FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/30/2023 07:00 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 161670/2023
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/30/2023
`
`STATE
`
`OF NEW YORK
`
`OF THE
`COURT
`SUPREME
`OF NEW YORK
`COUNTY
`_________________-___________________________Ç
`and Natural
`and
`by His Mother
`Infant
`GOMEZ
`MARIA
`and MARIA
`GOMEZ,
`
`M.A.V.G.,
`Guardian
`
`Individually,
`
`- against
`
`-
`
`THE CITY
`
`OF NEW YORK,
`
`__________________________________________x
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`Defendant.
`
`Designate:
`
`Plaintiffs
`New York
`County
`of Venue:
`Basis
`CPLR
`§504
`
`SUMMONS
`
`YOU ARE HEREBY
`SUMMONED
`of your
`if
`the
`a copy
`complaint
`or,
`answer,
`s Attorney(s)
`of appearance,
`on the Plaintiff
`service
`exclusive
`of
`the
`of
`(or within
`day
`delivered
`to you within
`is not
`to appear
`judgment
`will
`be taken
`herein.
`
`serve
`notice
`
`summons,
`summons
`failure
`demanded
`
`personally
`or answer,
`
`action
`to answer
`complaint
`and
`the
`to serve
`with
`this
`is not
`served
`summons,
`within
`20 days
`after
`of
`this
`the
`service
`after
`the
`service
`is complete
`30 days
`of New York);
`the State
`in case
`and
`relief
`for
`the
`against
`you
`default
`by
`
`in this
`
`to
`a
`
`if
`
`this
`your
`
`of
`
`LLC
`
`Patrick
`Esq.
`Benn,
`& BENN,
`ESTRIN
`for Plaintiff
`Attorneys
`Suite
`225
`Broadway,
`New York
`New York,
`962-0800
`(212)
`
`1200
`10007
`
`Dated:
`
`New York,
`November
`
`New York
`2023
`
`30,
`
`Defendant's
`
`Address:
`
`THE CITY
`100 Church
`New York,
`
`OF NEW YORK
`Street
`New York
`
`10007
`
`1 of 9
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/30/2023 07:00 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 161670/2023
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/30/2023
`
`OF THE STATE
`COURT
`SUPREME
`OF NEW YORK
`COUNTY
`______________________________________________________________..________Ç
`and
`and Natural
`by His Mother
`Infant
`GOMEZ
`and MARIA
`MARIA
`GOMEZ,
`
`M.A.V.G.,
`Guardian
`
`OF NEW YORK
`
`Individually,
`
`-against-
`
`THE
`
`CITY
`
`OF NEW YORK,
`
`Plaintiff,5
`
`COMPLAINT
`Index
`No.
`
`Defendant.
`______________________________________________________________________Ç
`
`The
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`by
`
`their
`
`attorneys
`
`ESTRIN
`
`& BENN,
`
`LLC,
`
`as and
`
`for
`
`their
`
`Verified
`
`Complaint,
`
`respectfully
`
`allege
`
`at all
`
`times
`
`mentioned
`
`herein
`
`that:
`
`FOR A FIRST
`
`CAUSE
`
`OF ACTION:
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`The
`
`infant
`
`Plaintiff
`
`was
`
`a resident
`
`of
`
`the County,
`
`the City
`
`and State
`
`of New York.
`
`The Defendant
`
`THE CITY
`
`OF NEW YORK (hereinafter
`
`"CITY")
`
`was
`
`and
`
`remains
`
`a
`
`Municipal
`
`Corporation
`
`organized
`
`and
`
`existing
`
`under
`
`and
`
`by
`
`virtue
`
`of
`
`the
`
`laws
`
`of
`
`the
`
`State
`
`of New York.
`
`3.
`
`On or about
`
`served
`
`Notices
`
`of Claim
`
`upon
`
`the
`
`November
`
`29,
`
`2022,
`
`the Plaintiffs
`
`Defendant
`
`in full
`
`compliance
`
`with
`
`the
`
`provisions
`
`of General
`
`Municipal
`
`Law Section
`
`50-
`
`e.
`
`4.
`
`Prior
`
`to the
`
`commencement
`
`of
`
`this
`
`action,
`
`at
`
`least
`
`thirty
`
`(30)
`
`days
`
`have
`
`elapsed
`
`since
`
`service
`
`of
`
`such Notice
`
`of Claim
`
`and
`
`adjustment
`
`or payment
`
`thereof
`
`has been
`
`neglected
`
`and/or
`
`refused.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`One
`
`year
`
`and
`
`ninety
`
`(90)
`
`days
`
`have
`
`not
`
`elapsed
`
`since
`
`the
`
`happening
`
`of
`
`the
`
`event
`
`upon
`
`which
`
`this
`
`action
`
`is based
`
`and
`
`commencement
`
`of
`
`this
`
`action.
`
`The Defendant
`
`owned,
`
`operated,
`
`maintained
`
`and
`
`controlled
`
`a playground,
`
`known
`
`and
`
`2 of 9
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/30/2023 07:00 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 161670/2023
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/30/2023
`
`designated
`
`as the Audubon
`
`Playground,
`
`located
`
`on Audubon
`
`Playground,
`
`between
`
`West
`
`169*
`
`Street
`
`and West
`
`170*
`
`Street,
`
`New York,
`
`New York
`
`(hereinafter
`
`the
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
`9.
`
`10.
`
`12.
`
`"Playground").
`
`On or about
`
`September
`
`1, 2022,
`
`the Defendant
`
`owned
`
`the Playground.
`
`On or about
`
`September
`
`, 2022,
`
`the Defendant
`
`operated
`
`the Playground.
`
`On or about
`
`September
`
`1, 2022,
`
`the Defendant
`
`maintained
`
`the Playground.
`
`On or about
`
`September
`
`1, 2022,
`
`the Defendant
`
`controlled
`
`the Playground.
`
`The Defendant,
`
`through
`
`itself,
`
`its
`
`servants,
`
`agents
`
`and/or
`
`employees,
`
`had
`
`a duty
`
`to use
`
`reasonable
`
`care
`
`and
`
`diligence
`
`in the management,
`
`operation
`
`and
`
`control
`
`of
`
`the
`
`Playground.
`
`13.
`
`The Defendant,
`
`through
`
`itself,
`
`its
`
`servants,
`
`agents
`
`and/or
`
`employees,
`
`had
`
`a duty
`
`to
`
`provide
`
`for
`
`the
`
`safety
`
`and well-being
`
`of
`
`those
`
`individuals
`
`visiting
`
`and
`
`utilizing
`
`the
`
`Playground.
`
`had
`
`14.
`
`The Defendant,
`
`through
`
`itself,
`
`its
`
`servants,
`
`agents
`
`and/or
`
`employees,
`
`a duty
`
`to make
`
`and
`
`keep
`
`safe
`
`the Playground,
`
`for
`
`those
`
`individuals
`
`residing
`
`at and
`
`visiting
`
`and
`
`utilizing
`
`the Playground,
`
`including
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`Plaintiff.
`
`15.
`
`On or about
`
`September
`
`1, 2022,
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`while
`
`visiting
`
`the
`
`aforesaid
`
`premises,
`
`sustained
`
`severe
`
`and
`
`permanent
`
`injuries
`
`when
`
`he fell
`
`on the
`
`infant
`
`water
`
`slide
`
`in the Playground,
`
`due
`
`to the
`
`negligence
`
`of
`
`the Defendant.
`
`16.
`
`The
`
`infant
`
`Plaintiff
`
`was
`
`caused
`
`to suffer
`
`severe
`
`and
`
`permanent
`
`injuries
`
`due
`
`to the
`
`negligence
`
`of
`
`the Defendant.
`
`17.
`
`The Defendant,
`
`through
`
`itself,
`
`its
`
`servants,
`
`agents
`
`and/or
`
`employees,
`
`was
`
`negligent
`
`in
`
`failing
`
`to properly
`
`design,
`
`construct,
`
`repair
`
`and maintain
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`water
`
`slide
`
`at
`
`the
`
`3 of 9
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/30/2023 07:00 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 161670/2023
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/30/2023
`
`Playground,
`
`thereby
`
`creating
`
`a defective,
`
`unsafe,
`
`dangerous
`
`and
`
`hazardous
`
`condition.
`
`18.
