Weinfeld v. HR Photography, Inc.

• Decision Date: 19 April 2017
• Citation: 149 A.D.3d 1014,52 N.Y.S.3d 458
• Parties: Goldy WEINFELD, appellant, v. HR PHOTOGRAPHY, INC., respondent, et al., defendant (and a third-party action).
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

149 A.D.3d 1014

52 N.Y.S.3d 458

Goldy WEINFELD, appellant,

v. HR PHOTOGRAPHY, INC., respondent, et al., defendant(and a third-party action).

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

April 19, 2017.

Daniel B. Faizakoff, P.C., New York, NY (Daniel B. Faizakoff and Ripal J. Gajjar of counsel), for appellant.

Leon R. Kowalski (McGaw, Alventosa & Zajac, Jericho, NY [Andrew Zajac ], of counsel), for respondent.

REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., SHERI S. ROMAN, ROBERT J. MILLER, and COLLEEN D. DUFFY, JJ.

Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Mark I. Partnow, J.), dated December 23, 2014. The order granted the motion of the defendant HR Photography, Inc., for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it, and denied the plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment on the issue of the vicarious liability of the defendant HR Photography, Inc.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

On November 29, 2006, the plaintiff attended a wedding reception as a guest. The defendant HR Photography, Inc. (hereinafter HR), was hired to render photography and videography services at the wedding, and HR hired the defendant Vladimir Kataiev for the videography services. HR had never previously used Kataiev's services. The plaintiff alleges that at the wedding, Kataiev negligently knocked her to the ground with his video equipment, causing her to sustain injuries. The plaintiff commenced this action against HR, among others, and asserted that Kataiev was an employee of HR and that HR was vicariously liable for Kataiev's negligence. The plaintiff also asserted causes of action against HR alleging negligent hiring, negligent retention, and negligent supervision.

HR moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it, contending that Kataiev was an independent contractor. The plaintiff cross-moved for summary judgment on the issue of whether HR may be held vicariously liable for Kataiev's negligence. The Supreme Court granted HR's motion, concluding that Kataiev was an independent contractor and that there was no evidence that HR was negligent in hiring, supervising, or retaining Kataiev. The Supreme Court denied the plaintiff's cross motion. The plaintiff appeals.

"The general rule is that an employer who hires an independent contractor is not liable for the independent contractor's negligent acts" (Rosenberg v. Equitable Life Assur. Socy. of U.S., 79 N.Y.2d 663, 668, 584 N.Y.S.2d 765, 595 N.E.2d 840 ). "The determination of whether an employer-employee relationship exists turns on whether the alleged employer exercises control over the results produced, or the means used to achieve the results. Control over the means is the more important consideration" (Abouzeid v. Grgas, 295 A.D.2d 376, 377, 743 N.Y.S.2d 165 ). "Factors relevant to assessing control include whether the worker (1) worked at his 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 193, 198, 770 N.Y.S.2d 692, 802 N.E.2d 1090 ; see Lazo v. Mak's Trading Co., 84 N.Y.2d 896, 897, 620 N.Y.S.2d 794, 644 N.E.2d 1350 ; Barak v. Chen, 87 A.D.3d 955, 957, 929 N.Y.S.2d 315 ). " ‘[I]ncidental control over the results produced without further indicia of control over the means employed to achieve the results will not constitute substantial evidence of an employer-employee relationship’ " (Raja v. Big Geyser, Inc., 144 A.D.3d 1123, 1124, 42 N.Y.S.3d 288, quoting Matter of Ted Is Back Corp. [Roberts], 64 N.Y.2d 725, 726, 485 N.Y.S.2d 742, 475 N.E.2d 113 ).

Here, HR demonstrated, prima facie, that Kataiev was hired as an independent contractor. The transcripts of the deposition testimony submitted in support of HR's motion established that HR hired Kataiev only for the wedding, that HR did not provide Kataiev with health insurance, that HR did not provide Kataiev with a W–2 form, that Kataiev used his own equipment at the wedding, that HR paid Kataiev in cash, and that HR did not withhold Social Security taxes or employment taxes from the money paid to Kataiev (see Belt v. Girgis, 55 A.D.3d 645, 646, 865 N.Y.S.2d 658 ; Gfeller v. Russo, 45 A.D.3d 1301, 1303, 846 N.Y.S.2d 501 ; Gagen v. Kipany Prods., Ltd., 27 A.D.3d 1042, 1043–1044, 812 N.Y.S.2d 689 ). Additionally, the evidence submitted by HR demonstrated, prima facie, that HR exercised only minimal or incidental control over Kataiev's work (see Wecker v. Crossland Group, Inc., 92 A.D.3d 870, 871, 939 N.Y.S.2d 481 ; Barak v. Chen, 87...