McGinley v Structure Tone, Inc.

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McGinley v Structure Tone, Inc. 2017 NY Slip Op 30751(U) April 6, 2017 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: 157693/12 Judge: Jennifer G. Schecter Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various state and local government websites. These include the New York State Unified Court System's E-Courts Service, and the Bronx County Clerk's office. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 1] SUPREME COURT OE THE S1AIE Of NEW YORK NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 INDEX NO. 157693/2012 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/18/2017 COUNTY OF NEW YORK: PART 57 --------------------------------------------x Index No.: 157693/12 JOHN McGINLEY, Plaintiff, -againstSTRUCTURE TONE, INC., SILVERSTEIN PROPERTIES, INC. and WILMER CUTLER PICKERING HALE AND DORR, LLP., Defendants. --------------------------------------------x Schecter, J. : This is an action to recover damages for personal injuries sustained by a carpenter on May 14, 2012, when, while working on the 45th floor of 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, New York, New York (the Site), the wheel of the scaffold that he was moving struck a steel beam, causing the beam to swing around and knock him off of his feet. Defendants Structure Tone, Inc. Properties, Hale and Inc. Dorr, (Silverstein) LLP (Wilmer) (Structure), Silverstein and Wilmer Cutler Pickering (together, defendants) move, pursuant to CPLR 3212, for summary judgment dismissing the complaint all and any and cross claims and counterclaims against them. BACKGROUND On the day of the accident, defendant Silverstein owned the Site where the accident occurred, occupied the space. Defendant and defendant Wilmer Structure served as construction manager I general contractor for a project underway at the Site, which entailed the build-out of ·the 4 5th floor 2 of 18 INDEX NO. 157693/2012 [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 2] lnaex No. 157693/1204/18/2017 McGinley NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 v Structure Tone, Inc. RECEIVED NYSCEF: Page 2 -· executive dining room (the Project). Plaintiff John McGinley was employed as a carpenter by nonparty Eurotech Construction Company (Eurotech), the company hired to perform general carpentry tasks and install ceiling systems for the Project. P1ainti££'s Testimony Plaintiff testified that he was employed by Eurotech as Plaintiff explained a carpenter on the day of the accident. that Eurotech was hired to perform "general carpentry" and to "[i]nstall ceiling systems, wall systems, [and] door systems" for the Project Plaintiff's duties included (plaintiff's tr at 51) "[f]raming, drywall, [and] acoustical ceiling applications" (id. at 15). While on the job, he reported to Al Hickman, Eurotech. his supervisor and the carpenter foreman for Plaintiff maintained that Structure served as the general contractor on the Project, and that Structure laborers were in charge of "clean[ing] up" (id. at 60). Plaintiff testified installation work for that he was involved an executive dining room in ceiling (the Room) during the two or three days leading up to the accident and that he was never specifically told what he had to do, because he "knew [his] project" testified that, in Structure, addition " [ e] lectricians at (id. to 72). Eurotech Plaintiff and further employees and HVAC and tapers" were present at the Site (id. at 52). 3 of 18 of also .. INDEX NO. 157693/2012 [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 3] Index No. 157693/12 McGinley v Structure Tone, Inc . NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/18/2017 Page 3 Plaintiff framed, [in] described the Site partially sheetrocked, sporadic construction locations" material, electrical pipe, being material at (id. which as "[p]artially storage everywhere In addition, 56) consisted of "metal [s]teel beams, conduit, studs, gang boxes, [p] lywood, ladders, compound buckets, [and] black iron, [s]heetrock, HVAC duct work and scaffolding" littered the Site (id. at 65-66). The Room also contained "[m]aterial storage . equipment (id. . assorted trade equipment" nd . [a] at 62). When plaintiff was asked if the Site was "just one open space or . divided up," plaintiff responded, "divided up and (id. ) . framed" Plain ti ff further described the Room, which had "two to four entrances," as "[a]pproximately 50 x 50 divided in two" and "half" finished (id. at 58, 62). When asked whether the