Iuliani v. Great Neck Sewer District
| Decision Date | 12 February 1976 |
| Citation | 38 N.Y.2d 885,382 N.Y.S.2d 746 |
| Parties | , 346 N.E.2d 547 Robert IULIANI et al., Appellants, v. GREAT NECK SEWER DISTRICT, Defendant-Respondent and Third-Party Plaintiff. Bancker Construction Corp., Third-Party Defendant-Respondent. |
| Court | New York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals |
Thomas R. Newman, New York City, Joseph A. Jacobson, Brooklyn, and Benjamin H. Siff, New York City, for appellants.
Morris Zweibel and Harold V. McCoy, New York City, for defendant-respondent.
William F. McNulty, A. Allen Stanger and Anthony J. McNulty, New York City, for third-party defendant-respondent.
Upon the proof submitted to the trial court the complaint was properly dismissed.
Section 241 of the Labor Law imposes a nondelegable duty on the general contractor or owner to provide a safe place to work. However, he is not responsible for injuries caused by the negligent acts of subcontractors when he--the owner or general contractor--has exercised no control or supervision of the work site. Under those circumstances there is no breach of the duty imposed by section 241 of the Labor Law. (Bidetto v. New York City Housing Auth., 25 N.Y.2d 848, 303 N.Y.S.2d 695, 250 N.E.2d 735; Persichilli v. Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Auth., 16 N.Y.2d 136, 146, 262 N.Y.S.2d 476, 481, 209 N.E.2d 802, 805; Wright v. Belt Assoc., 14 N.Y.2d 129, 134, 249 N.Y.S.2d 416, 418, 198 N.E.2d 590, 591; Hess v. Bernheimer & Schwartz Brewing Co., 219 N.Y. 415, 418--419, 114 N.E. 808, 809.)
To hold otherwise would result in the owner or general contractor being made a guarantor of the safety of all workmen at the site despite the negligence of any subcontractor and even in the absence of control or supervision by the owner or general contractor.
Nor should our decision in Kelly v. Diesel Constr. Div. of Carl A. Morse, Inc., 35 N.Y.2d 1, 358 N.Y.S.2d 685, 315 N.E.2d 751, be construed to require a contrary result. In Kelly the general contractor exercised general supervision and control of the work site and furnished, maintained and operated a personnel hoist which was the sole means of reaching various work areas.
In the instant case neither the owner nor the general contractor participated or in any way controlled the activity causing the injury.
The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.
Order, 46 A.D.2d 1017, 363 N.Y.S.2d 907, affirmed, with costs, in a memorandum.
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