`
`The Defendant,
`
`through
`
`itself,
`
`its
`
`servants,
`
`agents
`
`and/or
`
`employees,
`
`was
`
`negligent,
`
`reckless
`
`and
`
`careless
`
`in designing,
`
`constructing
`
`and maintaining
`
`the
`
`steps
`
`of
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`water
`
`slide,
`
`in allowing
`
`the
`
`treads
`
`and
`
`risers
`
`of
`
`the
`
`steps
`
`to become
`
`and
`
`remain
`
`of
`
`varying
`
`heights
`
`and
`
`lengths,
`
`in failing
`
`to provide
`
`adequate
`
`padding
`
`a ound
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`water
`
`and
`
`condition.
`
`slide,
`
`thereby
`
`creating
`
`a defective,
`
`unsafe,
`
`dangerous,
`
`hazardous
`
`19.
`
`Upon
`
`information
`
`and
`
`belief,
`
`the Defendant
`
`had
`
`actual
`
`knowledge
`
`and
`
`prior
`
`written
`
`notice
`
`of
`
`the
`
`dangerous
`
`and
`
`hazardous
`
`condition
`
`of
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`water
`
`slide
`
`or
`
`the
`
`same
`
`existed
`
`for
`
`a sufficient
`
`length
`
`of
`
`time
`
`prior
`
`to the
`
`accident
`
`herein
`
`alleged
`
`that
`
`the
`
`Defendant
`
`could
`
`have
`
`and
`
`should
`
`have
`
`had
`
`such
`
`knowledge
`
`and
`
`notice.
`
`Upon
`
`and
`
`created
`
`20.
`
`information
`
`belief,
`
`the Defendants
`
`the
`
`aforesaid
`
`dangerous
`
`and
`
`hazardous
`
`conditions.
`
`21.
`
`The Defendant
`
`failed
`
`to give
`
`notice
`
`and warning
`
`of
`
`these
`
`dangerous
`
`and
`
`hazardous
`
`conditions
`
`and
`
`failed
`
`to exercise
`
`the
`
`necessary
`
`caution
`
`and
`
`care
`
`required
`
`under
`
`said
`
`circumstances,
`
`thereby
`
`causing
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`Plaintiff
`
`to sustain
`
`severe
`
`and
`
`permanent
`
`injuries.
`
`22.
`
`The
`
`aforesaid
`
`accident
`
`and
`
`the
`
`injuries
`
`suffered
`
`therefrom
`
`were
`
`caused
`
`solely
`
`through
`
`the
`
`without
`
`on the
`
`infant
`
`negligence
`
`of
`
`the Defendant
`
`any
`
`negligence
`
`part
`
`of
`
`this
`
`Plaintiff
`
`contributing
`
`thereto.
`
`23.
`
`As
`
`a result
`
`of
`
`the
`
`negligence
`
`of
`
`the Defendant,
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`Plaintiff
`
`was
`
`caused
`
`to
`
`sustain
`
`severe
`
`and
`
`personal
`
`injuries,
`
`obliging
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`Plaintiff
`
`to incur
`
`expenses
`
`for
`
`medical
`
`care
`
`and which
`
`injuries
`
`prevented
`
`and will
`
`prevent
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`Plaintiff
`
`in the
`
`performance
`
`of his
`
`usual
`
`duties.
`
`Upon
`
`information
`
`and
`
`belief,
`
`these
`
`injuries
`
`are
`
`of a
`
`4 of 9
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/30/2023 07:00 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 161670/2023
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/30/2023
`
`permanent
`
`nature.
`
`24.
`
`As
`
`a result
`
`of
`
`the
`
`foregoing,
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`Plaintiff
`
`has
`
`been
`
`damaged
`
`in an amount
`
`which
`
`exceeds
`
`the jurisdictional
`
`limits
`
`of all
`
`lower
`
`courts.
`
`FOR A SECOND
`
`CAUSE
`
`OF ACTION:
`
`25.
`
`The
`
`Plaintiffs
`
`repeat
`
`and
`
`reiterate
`
`each
`
`and
`
`every
`
`allegation
`
`contained
`
`in paragraphs
`
`"1"
`
`through
`
`inclusive
`
`of
`
`this
`
`complaint,
`
`with
`
`the
`
`same
`
`force
`
`and
`
`effect
`
`as if
`
`set
`
`"24",
`
`forth
`
`herein
`
`at
`
`length.