Room was enclosed, plaintiff testified, "it was wide open . [and] it was enclosed" (id. at 62). Plaintiff testified that his ceiling systems installation work in the Room required ' him to use a scaffold on the day of the accident. Plaintiff "[brought] the scaffold to that room on that day" and set it up "[r]ight next to [a dividing] wall" located in the "center" Plaintiff testified that belonged to Eurotech, of the Room (id. the six-foot-tall was made of at 71, scaffold, metal and 80). which plywood. Plaintiff noted that he had received scaffold "[s]afe use" 4 of 18 [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PMI 4] McGinley NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 v Structure Tone, training, Inc. wherein he was told to lock the scaffold's wheels when working on it, (id. INDEX NO. 157693/2012 lnaex No. 157693/1204/18/2017 RECEIVED NYSCEF: Page 4 and then to unlock them when moving it at 69). Plaintiff testified that his job duties required him to work along the entire length of the left side of the dividing He wall. set up the scaffold surrounded by "[g]ang boxes, pallets, materials, on a pallet, electrical pipes, compound, stacks of which was steel beams, ladders, heaps of metal studs, plywood standing against walls, sheetrock piled against walls [and] debris ' everywhere" (id. at 82-8 3) He described the "debris" as "sparse" and "sporadic" in the way that it covered "60 Plaintiff did not know ~t percent" wher~ of the floor (id. at 83). the debris came from, noting that "chang[ed] everyday" (id. at 84). Plaintiff asserted that Structure was in charge of clearing the debris at the Site. In fact, he had even spoken to Structure's laborers regarding the unsafe debris "conditions" (id. at 60). Just before the accident, and after moving the scaffold "to various locations over the gang boxes, over the steel beams," plaintiff positioned the scaffold in his work area and "[o]n top of the skid (id. at 94). pallet and the [pal'let] with the steel beams on it" Plaintiff maintained that Eurotech owned the steel beams. Plaintiff complained to his foreman about the presence:of the pallet and steel beams in his work area, and his foreman then told him that he would ask 5 of 18 - - · · [*IFILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PMI 5] McGinley NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 v Structure Tone, INDEX NO. 157693/2012 lnaex No. 157693/1204/18/2017 RECEIVED NYSCEF: Page 5 Inc. Structure to have them removed, because they posed a tripping hazard. However, plaintiff did not wait until the pallet and steel beams were removed to begin his work, because "[he] was told to get the job done" (id. at 104). Plaintiff explained that his accident occurred as he was attempting to roll the scaffold backwards to a new location. At this time, plaintiff was positioned at the long end of the scaffold, and all four wheels of the scaffold were unlocked. As plaintiff pulled the scaffold with both hands, while, at the same time, trying to avoid the drywall debris "next to his foot," one of the steel beams "got caught in the wheels of the scaffold" "[swing] trap[] (id. This caused the steel beam to at 111-112). perpendicular (90 degrees) to the skid and [his] feet as [he] was moving" (id. at 112) beam struck backwards, the top of plaintiff's boots, along with the scaffold, When the plaintiff fell injuring his left arm, knee and hip. Testimony of Alan Hickman (Eurotech's Carpenter Foreman) Alan Hickman testified that he was Eurotech's carpenter foreman on the day of the accident. His setting up the work area, assigning jobs, and "basically run[ning] the job" duties included ordering material (Hickman tr at 7). He explained that Structure was the general contractor for the Project. At the time of the accident, pursuant to a contract with Structure, Eurotech was performing drywall and ceiling 6 of 18 [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 6] McGinley NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 v Structure Tone, INDEX NO. 157693/2012 Index No. 157693/12 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/18/2017 Page 6 Inc. On the day of the accident, work at the Site. and plumbers were also present. electricians Laborers, which were hired by Structure, were char~ed with "[c]leaning up behind the trades" (id. at 19). These laborers worked at the Site "all day long" to keep the work areas noted that, free of "[d]ebris" (id.). Hickman in the event that he ever observed debris at the Site, he would contact Structure to correct the situation. Hickman