KIRBY v. DAVID FABRICATORS OF INC (2025)

Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Adam Silvera, J.), entered on or about January 10, 2024, which denied defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

In this asbestos action, plaintiff, who worked as a cook in pizza restaurants from the 1960s to the 1980s, alleges that he contracted mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos emanating from transite stone boards supplied by defendant and associated with pizza ovens manufactured by nonparty Bakers Pride Oven Company, LLC. Plaintiff previously brought an action against Bakers Pride in Illinois that was dismissed with prejudice after the parties entered into a settlement agreement.  Defendant moved to dismiss this action pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(5) on the ground that it is barred by res judicata and pursuant to CPLR 1001 and 1003 on the ground that Bakers Pride is a necessary party that cannot be joined because of the settlement of the Illinois action.

A dismissal with prejudice or an order of discontinuance effectuating a settlement is generally afforded res judicata effect (see Matter of People v. Applied Card Sys., Inc., 11 N.Y.3d 105, 122, 863 N.Y.S.2d 615, 894 N.E.2d 1 [2008], cert denied 555 U.S. 1136, 129 S.Ct. 999, 173 L.Ed.2d 292 [2009]).  However, the doctrine of res judicata does not bar plaintiff from bringing this action against defendant because defendant was neither a party to the Illinois action nor in privity with Bakers Pride, an alleged joint tortfeasor (see Rojas v. Romanoff, 186 A.D.3d 103, 108, 128 N.Y.S.3d 189 [1st Dept. 2020];  Blue Sky, LLC v. Jerry's Self Stor., LLC, 145 A.D.3d 945, 947, 44 N.Y.S.3d 173 [2d Dept. 2016]).  Defendant's suggestion that there may be an indemnification relationship between defendant and Bakers Pride does not satisfy its burden of demonstrating privity (see Sunoco, Inc. v. Home Ins. Co., 300 A.D.2d 19, 20, 749 N.Y.S.2d 872 [1st Dept. 2002]).

The court also properly rejected defendant's argument that Bakers Pride is a necessary party under CPLR 1001(a).  It is well settled that “joint tortfeasors are not necessary parties to an action” (Hasenzahl v. 44th St. Devel. LLC, 203 A.D.3d 602, 603, 162 N.Y.S.3d 719 [1st Dept. 2022];  see Amsellem v. Host Marriott Corp., 280 A.D.2d 357, 360, 721 N.Y.S.2d 318 [1st Dept. 2001]).

We have considered defendant's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.