Practice point: Postal worker-plaintiff sued for damages resulting
from personal injuries allegedly sustained when the mailbox receptacle
unit in
defendants' building fell into the wall as she was closing the unit
after placing the mail in the individual boxes.
The Appellate Division affirmed the motion court's granting of defendants' motion for summary judgment. Defendants
sustained their initial burden of demonstrating that they did not cause,
create or have actual or constructive notice of a defect in the mailbox
receptacle unit, that the defect was not visible or apparent, and that a
reasonable inspection would not have revealed that the box was loose.
Student note: The Appellate Division found that the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur
is inapplicable because defendants did not have exclusive access to the
mailbox receptacle unit. It was undisputed that only postal employees,
like plaintiff, were given a key.
Case: Soto v. New Frontiers 2 Hope Hous. Dev. Fund Co., NY Slip Op 04123 (1st Dept. 2014)
Here is the decision.
Tomorrow's issue: Entering into a contract.
