Opinion
2013-07-2
Roberto BELTRAN, et al., Plaintiffs–Respondents–Appellants, v. NAVILLUS TILE, INC., et al., Defendants–Respondents–Appellants, Liro Engineering and Construction Management, et al., Defendants–Appellants–Respondents.
Raven & Kolbe, LLP, New York (Michael T. Gleason of counsel), for Liro Engineering and Construction Management and Liro Program and Construction Management PE, PC, appellants-respondents. Epstein, Gialleonardo, Harms & McDonald, New York (James Feehan of counsel), for Unisys Electric, Inc., appellant-respondent.
Raven & Kolbe, LLP, New York (Michael T. Gleason of counsel), for Liro Engineering and Construction Management and Liro Program and Construction Management PE, PC, appellants-respondents. Epstein, Gialleonardo, Harms & McDonald, New York (James Feehan of counsel), for Unisys Electric, Inc., appellant-respondent.
Feld & Korman P.C., New York (John G. Korman of counsel), for Roberto Beltran and Yajahira Beltran, respondents-appellants.
Babchik & Young LLP, White Plains (Ephraim J. Fink of counsel), for Navillus Tile, Inc., URS Corporation, URS Corporation–New York, respondents-appellants.
FRIEDMAN, J.P., SWEENY, DeGRASSE, RICHTER, FEINMAN, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Judith J. Gische, J.), entered April 5, 2012, which, insofar as appealed from as limited by the briefs, denied defendants' motions for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff's Labor Law § 200 and common-law negligence claims, and denied defendant Liro Engineering and Construction Management and defendant Liro Program and Construction Management PE, P.C.'s (collectively, Liro) motion for summary judgment on its contractual indemnification and defense claim against defendant Navillus Tile, Inc. (Navillus), unanimously affirmed, without costs. Plaintiffs' appeal from the same order, unanimously dismissed, without costs, as plaintiffs are not aggrieved parties.
The court properly denied all defendants' motions for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff's Labor Law § 200 and common-law negligence claims against them. There are issues of fact about whether Navillus created a puddle of water on the floor, on which plaintiff allegedly slipped and fell, in a corridor in which defendants were performing renovation, by suspending a leaking hose above the floor. In light of the sharply conflicting testimony pertinent to this and other issues, summary judgment is unwarranted. There are also issues of fact about whether Navillus, URS, or Liro had constructive notice of the wet condition, since the testimony of plaintiff and two other witnesses indicated that the hose was slowly dripping water onto the floor near where plaintiff fell, and that the floor of the wide corridor was covered in water about half an inch deep ( see Edwards v. BP/CG Ctr. I, Inc., 102 A.D.3d 413, 958 N.Y.S.2d 333 [1st Dept. 2013];Gonzalez v. Port Auth. of N.Y. & N.J., 85 A.D.3d 550, 925 N.Y.S.2d 462 [1st Dept. 2011] ). Further, there are issues of fact as to whether Unisys Electric Inc., as the electrical contractor responsible for providing temporary lighting in the building, had constructive notice of the inadequate temporary lights in the corridor at the time of the accident ( see Schirmer v. Athena–Liberty Lofts, LP, 48 A.D.3d 223, 851 N.Y.S.2d 168 [1st Dept. 2008] ).
Defendants argue that they cannot be held liable for constructive notice, since control and responsibility over the corridor had been turned over to the building owner prior to the accident. We disagree. Plaintiff's testimony that the floor was made of cement indicates otherwise, since a Navillus employee testified that vinyl tiles would be installed on the floor before the area was turned over to the owner. Moreover, in light of the issues of fact about whether Navillus was using the hose for its renovation in the front lobby of the building, it cannot be concluded as a matter of law that Navillus, URS, and Liro had no responsibility over the corridor if the hose was creating a hazardous condition therein ( see Urban v. No. 5 Times Sq. Dev., LLC, 62 A.D.3d 553, 556, 879 N.Y.S.2d 122 [1st Dept. 2009];Badagliacca v. Lehrer McGovern Bovis, 267 A.D.2d 16, 699 N.Y.S.2d 52 [1st Dept. 1999] ).
The court also properly denied Liro's motion for summary judgment on its cross claim seeking indemnification and defense from Navillus, pursuant to a contractual provision providing for such indemnification and defense for damages “arising out of or occurring in connection with” Navillus's performance of the work or failure to perform the work, in light of the aforementioned issues of fact about whether any acts or omissions by Navillus contributed to the accident ( see Sosa v. 46th St. Dev. LLC, 101 A.D.3d 490, 492, 955 N.Y.S.2d 589 [1st Dept. 2012] ).