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Lachhonna v. Consol. Edison Co. of New York

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Feb 5, 1991
170 A.D.2d 191 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991)

Opinion

February 5, 1991

Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Alan J. Saks, J.).


The IAS court did not err in determining that the indemnification clause in a contract between Con Edison and Madison, requiring Madison to provide a uniformed security guard at Con Edison's Kingsbridge facility in Bronx County, did not obligate Madison to indemnify Con Edison for Con Edison's own acts of negligence in connection with personal injuries sustained by the plaintiff as a result of a fall on an unlit stairway at that facility. The clause in question does not set forth the "unmistakable intent" of the parties, in unambiguous, readily understandable terms, that Madison was contractually required to indemnify Con Edison for Con Edison's own acts of negligence. (Gross v Sweet, 49 N.Y.2d 102, 106.)

Similarly, we find that the trial court properly granted a directed verdict in favor of Madison, dismissing Con Edison's third-party complaint. Con Edison's attempt to impute to Madison plaintiff's comparative negligence in failing to turn on a light before walking down the flight of stairs, misconstrues the laws of contribution providing that there can be no unequal apportionment of liability between a corporation vicariously liable for the acts of its employee and the employee himself, since they were responsible for but a single wrong. (Rogers v Dorchester Assocs., 32 N.Y.2d 553, 564.)

Concur — Sullivan, J.P., Carro, Kupferman, Ross and Rubin, JJ.


Summaries of

Lachhonna v. Consol. Edison Co. of New York

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Feb 5, 1991
170 A.D.2d 191 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991)
Case details for

Lachhonna v. Consol. Edison Co. of New York

Case Details

Full title:RAMIAH LACHHONNA et al., Plaintiffs, v. CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department

Date published: Feb 5, 1991

Citations

170 A.D.2d 191 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991)

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