WALSH v. KRESGE (2010)

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the defendant appeals, as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (Whelan, J.), dated December 17, 2008, as granted that branch of the plaintiff's motion which was for summary judgment on the issue of liability on so much of the complaint as alleged a violation of Labor Law § 240(1).

ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.

 “Labor Law § 240 requires contractors and property owners, engaged in, among other things, the construction, demolition, or repair of buildings or structures, to furnish or erect scaffolding, ladders, pulleys, ropes, and other safety devices, which must be constructed, placed, or operated as to give proper protection for workers” (Ortega v. Puccia, 57 A.D.3d 54, 58, 866 N.Y.S.2d 323).   An owner of a one- or two-family dwelling is exempt from liability under Labor Law § 240(1) unless he or she directed or controlled the work being performed (see Labor Law § 240[1];  Chowdhury v. Rodriguez, 57 A.D.3d 121, 127, 867 N.Y.S.2d 123;  Ortega v. Puccia, 57 A.D.3d at 58, 866 N.Y.S.2d 323;  Boccio v. Bozik, 41 A.D.3d 754, 755, 839 N.Y.S.2d 525;  Arama v. Fruchter, 39 A.D.3d 678, 679, 833 N.Y.S.2d 665;  McGlone v. Johnson, 27 A.D.3d 702, 702, 810 N.Y.S.2d 915).  “The statutory phrase ‘direct or control’ is construed strictly and refers to situations where the owner supervises the method and manner of the work” (Ortega v. Puccia, 57 A.D.3d at 59, 866 N.Y.S.2d 323;  see Boccio v. Bozik, 41 A.D.3d at 755, 839 N.Y.S.2d 525;  Arama v. Fruchter, 39 A.D.3d at 679, 833 N.Y.S.2d 665).   Contrary to the defendant's contention, the Supreme Court correctly determined that he was not entitled to the protection of the homeowner's exemption.   The evidence submitted by the plaintiff in support of his motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability established, prima facie, that the defendant supervised the methods and the manner of the work (see generally Winegrad v. New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 N.Y.2d 851, 853, 487 N.Y.S.2d 316, 476 N.E.2d 642).   In opposition, the defendant failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see generally Alvarez v. Prospect Hosp., 68 N.Y.2d 320, 324, 508 N.Y.S.2d 923, 501 N.E.2d 572).   Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly granted that branch of the plaintiff's motion which was for summary judgment on the issue of liability on so much of the complaint as alleged a violation of Labor Law § 240(1).

The defendant's remaining contentions are without merit.