Tenant Slipped on Urine Puddle in Stairwell

February 1, 2001

LVT Number: 14714

Tenant sued landlord for negligence after she slipped and fell in an apartment building stairwell. Tenant said there was a puddle of urine covering the first floor landing of the stairwell and that she slipped when she attempted to step over it. Landlord asked the court to dismiss the case without a trial. The court ruled against landlord. The urine condition was a recurring maintenance problem, so landlord had notice of the condition, and tenant's accident was foreseeable. This was especially so, because the elevator was out of order.

Tenant sued landlord for negligence after she slipped and fell in an apartment building stairwell. Tenant said there was a puddle of urine covering the first floor landing of the stairwell and that she slipped when she attempted to step over it. Landlord asked the court to dismiss the case without a trial. The court ruled against landlord. The urine condition was a recurring maintenance problem, so landlord had notice of the condition, and tenant's accident was foreseeable. This was especially so, because the elevator was out of order.

Brown v. NYCHA: NYLJ, 1/9/01, p. 32, col. 4 (Civ. Ct. Richmond; Aliotta, J)

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