Julio Quintana sued the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) after he was injured climbing over snow which had been piled along the curb by one of the agency's plows.
Because there was no evidence that the snow blocked the crosswalk, or that there was no other way to cross the street, both the New York County Supreme Court and the Appellate Division, First Department, agreed that NYCHA wasn't responsible for what had happened.
Not only was the injury unforeseeable, but the situation wasn't viewed as "emergent," because Quintana could have taken other routes, even if they were less convenient.
Now that's Common Sense Government.
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Quintana v. New York City Hous. Auth.