Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Joseph MALDONADO, Jr., et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v.
METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Respondent/Third-Party Plaintiff-Respondent, v. National Cleaning Contractors, etc., Third-Party Defendant-Respondent.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Louise Gruner Gans, J.), entered on or about July 10, 2000, which, insofar as appealed from, granted defendant's and third-party defendant's motions for summary judgment dismissing plaintiffs' Labor Law § 200 cause of action, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Plaintiff, an employee of third-party defendant, was allegedly injured when a floor screening machine he was using in defendant's apartment complex malfunctioned and threw him to the floor. In order to implicate a defendant's duty under Labor Law § 200, not only must the plaintiff show that the defendant exercised supervisory direction or control over the operation that allegedly brought about the injury, but also that the defendant had actual or constructive notice of the alleged unsafe condition that caused the accident (Nevins v. Essex Owners Corp., 276 A.D.2d 315, 316, 714 N.Y.S.2d 38, lv. denied 96 N.Y.2d 705, 723 N.Y.S.2d 132, 746 N.E.2d 187). Here, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiff as the party opposing motions for summary judgment (Rockefeller Univ. v. Tishman Constr. Corp. of New York, 240 A.D.2d 341, 342, 659 N.Y.S.2d 460, lv. denied 91 N.Y.2d 803, 668 N.Y.S.2d 558, 691 N.E.2d 630), no issue of fact is raised as to whether defendant owner, as plaintiff claims, had actual notice of the alleged defective condition of the floor screening machine. Merely telling the owner's representative that “we don't have enough machines,” as plaintiff claims to have done, is insufficient to provide actual notice of either a specific defect or that there was anything wrong with the particular machine at issue. In view of the foregoing, it is unnecessary to reach the other issues raised by the parties on appeal.
Thank you for your feedback!
As the largest network of trusted legal brands, we help firms build authority across the platforms consumers and AI systems rely on most. Our network helps attorneys strengthen visibility, credibility, and preference where legal decisions begin.
Decided: December 27, 2001
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)