HINES v. 230 PAS LLC 230 PAS 15 CLIFF LLC (2019)

Order, Supreme Court, New York County (David B. Cohen, J.), entered October 22, 2018, which denied defendants 230 PAS, LLC and 230 PAS (RRPIII), LLC's (PAS) motion to dismiss the complaint as against them pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(5), unanimously affirmed, without costs.

In opposition to PAS's showing that the statute of limitations had elapsed, plaintiffs demonstrated that their claims against PAS relate back to their claims against defendant TF Cornerstone, Inc., by submitting evidence that TF Cornerstone had apparent authority to act on behalf of PAS at the time of the accident (see L & L Plumbing & Heating v. DePalo, 253 A.D.2d 517, 518, 677 N.Y.S.2d 153 [2d Dept. 1998];  CPLR 203[b]).  TF Cornerstone entered into a janitorial service agreement with defendant ABM Janitorial Service–Northeast, Inc. for the property about 10 months before plaintiff Lenworth Hines's accident.  Therefore, PAS, as owner of the building at the time of the accident, may be found to be vicariously liable if TF Cornerstone is ultimately found to be its agent (see De Sanna v. Rockefeller Ctr., Inc., 9 A.D.3d 596, 599, 780 N.Y.S.2d 651 [3d Dept. 2004]).

PAS relies on Bossung v. Rebaco Realty Holding Co., N.V., 169 A.D.3d 538, 92 N.Y.S.3d 636 [1st Dept. 2019], in which the agreement between the property owner and the building manager established that the manager was not in complete and exclusive control of the premises and therefore would have a defense not available to the owner.  In the instant case, we cannot conclude that TF Cornerstone has a defense not available to PAS, because the agreement between them is not included in the record.