Landlord Not Responsible for Tenant's Slip on Coffee Spill

LVT Number: #20983

Tenant sued landlord for negligence after tenant slipped and fell on a small amount of coffee spilled on a step in the building staircase. Landlord asked the court to dismiss the case without a trial. The court ruled for landlord. Tenant appealed and lost. Landlord didn't know about the coffee spill, and there was no proof to support tenant's claim that the stairs themselves were slippery or defective.

Tenant sued landlord for negligence after tenant slipped and fell on a small amount of coffee spilled on a step in the building staircase. Landlord asked the court to dismiss the case without a trial. The court ruled for landlord. Tenant appealed and lost. Landlord didn't know about the coffee spill, and there was no proof to support tenant's claim that the stairs themselves were slippery or defective.

Crawford v. Jefferson House Associates, LLC: NYLJ, 1/2/09, p. 36, col. 4 (App. Div. 2 Dept.; Fisher, JP, Angiolillo, Dickerson, Belen, JJ)