After slipping and falling in the William Black Medical Research Building (WBMRB), Daniel Tam sued Presbyterian Hospital believing the latter owned or controlled the property.
Since Presbyterian showed that wasn't the case, and that the property was owned by Columbia University, the New York County Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit. (Interestingly, Tam had tried to sue Columbia but missed the governing time period or "statute of limitations.")
Because Presbyterian didn't own the land on which WBMRB was situated, the Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed the dismissal.
Why didn't Columbia own up to that?
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Tam v. Presbyterian Hosp. in the City of New York