`
`26.
`
`The Plaintiff
`
`MARIA
`
`GOMEZ
`
`is the mother
`
`and
`
`natural
`
`guardian
`
`of
`
`the
`
`infant
`
`Plaintiff.
`
`27.
`
`At
`
`and
`
`during
`
`all
`
`the
`
`times
`
`hereinbefore
`
`mentioned,
`
`and
`
`prior
`
`thereto,
`
`the Plaintiff
`
`MARIA
`
`GOMEZ'
`
`child
`
`was
`
`in good
`
`health.
`
`28.
`
`By reason
`
`of
`
`the
`
`foregoing,
`
`the Plaintiff
`
`MARIA
`
`GOMEZ'
`
`child
`
`will
`
`for
`
`a long
`
`period
`
`of
`
`from
`
`duties
`
`be unable
`
`time
`
`be prevented
`
`attending
`
`to his
`
`and
`
`to labor,
`
`consort,
`
`etc.,
`
`so that
`
`by
`
`reason
`
`thereof,
`
`the Plaintiff
`
`MARIA
`
`GOMEZ
`
`has
`
`necessarily
`
`lost,
`
`and will
`
`continue
`
`to lose
`
`her
`
`child's
`
`services
`
`and
`
`usefulness,
`
`and
`
`has necessarily
`
`expended
`
`and will
`
`continue
`
`to expend
`
`large
`
`sums
`
`of money
`
`in an effort
`
`to cure
`
`or
`
`minimize
`
`her
`
`child's
`
`injuries,
`
`and
`
`she has
`
`been
`
`deprived
`
`and will
`
`continue
`
`to be
`
`the
`
`happiness
`
`in her
`
`which
`
`has
`
`deprived
`
`of
`
`comfort
`
`and
`
`child's
`
`society
`
`been
`
`impaired,
`
`and
`
`the Plaintiff
`
`MARIA
`
`GOMEZ
`
`believes
`
`that
`
`such
`
`deprivation
`
`and
`
`impairment
`
`will
`
`result
`
`in damage
`
`to her
`
`in an amount
`
`which
`
`exceeds
`
`the jurisdictional
`
`limits
`
`of all
`
`lower
`
`courts.
`
`WHEREFORE,
`
`the Plaintiffs
`
`demands
`
`judgment
`
`against
`
`the Defendant
`
`with
`
`costs
`
`and
`
`disbursements,
`
`and
`
`for
`
`such
`
`other
`
`further
`
`relief
`
`as this
`
`Court
`
`may
`
`deem just
`
`and
`
`appropriate.
`
`5 of 9
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/30/2023 07:00 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 161670/2023
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/30/2023
`
`Dated:
`
`New York,
`November
`
`New York
`2023
`
`30,
`
`LLC
`
`Patrick
`Esq.
`Benn,
`& BENN,
`ESTRIN
`for Plaintiffs
`Attorneys
`Suite
`225
`Broadway,
`New York,
`New York
`962-0800
`(212)
`
`1200
`10007
`
`6 of 9
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/30/2023 07:00 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 161670/2023
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/30/2023
`
`OF THE STATE
`COURT
`SUPREME
`OF NEW YORK
`COUNTY
`____________________________________________________________________Ç
`and
`and Natural
`Infant
`by His Mother
`GOMEZ
`and MARIA
`MARIA
`GOMEZ,
`
`M.A.V.G.,
`Guardian
`
`OF NEW YORK
`
`Individually,
`
`-against-
`
`THE
`
`CITY
`
`OF NEW YORK,
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`Defendant.
`
`Index
`
`No.
`
`____________________________________________________________________Ç
`
`NOTICE
`SUBJECT
`
`OF COMMENCEMENT
`OF ACTION
`TO MANDATORY
`ELECTRONIC
`FILING
`
`PLEASE
`
`TAKE
`
`NOTICE
`
`that
`
`the matter
`
`captioned
`
`above,
`
`which
`
`has been
`
`commenced
`
`by
`
`filing
`
`of
`
`the
`
`accompanying
`
`documents
`
`with
`
`the County
`
`Clerk
`
`is subject
`
`to mandatory
`
`electronic
`
`filing
`
`pursuant
`
`to Section
`
`202.5-bb
`
`of
`
`the Uniform
`
`Rules
`
`for
`
`the Trial
`
`Courts.
