Majority
p. 888Leland Hirsch, Respondent, v. Hyman J. Hade, Appellant. Supreme Court, Appellate Term, Second Department, January 21, 1970.
Louis J. Castellano, Jr., for appellant. Murray Alber and Marilyn P. Hoppenfeld for respondent.
In this action by a guest who tripped over a rug and was injured while leaving defendant’s residence, the trial court in effect held that plaintiff was a social guest as dis
p. 889
tinguished from a licensee, and that defendant had a duty to warn him of defects known to defendant and which were neither hidden nor traps. This was error. Plaintiff, as a social guest, was a licensee and defendant’s duty must accord with the established rules governing such relationship (Plotz v. Greene, 13 A D 2d 807 , affd. 10 N Y 2d 991 ; Goldstein v. Board of Educ. of Union Free School Dist. No. 23, Town of Hempstead, 24 A D 2d 1015 , affd. 18 N Y 2d 991 ; Levine v. Barfus, 28 A D 2d 896 ; Bua v. Fernandez, 21 A D 2d 887 , revd. 15 N Y 2d 664 ). The rights and obligations of the respective parties should be adjudicated on the basis of plaintiff’s status as a licensee (Finkle v. Zimmerman, 26 A D 2d 179 ).
The judgment should be unanimously reversed, without costs, and a new trial ordered.
Concur — Groat, P. J., Rinaldi and Cone, JJ.
Judgment reversed, etc.
Cases cited
- Plotz v. Greene 10 N Y 2d 991 p. 889
- Goldstein ex rel. Goldstein v. Board of Education of Union Free School District No. 23 18 N Y 2d 991 p. 889
- Bua v. Fernandez 15 N Y 2d 664 p. 889
- Finkle v. Zimmerman 26 A D 2d 179 p. 889