NAFTILOS PAINTING INC v. CIANBRO CORPORATION (2000)

Naftilos Painting, Inc. (plaintiff), the plaintiff in action No. 3, was the painting subcontractor in connection with a renovation of the south Grand Island bridges.   The defendant in that action, The Valspar Corporation (defendant), supplied the paint specified for the project by the owner of the bridges, the New York State Thruway Authority.   After the project was completed, extensive rusting appeared on the bridges.   The general contractor required plaintiff to remediate the rusting at its own expense.

 Supreme Court erred in denying defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.   None of the negligence and/or negligent misrepresentation causes of action is predicated upon “the violation of a legal duty independent of that created by the contract” (Scott v. KeyCorp, 247 A.D.2d 722, 725, 669 N.Y.S.2d 76), and thus the first three causes of action of the complaint should have been dismissed (see, Clark-Fitzpatrick, Inc. v. Long Is. R.R. Co., 70 N.Y.2d 382, 389 390, 521 N.Y.S.2d 653, 516 N.E.2d 190;  Scott v. KeyCorp, supra, at 725, 669 N.Y.S.2d 76;  Alamo Contract Bldrs. v. CTF Hotel Co., 242 A.D.2d 643, 644, 663 N.Y.S.2d 42).

 The court further erred in failing to dismiss the fourth and fifth causes of action, predicated upon the breach of express and implied warranties of fitness of use for a particular purpose.   Each of the invoices reflecting the sale of paint and paint thinner by defendant to plaintiff contained a conspicuous and thus effective disclaimer of all warranties, including that of fitness for a particular purpose (see, UCC 1-201[10];  2-316[2];  Travelers Ins. Cos. v. Conrad, Inc., 233 A.D.2d 890, 891, 649 N.Y.S.2d 586).

Further, even assuming, arguendo, the existence of an issue of fact relative to any negligence or breach of warranty cause of action, we conclude that defendant established that no alleged defect in the paint or paint thinner sold by defendant to plaintiff was a proximate cause of the rusting of the bridges, and plaintiff failed to raise an issue of fact in that regard (see generally, Alvarez v. Prospect Hosp., 68 N.Y.2d 320, 324, 508 N.Y.S.2d 923, 501 N.E.2d 572).

Order unanimously reversed on the law without costs, motion granted and complaint dismissed.

MEMORANDUM: