 · confidence medium
June 22, 2017) (quoting Early v. Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 A.D. 3d 559, 561 (1st Dept. 2010)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ferguson v. City of New York
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
Plaintiff failed to submit any evidence as to when the ice formed on the walkway ( see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp ., 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]; Katz v City of New York , 11 AD3d 391, 392 [1st Dept 2004]), or any evidence of an ongoing and recurring dangerous condition that the City was aware of but routinely left unaddressed ( see Irizarry v 15 Mosholu Four, LLC , 24 AD3d 373, 373 [1st Dept 2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ferguson v. City of New York
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
Plaintiff failed to submit any evidence as to when the ice formed on the walkway ( see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp ., 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]; Katz v City of New York , 11 AD3d 391, 392 [1st Dept 2004]), or any evidence of an ongoing and recurring dangerous condition that the City was aware of but routinely left unaddressed ( see Irizarry v 15 Mosholu Four, LLC , 24 AD3d 373, 373 [1st Dept 2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Samuelsen v. Wollman Rink Operations LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
Assuming the lack of handrails in the area where plaintiff fell was not a hazardous condition, WRO failed to establish that it lacked constructive notice of the uneven matting and lumpy ice buildup ( see generally Early v Hilton Hotels Corp. , 73 AD3d 559, 560-561 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mareneck v. Bohemian Brethern Presbyt. Church
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
Plaintiff failed to present evidence sufficient to raise a triable issue of fact regarding notice, as she testified that she did not know how long the puddle was on the floor before her fall and was unaware of any complaints regarding the puddle (see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp, 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lonigro v. WFP Tower B. Co. L.P.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2021 · confidence medium
Contrary to plaintiffs' contention, the prior report of the elevator doors failing to open in a timely fashion was not sufficient to constitute actual or constructive notice to WFP of a free-fall issue, and, in any event, the approximately two-minute period following the prior incident did not give WFP sufficient time to detect and remedy the alleged hazard ( see generally Early v Hilton Hotels Corp. , 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lonigro v. WFP Tower B. Co. L.P.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2021 · confidence medium
Contrary to plaintiffs' contention, the prior report of the elevator doors failing to open in a timely fashion was not sufficient to constitute actual or constructive notice to WFP of a free-fall issue, and, in any event, the approximately two-minute period following the prior incident did not give WFP sufficient time to detect and remedy the alleged hazard ( see generally Early v Hilton Hotels Corp. , 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Williams v. Forward Realty Corp.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2021 · confidence medium
The photographic evidence and witness testimony raise issues of fact as to whether the sidewalk slab had visible and apparent signs of deterioration for months or years prior to the collapse, whether the deterioration was getting worse, and whether the deterioration was sufficient to have alerted Forward that the slab had structural problems ( see generally Early v Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 560-561 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Williams v. Forward Realty Corp.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2021 · confidence medium
The photographic evidence and witness testimony raise issues of fact as to whether the sidewalk slab had visible and apparent signs of deterioration for months or years prior to the collapse, whether the deterioration was getting worse, and whether the deterioration was sufficient to have alerted Forward that the slab had structural problems ( see generally Early v Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 560-561 [1st Dept 2010]).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Alaimo v. Sam's East, Inc.
S.D.N.Y. · 2021 · confidence medium
June 22, 2017) (quoting Early v. Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 A.D.3d 559, 561 (1st Dep’t 2010)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Poirier v. Kohl's Department Stores, Inc.
S.D.N.Y. · 2021 · confidence medium
June 22, 2017) (quoting Early v. Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 A.D.3d 559, 561 (1st Dep’t 2010)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Polamino v. Paradise Pac. Enters. Corp.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2020 · confidence medium
Defendant submitted plaintiff's deposition testimony that he walked past the accident location about 20 minutes before he fell and did not see the plastic piece, and had no knowledge of its presence until after the accident ( see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp. , 73 AD3d 559, 561-562 [1st Dept 2010]; Frank v Time Equities , 292 AD2d 186, 186-187 [1st Dept 2002]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Polamino v. Paradise Pac. Enters. Corp.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2020 · confidence medium
Defendant submitted plaintiff's deposition testimony that he walked past the accident location about 20 minutes before he fell and did not see the plastic piece, and had no knowledge of its presence until after the accident ( see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp. , 73 AD3d 559, 561-562 [1st Dept 2010]; Frank v Time Equities , 292 AD2d 186, 186-187 [1st Dept 2002]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Roa v. City of New York
