Legal Memorandum: Duties of Building Owners in NY

Issue: Under New York law, do the owners of a building owe a duty to their tenants for the height of retaining wall on a roof?

Owners of a building are under a duty to maintain their premises “in a reasonably safe condition in view of all the circumstances, including the likelihood of injury to others, the seriousness of the injury and the burden of avoiding the risk. A s "Basso v. Miller, 40 N.Y.2d 233, 352 N.E.2d 868, 386 " c 1 l "Basso v. Miller, 40 N.Y.2d 233, 352 N.E.2d 868, 386 N.Y.S.2d 564 (1976)"Basso v. Miller, 40 N.Y.2d 233, 352 N.E.2d 868, 386 N.Y.S.2d 564 (1976); A s "Kellman v. 45 Tiemann Assocs., Inc., 87 N.Y.2d 871, " c 1 l "Kellman v. 45 Tiemann Assocs., Inc., 87 N.Y.2d 871, 662 N.E.2d 255, 638 N.Y.S.2d 937 (1995)"Kellman v. 45 Tiemann Assocs., Inc., 87 N.Y.2d 871, 662 N.E.2d 255, 638 N.Y.S.2d 937 (1995).

The determination of legal causation turns upon questions of foreseeability.  See Kriz v. Schum, 75 N.Y.2d 25, 549 N.E.2d 1155, 550 N.Y.S.2d 584 (1989), citing A s "Derdiarian v. Felix Contracting Corp., 51 N.Y.2d 308" c 1 l "Derdiarian v. Felix Contracting Corp., 51 N.Y.2d 308, 414 N.E.2d 666, 434 N.Y.S.2d 166 (1980)"Derdiarian v. Felix Contracting Corp., 51 N.Y.2d 308, 414 N.E.2d 666, 434 N.Y.S.2d 166 (1980).  What is foreseeable may be the subject of varying inferences, as is the question of negligence itself, so these issues generally are for the fact finder to resolve.A s "Derdiarian v. Felix Contracting Corp.,