further testified that, at the time of the accident, plaintiff was installing a ceiling grid in an area where a pallet and various materials were located. did not know who owned the pallet. However, that by the steel beams were owned Hickman he could state. Eurotech. Hickman explained that the beams "were being used in the kitchen area of the cafeteria as waterproofing stop up against convectors" (id. at 36). Hickman described the cafeteria, "where the waterproofing took place," as being located in "the next room over" (id.). When asked how many steel beams were installed, plaintiff replied, "we installed, I believe, eight of them" (id.). When Hickman was asked to explain what he considered the difference between "debris and material that [is] used in an ongoing construction project," Hickman stated that "scraps of Sheetrock [and] coffee cups" constitute "debris," but not a metal beam (id. at 63). 7 of 18 INDEX NO. 157693/2012 [*1FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 7] ~•~~~~~-M-=-=-c~G~i~n-l~e-y~-v___,s-·t.,......,..,,r~u~c~t~u~r~e__,,1~a~n~e,.,......,___,,I~1~1c..-.~~~~~~~~---Tl._ft!ex No. 157693/12 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 7 Page 04/18/2017 Testimony 0£ Kieran Mu1vey (Structure's Superintendent) Kieran that testified Mulvey Structure's was he superintendent on the day of the accident. He explained that Structure "construction the as served manager/general contractor" on the Project, which entailed an office build-out for a law firm (Mulvey tr at 15). Structure hired Eurotech to provide "[t]he drywall and the ceilings" for the Project (id. at 27). Mulvey described the Site as being "pretty wide open" (id. The Site contained a at 23) conference rooms. cafeteria, kitchen and He noted that Structure conducted safety meetings with the various subcontractors, wherein job progress and certain safety issues were discussed. To that effect, the trades were notified "to clean up after themselves, to not get on broken ladders or to police their own material, to notify Structure if there's any unsafe conditions" (id. at 36). In addition, Structure had laborers on the job who were in charge of "[g] eneral cleanup, sweeping of the floors, taking out trash, cleaning" (id. at 39). Statement 0£ Kevin Simmons (Eurotech's Shop Steward) In his witness statement, Simmons stated that he was dated October 3, working as Eurotech on the day of the accident. witness the accident, cleaned up, and had described the 8 of 18 debris of wood a shop and Kevin steward Simmons, accident 2012, for who did not area steel as "not creatinq a [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 8] dangerous condition" (plaintiff's Simmon's witness statement). time of the accident, INDEX NO. 157693/2012 Index No. 157693/12 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/18/2017 Page 8 McGinley NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 v Structure Tone, Inc. opposition, exhibit A, He maintained that, prior to the Structure was told numerous times to have the area cleared of said debris. ANALYSIS "'The proponent of a summary judgment motion must make a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, tendering sufficient evidence to eliminate any material issues of fact from the case'" (Santiago v Filstein, 35 AD3d 184, 185-186 [l5t Dept 2006], quoting Winegrad v New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 NY2d 851, 853 [1985]). to the motion's opponent The burden then shifts to "present evidentiary facts in admissible form sufficient to raise a genuine, triable issue of fact" 228 (Mazurek v Metropolitan Museum of Art, 27 AD3d 227, [1st Dept 2006], citing Zuckerman v City of New York, 49 NY2d 557, 562 [1980]; see also DeRosa v City of New York, 30 AD3d 323, the 325 existence [l5t Dept 2006]). of a triable judgment must be denied If there is any doubt as to fact, the motion for summary (Rotuba Extruders v Ceppos, 46 NY2d 223, 231 [1978]; Grossman v Amalgamated Haus. Corp., 298 AD2d 224, 226 [l5t Dept 2002]). 