Opinion
12-23-2016
Barbara TULLY, also known as Barbara Bielle, Plaintiff, v. TRANSITOWN SOUTH ASSOCIATES, LLC, Transitown Plaza Associates, LLC, Gian Properties, LLC, and Gian Properties Limited Partnership, Defendants. Transitown South Associates, LLC, Transitown Plaza Associates, LLC, Gian Properties, LLC, and Gian Properties Limited Partnership, Third–Party Plaintiffs–Respondents, v. Tiger Stripe, LLC, Third–Party Defendant–Appellant.
Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP, Buffalo (Richard T. Saraf of Counsel), for third-party defendant-appellant. Sugarman Law Firm, LLP, Buffalo (Michael Riehler of Counsel), for third-party plaintiffs-respondents.
Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Erie County (Donna M. Siwek, J.), entered October 8, 2015. The order, insofar as appealed from, granted that part of the motion of defendants-third-party plaintiffs seeking an order requiring third-party defendant to defend and indemnify them and pay their attorneys' fees.
Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP, Buffalo (Richard T. Saraf of Counsel), for third-party defendant-appellant.
Sugarman Law Firm, LLP, Buffalo (Michael Riehler of Counsel), for third-party plaintiffs-respondents.
MEMORANDUM:Third-party defendant, Tiger Stripe, LLC (Tiger Stripe), appeals from an order that, inter alia, granted in part the motion of defendants-third-party plaintiffs (defendants) for summary judgment and ordered Tiger Stripe to defend and indemnify defendants and pay their attorneys' fees. Tiger Stripe contends that defendants failed to establish as a matter of law that they are entitled to contractual indemnification. We agree. The snow-removal services contract required Tiger Stripe to indemnify defendants against claims “arising out of or resulting from performance of services under [the] Contract,” including claims attributable to bodily injury “caused in whole or in part by acts or omissions” of Tiger Stripe. Inasmuch as there are issues of fact concerning the alleged culpability of Tiger Stripe, we conclude that Supreme Court erred in granting that part of the motion (see Johnson v. Wal–Mart, 125 A.D.3d 1468, 1469, 3 N.Y.S.3d 841 ; Pieri v. Forest City Enters., 238 A.D.2d 911, 913, 661 N.Y.S.2d 133 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order insofar as appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs, and that part of the motion of defendants-third-party plaintiffs seeking an order requiring third-party defendant to defend and indemnify them and pay their attorneys' fees is denied.
CARNI, J.P., LINDLEY, DeJOSEPH, CURRAN, and TROUTMAN, JJ., concur.