Opinion
No. 2021-07736 Index No. 63427/13
04-24-2024
Thomas H. Brielmeier, et al., Appellants, v. Luis F. Leal, et al., Defendants, Publishers Circulation Fulfillment, Inc., Respondent.
Dean & Dean, PLLC (Mischel & Horn, P.C., New York, NY [Scott T. Horn and Andrew J. Fisher], of counsel), for appellants. Eric D. Feldman, Mellville, NY (Jennifer M. Belk of counsel), for respondent.
Dean & Dean, PLLC (Mischel & Horn, P.C., New York, NY [Scott T. Horn and Andrew J. Fisher], of counsel), for appellants.
Eric D. Feldman, Mellville, NY (Jennifer M. Belk of counsel), for respondent.
ANGELA G. IANNACCI, J.P., LINDA CHRISTOPHER, PAUL WOOTEN, JANICE A. TAYLOR, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, etc., the plaintiffs appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (Paul J. Baisley, Jr., J.), dated September 30, 2021. The order granted the motion of the defendant Publishers Circulation Fulfillment, Inc., for summary judgment dismissing the amended complaint and all cross-claims insofar as asserted against it.
ORDERED that the appeal from so much of the order as granted that branch of the motion of the defendant Publishers Circulation Fulfillment, Inc., which was for summary judgment dismissing all cross-claims insofar as asserted against it is dismissed, as the plaintiffs are not aggrieved by that portion of the order (see CPLR 5511; Mixon v TBV, Inc., 76 A.D.3d 144, 156-157); and it is further, ORDERED that the order is reversed insofar as reviewed, on the law, and that branch of the motion of the defendant Publishers Circulation Fulfillment, Inc., which was for summary judgment dismissing the amended complaint insofar as asserted against it is denied; and it is further, ORDERED that one bill of costs is awarded to the plaintiffs.
On March 25, 2013, the plaintiff Thomas H. Brielmeier (hereinafter the injured plaintiff) allegedly was injured when a vehicle he was operating collided with a vehicle owned and operated by the defendant Luis F. Leal. In October 2013, the injured plaintiff, and his wife suing derivatively, commenced this action against Leal and another defendant. In February 2014, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint naming Publishers Circulation Fulfillment, Inc. (hereinafter Publishers), as an additional defendant. The plaintiffs alleged, inter alia, that Leal was Publishers' employee, and that Leal was acting within the scope of his employment at the time of the accident. Thereafter, Publishers moved for summary judgment dismissing the amended complaint and all cross-claims insofar as asserted against it. In an order dated September 30, 2021, the Supreme Court granted Publishers' motion. The plaintiffs appeal.
"The doctrine of respondeat superior renders a master vicariously liable for a tort committed by his [or her] servant within the scope of employment. Conversely, the general rule is that an employer who hires an independent contractor is not liable for the independent contractor's negligent acts" (Fernandez v Conklin, 189 A.D.3d 784, 784 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Rivera v Fenix Car Serv. Corp., 81 A.D.3d 622, 623). "[T]he critical inquiry in determining whether an employment relationship exists pertains to the degree of control exercised by the purported employer over the results produced or the means used to achieve the results" (Bynog v Cipriani Group, Inc., 1 N.Y.3d 193, 198; see Fernandez v Conklin, 189 A.D.3d at 784). "Factors relevant to assessing control include whether the worker (1) worked at his [or her] own convenience, (2) was free to engage in other employment, (3) received fringe benefits, (4) was on the employer's payroll and (5) was on a fixed schedule" (Bynog v Cipriani Group, 1 N.Y.3d at 198; see Fernandez v Conklin, 189 A.D.3d at 784). "The fact that a contract exists designating a person as an independent contractor is to be considered, but is not dispositive" (Fernandez v Conklin, 189 A.D.3d at 784 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Araneo v Town Bd. for Town of Clarkstown, 55 A.D.3d 516, 519). Whether an actor is an independent contractor or an employee is usually a factual issue for a jury (see Carrion v Orbit Messenger, 82 N.Y.2d 742, 744; Schiffer v Sunrise Removal, Inc., 62 A.D.3d 776, 779).
Here, Publishers failed to establish, prima facie, that Leal was an independent contractor at the time of the accident (see Fernandez v Conklin, 189 A.D.3d at 785; Galvan v Robinson, 50 A.D.3d 954, 955; Lane v Lyons, 277 A.D.2d 428, 428). Accordingly, the Supreme Court should have denied that branch of Publishers' motion which was for summary judgment dismissing the amended complaint insofar as asserted against it, regardless of the sufficiency of the opposing papers (see Winegrad v New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 N.Y.2d 851, 853).
IANNACCI, J.P., CHRISTOPHER, WOOTEN and TAYLOR, JJ., concur.