`
`This
`
`notice
`
`is being
`
`served
`
`as required
`
`by Subdivision
`
`(b)
`
`(3)
`
`of
`
`that
`
`Section.
`
`The New York
`
`State
`
`Courts
`
`Electronic
`
`Filing
`
`System
`
`("NYSCEF")
`
`is designed
`
`for
`
`the
`
`electronic
`
`of documents
`
`with
`
`Clerk
`
`and
`
`the
`
`court
`
`and
`
`from
`
`the
`
`electronic
`
`filing
`
`the County
`
`service
`
`of
`
`those
`
`documents,
`
`court
`
`documents,
`
`and
`
`court
`
`notices
`
`upon
`
`counsel
`
`and
`
`self-
`
`represented
`
`parties.
`
`Counsel
`
`and/or
`
`parties
`
`who
`
`do not
`
`notify
`
`the
`
`court
`
`of a claimed
`
`exemption
`
`(see
`
`below)
`
`as required
`
`by Section
`
`202.5-bb(3)
`
`must
`
`immediately
`
`record
`
`their
`
`representation
`
`within
`
`the
`
`e-filed
`
`matter
`
`on the Consent
`
`page
`
`in NYSCEF.
`
`Failure
`
`to do
`
`so may
`
`result
`
`in an
`
`inability
`
`to receive
`
`electronic
`
`notice
`
`of document
`
`filings.
`
`Exemptions
`
`from
`
`mandatory
`
`e-filing
`
`are limited
`
`to:
`
`1) attorneys
`
`who
`
`certify
`
`in good
`
`faith
`
`that
`
`they
`
`lack
`
`the
`
`computer
`
`equipment
`
`and
`
`(along
`
`with
`
`all
`
`employees)
`
`the
`
`requisite
`
`knowledge
`
`to
`
`7 of 9
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/30/2023 07:00 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 161670/2023
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/30/2023
`
`comply;
`
`and
`
`2)
`
`self-represented
`
`parties
`
`who
`
`choose
`
`not
`
`to participate
`
`in e-filing.
`
`For
`
`additional
`
`information
`
`about
`
`electronic
`
`filing,
`
`including
`
`access
`
`to Section
`
`202.5-bb,
`
`consult
`
`the NYSCEF
`
`website
`
`at www.nycourts.gov/efile
`
`or contact
`
`the NYSCEF
`
`Resource
`
`Center
`
`at 646-386-3033
`
`or
`
`efile@courts.state.ny.us.
`
`Dated:
`
`New York,
`November
`
`New York
`2023
`
`30,
`
`LLC
`
`& BENN,
`ESTRIN
`for Plaintiffs
`Attorneys
`225
`Suite
`Broadway,
`New York
`New York,
`962-0800
`(212)
`EstrinBennLaw@gmail.com
`
`1200
`10007
`
`8 of 9
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 11/30/2023 07:00 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 161670/2023
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/30/2023
`
`SUPREME
`
`COURT
`
`OF THE STATE
`
`OF NEW YORK
`
`Index
`
`No.
`
`COUNTY
`
`OF NEW YORK
`
`M.A.V.G.,
`Guardian
`
`Individually,
`
`and
`MARIA
`
`and Natural
`by His Mother
`Infant
`GOMEZ
`and MARIA
`GOMEZ,
`
`-against-
`
`THE
`
`CITY
`
`OF NEW YORK,
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`Defendant.
`
`SUMMONS
`
`AND COMPLAINT
`
`LLC
`
`& BENN,
`ESTRIN
`for Plaintiffs
`Attorneys
`225
`Suite
`Broadway,
`New York,
`New York
`962-0800
`(212)
`
`1200
`10007
`
`to 22 NYCRR
`Pursuant
`the
`130-1.1,
`undersigned,
`of New York
`upon
`certifies
`State,
`that,
`information,
`contentions
`contained
`in the
`annexed
`document
`
`an attorney
`and
`belief,
`are not
`frivolous.
`
`admitted
`reasonable
`
`to practice
`
`inquiry
`
`courts
`
`in the
`the
`
`Dated:
`
`November
`
`30,
`
`2023
`
`Signature:
`
`/
`Patrick
`
`Benn
`
`9 of 9
`
`