N.Y. App. Div. · 2020 · confidence medium
Moreover, Con Ed raised a triable issue of fact as to whether it had notice of the sidewalk defect by submitting evidence that it found no such defect when it inspected the grate on February 26, 2014, and testimony by the managing agent of the building abutting the sidewalk that he had never complained to Con Ed about any defect ( see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp. , 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Roa v. City of New York
N.Y. App. Div. · 2020 · confidence medium
Moreover, Con Ed raised a triable issue of fact as to whether it had notice of the sidewalk defect by submitting evidence that it found no such defect when it inspected the grate on February 26, 2014, and testimony by the managing agent of the building abutting the sidewalk that he had never complained to Con Ed about any defect ( see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp. , 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Robinson v. City of New York
N.Y. App. Div. · 2019 · confidence medium
Plaintiff submitted no evidence showing either that defendant had actual notice before plaintiff's accident that the drain at the bottom of the staircase on which plaintiff fell had become clogged or that the drain became clogged so frequently as to be a recurring condition ( see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp. , 73 AD3d 559, 562 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rosario v. Haber
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
Defendants established prima facie that they did not have constructive notice of the puddle, i.e., that they did not have an opportunity before plaintiff’s accident to discover and remedy the condition on the stairs, through plaintiff’s testimony that, two minutes before the accident, she had ascended the stairs without incident and had not noticed the puddle (see Rivera v 2160 Realty Co., L.L.C., 4 NY3d 837 [2005]; Early v Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]; Espinal v New York City Hous.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gomez v. J.C. Penny Corp.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2014 · confidence medium
Defendant established prima facie that it did not have actual notice by presenting evidence that, before the accident, the department supervisor who was responsible for the area was unaware of the alleged wet condition and that the loss prevention officer had received no complaints about the area (see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gomez v. J.C. Penny Corp.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2014 · confidence medium
Defendant established prima facie that it did not have actual notice by presenting evidence that, before the accident, the department supervisor who was responsible for the area was unaware of the alleged wet condition and that the loss prevention officer had received no complaints about the area (see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bednark v. City of New York
N.Y. Sup. Ct. · 2013 · confidence medium
Accordingly, owners of nonexempted properties must now keep the sidewalks abutting their properties in a reasonably safe condition, much in the same way they are obligated to maintain their respective premises.” (Early v Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 560 [1st Dept 2010] [citations omitted].) The City Council enacted this local law in order to transfer tort liability from the City to abutting property owners as a cost-saving measure, reasoning that the law would not only save the City millions of dollars but that it would also encourage abutting property owners to comply with their obliga…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rojas v. Con Edison
N.Y. App. Term. · 2011 · confidence medium
Failure to maintain such sidewalk in a reasonably safe condition shall include, but not be limited to, the negligent failure to install, construct, reconstruct, repave, repair or replace defective sidewalk flags.” Under Administrative Code § 7-210, an abutting landowner must still have sufficient notice of any defect before liability can attach (see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 561 [2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Araujo v. Mercer Square Owners Corp.
N.Y. Sup. Ct. · 2011 · confidence medium
As with any negligence claim against a landowner for its failure to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition, “liability for an accident on a sidewalk abutting real property will arise when it is established that the owner of said property created the condition alleged or had prior notice” (Early v Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 561 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lockard v. Sopolsky
N.Y. App. Div. · 2011 · confidence medium
Moreover, even if proved, it would not absolve defendant, an abutting landowner with constructive notice of the defect, from liability (see Early v Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 AD3d 559, 561 [2010]; Administrative Code of City of NY § 7-210).
discussed Cited "see" Nussbaum v. Metro-North Commuter Railroad (2×)
S.D.N.Y. · 2014 · signal: see · confidence high
See Early v. Hilton Hotels Corp., 73 A.D.3d 559, 562 , 904 N.Y.S.2d 367 (1st Dep’t 2010); Mroz v. Ella Corp., 262 A.D.2d 465, 465 , 692 N.Y.S.2d 156 (2d Dep’t 1999) (“It is well settled that in the absence of evidence of a negligent application of floor wax or polish, the mere fact that a smooth floor may be slippery does not support a cause of action to recover damages for negligence.”); Kociecki v. EOP-Midtown Properties, LLC, 888 N.Y.S.2d 135, 136 , 66 A.D.3d 967, 967 (2d Dep’t 2009) (same); German v. Campbell, 37 A.D.3d 405, 405 , 829 N.Y.S.2d 631 (2d Dep’t 2007) (“The expert…
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Elizabeth Early
v.
Hilton Hotels Corporation, Individually and Doing Business as Waldorf Astoria Hotel
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
May 18, 2010.
73 A.D.3d 559
Cited by 34 opinions  |  Published

