Opinion
493 CA 15-01275
06-10-2016
JAMES M. HELD AND THERESA M. HELD, PLAINTIFFS, v. THE PIKE COMPANY, AMTHOR STEEL, INC., AND CATHOLIC HEALTH SYSTEM, INC., DEFENDANTS. THE PIKE COMPANY, AMTHOR STEEL, INC., AND CATHOLIC HEALTH SYSTEM, INC., THIRD-PARTY PLAINTIFFS-RESPONDENTS, v. CME ASSOCIATES, INC., THIRD-PARTY DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
THE SOBEL LAW GROUP, HUNTINGTON (CURTIS SOBEL OF COUNSEL), AND GOERGEN, MANSON & MCCARTHY, BUFFALO, FOR THIRD-PARTY DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. PILLINGER MILLER TARALLO, LLP, SYRACUSE (JEFFREY D. SCHULMAN OF COUNSEL), FOR THIRD-PARTY PLAINTIFFS-RESPONDENTS.
PRESENT:
THE SOBEL LAW GROUP, HUNTINGTON (CURTIS SOBEL OF COUNSEL), AND GOERGEN, MANSON & MCCARTHY, BUFFALO, FOR THIRD-PARTY DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
PILLINGER MILLER TARALLO, LLP, SYRACUSE (JEFFREY D. SCHULMAN OF COUNSEL), FOR THIRD-PARTY PLAINTIFFS-RESPONDENTS.
Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Erie County (Patrick H. NeMoyer, J.), entered October 10, 2014. The judgment directed third-party defendant to pay $1,147,049.14, plus interest, to third-party plaintiffs.
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.
Memorandum: Plaintiffs commenced this Labor Law and common-law negligence action seeking damages for injuries sustained by James M. Held (plaintiff) when he slipped on a steel beam and fell 15 feet to the ground. Supreme Court granted plaintiffs' motion for partial summary judgment on liability under Labor Law § 240 (1) against defendants-third-party plaintiffs (third-party plaintiffs), who were, respectively, the owner, the general contractor, and a subcontractor on the construction project. Third-party plaintiffs commenced a third-party action against third-party defendant, CME Associates, Inc. (CME), seeking contractual and common-law indemnification and contribution on the ground that CME's negligence in leaving a slippery substance on the beam caused plaintiff's injuries. The court granted plaintiffs' motion to sever the damages-only trial from the third-party action. Plaintiffs and third-party plaintiffs agreed to submit the issue of damages to the court on papers alone, and the court awarded plaintiffs damages. After a trial on the third-party action, the court issued a judgment against CME, from which it now appeals.
Contrary to CME's contention, it was not held liable under Labor Law § 240 (1) but, rather, it was held liable for its negligence in causing the accident. It is well settled that, where an owner or contractor is held liable to a plaintiff pursuant to Labor Law §§ 240 or 241, the owner or contractor may recover, "under familiar common-law principles, full indemnification . . . from the actor who caused the accident (the active tort-feasor), and, where the cause is shared, contribution" (Kelly v Diesel Constr. Div. of Carl A. Morse, Inc., 35 NY2d 1, 6-7; see Lapi v Rosewood Home Bldrs., 256 AD2d 1008, 1009; see also Krajnik v Forbes Homes, Inc., 120 AD3d 902, 904-905). Contribution is proper where the culpable parties are subject to liability for damages for the same personal injury, "whether or not the culpable parties are allegedly liable for the injury under the same or different theories" ( Nassau Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. v Facilities Dev. Corp., 71 NY2d 599, 603).
CME further contends that it was denied the opportunity to litigate the issue of plaintiffs' damages. We agree with third-party plaintiffs that CME waived that contention by not opposing plaintiffs' motion to sever (see generally Neckles v VW Credit, Inc., 23 AD3d 191, 192; Graziano v 118-17 Liberty Ave. Mgt. Corp., 209 AD2d 582, 583). We have considered CME's remaining contentions and conclude that they are without merit.
Entered: June 10, 2016
Frances E. Cafarell
Clerk of the Court