Opinion
March 2, 1999
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Bronx County (Jerry Crispino, J.).
Plaintiff Brian Brink was working at floor level when an interior chimney, also at floor level, collapsed on him during its demolition. Because both the chimney and Brink were at the same level at the time of the collapse the incident was not sufficiently attributable to elevation differentials to warrant imposition of liability pursuant to Labor Law § 240 (1) ( see, Misseritti v. Mark IV Constr. Co., 86 N.Y.2d 487, 490-491; Amato v. State of New York, 241 A.D.2d 400, lv denied 91 N.Y.2d 805). Nonetheless, due to the absence of any evidence that defendant Yeshiva University directed, controlled or supervised the manner in which Brink performed his work or the job site, the motion court properly granted Yeshiva's cross motion for indemnification pursuant to the common law and/or Labor Law § 200 ( see, Lombardi v. Stout, 80 N.Y.2d 290, 293; Curtis v. 37th St. Assocs., 198 A.D.2d 62). Finally, the motion court correctly determined that Yeshiva University was also entitled to contractual indemnification based on the relevant provision of its contract with Sunstream Corporation.
Concur — Nardelli, J. P., Wallach, Lerner and Rubin, JJ.