TORRES v. L.A.M. General Contracting Corp., et al., defendants-respondents. (2006)

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the defendant Norman Levy appeals, as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Cozzens, Jr., J.), entered October 8, 2004, as denied his motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all cross claims insofar as asserted against him.

ORDERED that the order is reversed insofar as appealed from, on the law, with costs, and the motion is granted.

 “An owner of a one-or two-family dwelling is exempt from liability under Labor Law §§ 240 and 241 unless he or she directed or controlled the work being performed” (McGlone v. Johnson, 27 A.D.3d 702, 810 N.Y.S.2d 915;  see Siconolfi v. Crisci, 11 A.D.3d 600, 601, 783 N.Y.S.2d 627;  Miller v. Shah, 3 A.D.3d 521, 522, 770 N.Y.S.2d 739;  Saverino v. Reiter, 1 A.D.3d 427, 427, 767 N.Y.S.2d 445;  Tilton v. Gould, 303 A.D.2d 491, 491, 756 N.Y.S.2d 757).  “The phrase ‘direct or control’ as used in those statutes ‘is construed strictly and refers to the situation where the owner supervises the method and manner of the work’ ” (McGlone v. Johnson, supra, quoting Siconolfi v. Crisci, supra at 601, 783 N.Y.S.2d 627;  see Saverino v. Reiter, supra at 427, 767 N.Y.S.2d 445;  Tilton v. Gould, supra at 491-492, 756 N.Y.S.2d 757;  Rimoldi v. Schanzer, 147 A.D.2d 541, 545, 537 N.Y.S.2d 839;  see also Rodas v. Weissberg, 261 A.D.2d 465, 466, 690 N.Y.S.2d 116).   The appellant made a prima facie showing that he was entitled to the protection of the homeowner's exemption by submitting evidence demonstrating that neither he nor his wife directed or controlled the manner and method of the construction work being performed (see McGlone v. Johnson, supra;   Siconolfi v. Crisci, supra at 601, 783 N.Y.S.2d 627;  Miller v. Shah, supra at 522, 770 N.Y.S.2d 739;  Saverino v. Reiter, supra at 427, 767 N.Y.S.2d 445;  Tilton v. Gould, supra at 492, 756 N.Y.S.2d 757).   It is undisputed that the appellant personally did not direct or control the work being performed.   The evidence submitted by the appellant established that his wife's involvement in the project was no more extensive than would be expected of the typical homeowner who hired a contractor to renovate or construct an addition onto his or her house (see Decavallas v. Pappantoniou, 300 A.D.2d 617, 618, 752 N.Y.S.2d 712;  Mayen v. Kalter, 282 A.D.2d 508, 509, 722 N.Y.S.2d 760;  Mandelos v. Karavasidis, 213 A.D.2d 518, 519-520, 623 N.Y.S.2d 907;  Spinillo v. Strober Long Is. Bldg. Material Ctrs., 192 A.D.2d 515, 516, 595 N.Y.S.2d 825;  see also Siconolfi v. Crisci, supra at 601, 783 N.Y.S.2d 627;  Tilton v. Gould, supra at 492, 756 N.Y.S.2d 757;  Jacobsen v. Grossman, 206 A.D.2d 405, 406, 614 N.Y.S.2d 62).   The evidence submitted by the plaintiff in opposition to the motion was insufficient to raise a triable issue of fact.   Accordingly, contrary to the Supreme Court's determination, the appellant was entitled to summary judgment dismissing the Labor Law § 240(1) and 241(6) causes of action.

 The appellant was also entitled to summary judgment dismissing the common-law and Labor Law § 200 causes of action.  “Labor Law § 200 codifies the common-law duty of an owner or contractor to provide employees a safe work place” (Molyneaux v. City of New York, 28 A.D.3d 438, 813 N.Y.S.2d 729, lv. denied 7 N.Y.3d 705, 819 N.Y.S.2d 873, 853 N.E.2d 244;  see Locicero v. Princeton Restoration, 25 A.D.3d 664, 665-666, 811 N.Y.S.2d 673).  “For an owner to be held liable for common-law negligence or pursuant to Labor Law § 200, a plaintiff must show that the owner supervised or controlled the work, or had actual or constructive notice of the unsafe condition causing the accident” (Acosta v. Hadjigavriel, 18 A.D.3d 406, 407, 794 N.Y.S.2d 445).  “It is settled law that where the alleged defect or dangerous condition arises from the contractor's methods and the owner exercises no supervisory control over the operation, no liability attaches to the owner under the common law or under section 200 of the Labor Law” (Lombardi v. Stout, 80 N.Y.2d 290, 295, 590 N.Y.S.2d 55, 604 N.E.2d 117;  see Toefer v. Long Is. R.R., 308 A.D.2d 579, 581, 764 N.Y.S.2d 865, affd. 4 N.Y.3d 399, 795 N.Y.S.2d 511, 828 N.E.2d 614).   The appellant made a prima facie showing of entitlement to summary judgment by submitting evidence demonstrating that the alleged dangerous condition arose from the contractor's methods, and that neither he nor his wife exercised supervisory control over the operation (see Lombardi v. Stout, supra at 295, 590 N.Y.S.2d 55, 604 N.E.2d 117;  Toefer v. Long Is. R.R., supra at 581, 764 N.Y.S.2d 865).   In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact.

Accordingly, the appellant was entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint and all cross claims insofar as asserted against him.

In light of our determination, we need not reach the appellant's remaining contention.