9 of 18 INDEX NO. 157693/2012 [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PMI 9] Index No. 157693/12 McGinley NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 v Structure Tone, Inc. RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/18/2017 Page 9 Labor Law§ 241(6) Defendants move for dismissal of the Labor Law§ 241(6) claim against them. Labor Law§ 241(6) provides, in pertinent part, as follows: "All contractors and owners and their agents when constructing or demolishing buildings or doing any excavating in connection therewith, shall comply with the following requirements: (6) * * * All areas in which construction, excavation or demolition work is being performed shall be so constructed, shored, [and] equipped as to provide reasonable and adequate protection and safety to the persons employed therein or lawfully frequenting such places." Labor Law§ 241(6) imposes a nondelegable duty on "owners and contractors to 'provide reasonable and adequate protection and safety' for workers" (Ross Co., 81 NY2d 494, 501 [1993]). is not self-executing. statute, and judgment, Curtis-Palmer Hydro-Elec. Labor Law§ 241(6), however, In order to show a violation of this withstand it must v be a defendant's shown specific, applicable, Industrial Code as that the implementing opposed to a motion defendant for summary violated a regulation of the provision containing only generalized requirements for worker safety (id. at 503-505). Plaintiff does not address Industrial Code section 231.7(d) in his opposition to defendants' motion; thus, reliance on this section is deemed abandoned 10 of 18 and defendants are INDEX NO. 157693/2012 [*1FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 10] -·~~--~~M~c~G~i-n-1-r-e-y--v~S.,....,...t-r~u~c=t~u=""'r~e,.......,.1~'0~n=-=e-,~1~n~c=-.~~~~~~~~---"l!~1~1bex No. 157693/12 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/18/2017 Page 10 entitled to summary judgment dismissing that part of the Labor Law§ 241(6) claim (see Genovese v Gambino, 309 AD2d 832, 833 [2d Dept 2003]; Musillo v Marist College, 306 AD2d 782, 784 n [3d Dept 2003]) Plaintiff's 1. 7 ( e) ( 1) * reliance on Industrial Code section 23- is misplaced because the accident occurred in an open area and not a passageway (Verel v Ferguson Elec. Constr. Co., Inc., 41 AD3d 1154, 1157 [4th Dept 2007]; O'Sullivan, 28 AD3d at 225-226; New York, Appelbaum, 6 AD3d at 310; Dalanna v City of 308 AD2d 400, 401 plaintiff fell "was not [a] 23-l.7(e)(l)," but rather, [l5t Dept 2003] [slab where the 'passageway' covered by 12 NYCRR a "common, open area between job site and street"]). Here, plaintiff and Mulvey described the Site as a wide open space plaintiff that was divided up specifically described into the rooms. Room In as addition, "wide open" (plaintiff's tr at 62). ·while the parties debate whether defendants also violated Industrial Code sections 23-2.l(a) and (b), which deal with the storage of materials, and section 23-5.18 (h), which requires that scaffolds only be "moved . . on level floors or equivalent surfaces free from obstructions," a review of the record reveals that, while violations of these sections were alleged in Joseph C. Cannizzo, P.E.'s expert affidavit, which was proffered by plaintiff, plaintiff never specifically pled those alleged violations in any complaint or bill of particulars. Plaintiff's pleadings only allege that defendants "violated 12 NYCRR 231. 7 (d) &(e) (1)&(2) and all subsections thereunder" (defendants' notice of motion, exhibit C, pleadings). In any event, as there is no evidence that the subject steel bar was being "stored" at the accident location at time of the accident, sections 23-2.l(a) and (b) do not apply. 11 of 18 INDEX NO. 157693/2012 [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 11] Index No. 157693/1204/18/2017 McGinley NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 v Structure Tone, Inc. RECEIVED NYSCEF: Page 11 Thus, defendants are entitled to dismissal of that part of the Labor Law § 241 ( 6) claim predicated on an alleged violation of section 23-1.7(e) (1). The alleged (12 1.7(e) (2) question of violation NYCRR fact of Industrial 1.7[e][2]), as to in Code contrast, Sections liabi 1 i ty. section 23- presents a 23-1. 7 (e) (2) provides: "(e) Tripping and other hazards. (2) Working Areas. The parts of floors, platforms and similar areas where persons work or pass shall be kept free from accumulations of dirt and debris and from scattered tools and materials and from sharp projections insofar as may be consistent with the work being performed." The provision is sufficiently specific to under Labor Law§ 241(6) Inc., 28 AD3d 225, 225 sustain a claim (see O'Sullivan v IDI Constr. [1st Dept 2006], 7 affd NY3d Co., 805 [2006]). Plaintiff's accident occurred in a working area. In addition, while the steel beam that the wheels of the scaffold got caught on may not constitute an "accumulation of debris," it can be considered "scattered tools and materials" (Militello v 45 W. 36th St. Realty Corp., Dept 2005] radiator [question that of fact existed 15 AD3d 158, 160 [l5t as to the plaintiff tripped over was whether a "scattered material[]" for the purposes of section 23-l.7(e)(2)]). 