[*560] Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Milton A. Tingling, J.), entered November 14, 2008, which denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, unanimously reversed, on the law, without costs, the motion granted and the complaint dismissed against all defendants. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment accordingly.

Plaintiff Elizabeth Early allegedly tripped and fell on a plastic strap while traversing the sidewalk adjacent to the loading dock of defendants’ premises. Plaintiffs allege that defendants were negligent in the maintenance of the sidewalk abutting their property and that this negligence caused the accident.

Defendants moved for summary judgment and the motion court denied the motion solely on the ground that questions of fact regarding whether defendants created the condition alleged precluded summary judgment. The motion court, implicitly finding the issue of notice inapplicable, never addressed the same. We now reverse.

On September 14, 2003, with the passage of section 7-210 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, the duty to maintain and repair'public sidewalks, within the City of New York, and any liability for the failure to do so, was shifted, with certain exceptions, to owners whose property abuts the sidewalk (see Ortiz v City of New York, 67 AD3d 21, 25 [2009], revd on other grounds 14 NY3d 779 [2010]; Wu Zhou Wu v Korea Shuttle Express Corp., 23 AD3d 376, 377 [2005]; Klotz v City of New York, 9 AD3d 392, 393 [2004]). Accordingly, owners of nonexempted properties must now keep the sidewalks abutting their properties in a reasonably safe condition, much in the same way they are obligated to maintain their respective premises. It is well settled that in order to hold an owner liable for a dangerous condition within a premises, it must be established that the owner created the dangerous condition alleged (Wasserstrom v New York City Tr. Auth., 267 AD2d 36, 37 [1999], lv denied 94[*561] NY2d 761 [2000]; Allen v Pearson Publ. Empire, 256 AD2d 528, 529 [1998]; Kraemer v K-Mart Corp., 226 AD2d 590, 590 [1996]) or failed to remedy the condition, despite having prior actual or constructive notice of it (see Piacquadio v Recine Realty Corp., 84 NY2d 967, 969 [1994]; Bogart v Woolworth Co., 24 NY2d 936, 937 [1969]; Irizarry v 15 Mosholu Four, LLC, 24 AD3d 373, 373 [2005]). Therefore, pursuant to section 7-210, liability for an accident on a sidewalk abutting real property will arise when it is established that the owner of said property created the condition alleged or had prior notice.

A defendant owner is charged with having constructive notice of a defective condition when the condition is visible, apparent, and exists for a sufficient length of time prior to the occurrence of an accident to permit the defendant to discover and remedy the condition (Gordon v American Museum of Natural History, 67 NY2d 836, 837-838 [1986]; Irizarry at 373). The absence of evidence demonstrating how long a condition existed prior to a plaintiffs accident constitutes a failure to establish the existence of constructive notice as a matter of law (Anderson v Central Val. Realty Co., 300 AD2d 422, 423 [2002], lv denied 99 NY2d 509 [2003]; McDuffie v Fleet Fin. Group, 269 AD2d 575 [2000]). Alternatively, a defendant may be charged with constructive notice of a hazardous condition if it is proven that the condition is one that recurs and about which the defendant has actual notice (Chianese v Meier, 98 NY2d 270, 278 [2002]; Uhlich v Canada Dry Bottling Co. of N.Y., 305 AD2d 107, 107 [2003]). If such facts are proven, the defendant can then be charged with constructive notice of each condition’s recurrence (id.; Anderson at 422).

In this case, the accident occurred subsequent to the enactment of section 7-210. Thus, liability against defendants here may be premised not only upon whether they created the condition alleged by plaintiffs, but also upon proof that they had prior notice, actual or constructive, of the condition.

Defendants established the absence of actual notice inasmuch as Junior Foote, defendants’ employee, whose duties included being present on defendants’ loading dock while deliveries were made, testified that he never saw any straps on the sidewalk abutting defendants’ property prior to the instant accident. The absence of actual notice is also established by Foote’s testimony that prior to this accident, he had never received any complaints regarding accidents caused by straps on the sidewalk abutting defendants’ property (Rosa v Food Dynasty, 307 AD2d 1031, 1031-1032 [2003]). Defendants also established the absence of constructive notice inasmuch as there is no record evidence as[*562] to how long the strap was on the sidewalk prior to her fall and plaintiff testified that she did not see the strap she alleges caused her to fall until after she fell (see Anderson at 423; McDuffie at 575).

Plaintiffs’ contention that constructive notice can be imputed to defendants because the presence of straps on the sidewalk was a recurring condition is without merit. The injured plaintiff testified that prior to this accident she had not seen any straps at all on the sidewalk abutting defendants’ property. That she saw other straps in the defendants’ loading dock, abutting the sidewalk, minutes after her fall and again months thereafter, is not proof that the presence of straps on the sidewalk was a recurring condition (Gordon at 838). More importantly, to the extent that the record is bereft of any evidence that defendants had actual notice of any straps on the sidewalk prior to the accident, plaintiffs have failed to prove constructive notice of a recurring condition (see Chianese at 278; Uhlich at 107).

Defendants also established that they did not create the condition alleged. Foote testified that with regard to packages delivered to defendants’ premises via the loading dock, while the same would, in large part, be bound by plastic straps, the packages would always be brought inside the premises and only then were the straps removed by defendants and discarded in receptacles. Foote further asserted that defendants never removed straps from the packages within the loading dock. Thus, any straps within the loading dock or on the abutting sidewalk would not have been the result of defendants’ acts or omissions (Rosa at 1031; Hernandez v Menstown Stores, 289 AD2d 139 [2001]; Montalvo v Western Estates, 240 AD2d 45, 47-48 [1998]). While it is true that Foote was unaware of what other employees might have done with regard to straps on packages delivered to the premises, an issue urged by plaintiffs, he nevertheless stated that said employees would have had no need to remove the straps, and that he, whose duties required his presence on the loading dock, never witnessed conduct warranting any instruction proscribing the same. Thus, Foote established defendants’ custom and practice and their adherence thereto. Concur—Andrias, J.P., McGuire, Moskowitz, Freedman and Román, JJ. [Prior Case History: 2008 NY Slip Op 33059(U).]