ORTIZ v. MAR CAN TRANSPORTATION CO INC (2020)

Order, Bronx County (John R. Higgitt, J.), entered February 7, 2019, which, inter alia, granted the motion of defendants, Mar–Can Transportation Co., Inc. (Mar–Can) and Ramonita Matos, to renew their motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, and upon renewal, granted the motion, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

The court providently exercised its discretion in granting defendants' motion to renew their summary judgment motion, in order to correct a procedural error by the court, which had overlooked a prior order by another justice precluding plaintiff from submitting opposition papers (see Kase v. H.E.E. Co., 95 A.D.3d 568, 569, 944 N.Y.S.2d 95 [1st Dept. 2012]).  Contrary to plaintiff's contention, defendants had a right to enforce the preclusion order, which had been served upon her with notice of entry (see James Talcott Factors v. Larfred, Inc., 115 A.D.2d 397, 400, 496 N.Y.S.2d 27 [1st Dept. 1985], lv dismissed 67 N.Y.2d 736, 500 N.Y.S.2d 99, 490 N.E.2d 1225 [1986]).

The court correctly found, both in its original decision and upon renewal, that defendants made a prima facie showing that the action was barred by the exclusivity provisions of the Workers' Compensation Law by submitting evidence establishing that plaintiff was Mar–Can's special employee at the time of the bus accident giving rise to her claims.  Although plaintiff was a general employee of nonparty B–Alert, the individual who was president and manager of both Mar–Can and B–Alert averred that Mar–Can supervised and controlled all of B–Alert's employees, including plaintiff, and had authority to hire and fire, conduct work evaluations, determine sick and vacation leave policies, and set work schedules (see Urena v. Pace Univ., 1 A.D.3d 208, 209, 767 N.Y.S.2d 220 [1st Dept. 2003];  Karczewicz v. 473 Owners Corp., 272 A.D.2d 137, 708 N.Y.S.2d 10 [1st Dept. 2000]).  That B–Alert paid plaintiff's salary and workers' compensation benefits is of no moment, given that defendants demonstrated her duties were directed and controlled by Mar–Can (see Evans v. Citicorp, 276 A.D.2d 370, 714 N.Y.S.2d 473 [1st Dept. 2000]).

Since plaintiff was precluded from submitting opposition, the action was properly dismissed upon defendants meeting their initial burden to show that she was Mar–Can's special employee when the accident happened.