12 of 18 the [*L 12] FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PMI INDEX NO. 157693/2012 lnaex No. 157693/1204/18/2017 RECEIVED NYSCEF: Page 12 McGinley NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 v Structure Tone, lnc. Defendants argue that they are entitled to dismissal of the claim based on section 23-1. 7 (e) (2) because the steel beam was integral to the work being performed at the time of the In support of this argument, defendants put forth accident. Hickman's testimony, wherein he stated that the steel beams were being installed in theikitchen area of the cafeteria as part of Holdings, a waterproofing LLC, 127 AD3d system 607, 607 Singh (see [l5t Dept v 1221 2015] Ave. [alleged section 23-1.7(e) (2) violation dismissed, where the plaintiff tripped over a screw, which was an integral part of the raised j tile floor system being installed]; O'Sullivan, 7 NY3d at 806 [electrical pipe or conduit that plaintiff tripped over was an integral part Interests Ltd. of the Cumberland construction]; v Hines Partnership, 105 AD3d 465, 466 [1st Dept 2013] [section 23-1. 7 (e) (2) did riot apply where the pipe and pipe fittings that plaintiff tripped over were consistent with the work being performed in the room]; Corp. that of N.Y., 36 AD3d 417, 417 Tucker v Tishman Constr. [l5t Dept 2007] the plaintiff tripped over was tools and materials, not [rebar steel debris, or a sharp projection, 1 scattered but rather, an integral part of the work being performed]). The evidence in the record, however, indicates that the steel beam that caused the ;accident was not an integral part of the work, but rather, a scattered tool and/or material. Hickman testified that the kitchen, where the steel beams were 13 of 18 [*1~··~~.,.____,.....-,.........-...-~~~~.......,...--=~~---rr'l'=-==~~r.n~c:=:-~~~~~~~~1r1m-i1hex No. INDEX NO. 157693/2012 13] FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 157693/12 McGinley v Structure one, 1 . NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/18/2017 Page 13 installed, was located in an entirely different room from where the steel beam was located at the time of the accident. In addition, establish ongoing that at moreover, defendants the was the failed subject time present of to offer any waterproofing the among piles work The accident. of evidence debris to was still steel beam, and other disgarded construction material. Thus, defendants are not entitled to dismissal of that part of the Labor Law§ 241(6) claim predicated on an alleged violation of section 23-1.7(e) (2). Common-Law Neg1igence and Labor Law § 200 Defendants move for negligence and Labor Law § dismissal ~00 claims. of the common-law Labor Law § 200 is a "codification of the common;-law duty imposed upon an owner or general contractor to provide construction site workers with a safe place to work" (Cruz v Toscano, Dept 2000] 269 AD2d 122, 122 [1st [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]; see also Russin v Louis N. 1Picciano & Son, 54 NY2d 311, 316- 317 [1981]). Labor Law§ 200(1) provides: "All places to which this chapter applies shall be so constructed, equipped, arranged, operated and conducted as to provide reasonable and adequate protection to the lives, health and safety of all persons employed therein or lawfully frequenting such places. All machinery, equipment, and devices in such places shall be so placed, operated, 14 of 18 INDEX NO. 157693/2012 [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 14] l~~~..,____,M=c-G.,.......i-n~l-e-y~v---s~·=t~r~u~c~t=u~r=e=-~1--o~n~e~,~1~1-1~c~.~~~~~~~~---r-11"\-ubex No. 157693/12 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/18/2017 Page 14 guarded, and lighted as to provide reasonable and adequate protection to all such persons." There are two distinct standards applicable to Labor Law § 200 cases depending on whether the accident resulted from a dangerous condition or whether it was a I consequence of the means and methods used by a contractor to do its work (see McLeod v Corporation of Presiding Bishop of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Sts., 41 AD3d 796, 797-798 [2d Dept 2007]). "Where an existing defect or dangerous condition caused the injury, liability [under Labor Law § 200] attaches if the owner or general contractor created actual or constructive notice of it" USA Bldg. Columbia Inc., Univ., the condition 144 [l5t Dept 2012]; 4 202 [1st 200, had (Cappabianca v Skanska 99 AD3d 139, AD3d or Dept 2004] Murphy v [general contractor's supervision and control over plaintiff's work was immaterial because the injury arose from the condition of the workplace created by or known to contractor rather than the method of the work]). In cases where the defect or dangerous condition arose from a contractor's methods, to find liability under Labor Law § 200 it must be shown that the owner or agent exercised some supervisory control over the injury-producing work (Comes v New York State Elec. & Gas Corp., 82 NY2d 876, 877 [1993] § [no 200 liability where plaintiff's injury was caused by lifting 15 of 18 INDEX NO. 157693/2012 [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 15] Index No. 157693/12 McGinley NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 v Structure Tone, Inc. RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/18/2017 Page 15 a beam and there was no evidence that defendant exercised supervisory control or had a0y input into how the beam was to be moved]). Moreover, "general supervisory control is insufficient to impute liability pursuant to Labor Law 200, which liability § requires actual supervisory control or input into how the work is performed" (Hughes 311 2007]; Dept [l5t v Tishman see a'lso Cons tr. Bednarczyk Trust, 63 AD3d 427, 428 [l5t Dept 2009] and 200 § Corp., claims dismissed where v 40 AD3d 305, Vornado Realty [common-law negligence the deposition testimony established that, while defendant's "employees inspected the work and had the authority to stop it in the event they observed dangerous conditions or procedures," they "did not otherwise exercise supervisory Inc., over 40 AD3d 378, the 381 work"]; [l 5 t Dept Burkoski v Structure 2007] § 200 liability where defendant construction manager [no Tone, control did not tell subcontractor or its employees how to perform subcontractor's work]; Smith v 499 Fashion Tower, LLC, 38 AD3d 523, 524-525 [2d Dept 2007]). Here, rolling the the accident occurred when, scaffold backwards, the while plaintiff was scaffold's wheel got caught on a steel beam, which should have been cleared from the accident area. I Therefore, the accident was caused due to the means and methods of plaintiff's work and the clean-up work at the Site. 16 of 18 INDEX NO. 157693/2012 [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 16] Index No. 157693/1204/18/2017 McGinley NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 v Structure Tone, Inc. RECEIVED NYSCEF: Page 16 Initially, as no evidence has been put forth to establish that defendants Silverstein and Wilmer had any authority to supervise and defendants ' control are the entitled negligence and Labor Law Although to § Structure plaintiff's work, a injury-producing dismissal of these work, the common-law 200 claims against them. did supervise or direct not question of fact exists as to whether Structure was the entity responsible for clearing the subject steel beam from the Site. Thus, Structure is not entitled to dismissal of the common-law negligence and Labor Law § 200 claims against it. Finally, contrary to defendants' under Labor Law steel beam may § contention, liability 200 is not negated by the fact have been "open and that the obvious" because defendants' "duty to maintain [the] premises in a reasonably safe goes condition to the issue of the injured plaintiff's comparative negligence" (Acevedo v Camac, 293 AD2d 430, 431 [2d Dept 2002]; Cupo v Karfunkel, 1 AD3d 48, 51 [2d Dept 2003]; Tulovic v Chase Manhattan Bank, 309 AD2d 923, 924 [2d Dept 2003]). The court has considered the parties' contentions and finds them to be without merit. as defendants have not offered any argument remaining In addition, in support of their request for dismissal of any and all cross claims and/or counterclaims against them, said request is denied. 17 of 18 [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 04/18/2017 12:04 PM 17] INDEX NO. 157693/2012 Index No. 157693/1204/18/2017 RECEIVED NYSCEF: Page 17 McGinley NYSCEF DOC. NO. 106 v Structure Tone, Inc. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the motion for summary judgment is granted in part and plaintiff's claims are dismissed except for (A) the Labor Law§ 241(6) cause of action predicated on violation of Industrial Code 23-1. 7 (e) (2) and (B) the common-law and Labor Law § 200 claims against Structure, which claims shall proceed. This constitutes the decision and order of the Dated: April 6, 2017 HON. JENNI 18 of 18

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