From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Iuliani v. Great Neck Sewer Dist

Court of Appeals of the State of New York
Feb 12, 1976
346 N.E.2d 547 (N.Y. 1976)

Opinion

Argued January 15, 1976

Decided February 12, 1976

Appeal from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department, Joseph A. Suozzi, J.

Thomas R. Newman, Joseph A. Jacobson and Benjamin H. Siff for appellants.

Morris Zweibel and Harold V. McCoy for defendant-respondent.

William F. McNulty, A. Allen Stanger and Anthony J. McNulty for third-party defendant-respondent.


MEMORANDUM Upon the proof submitted to the trial court the complaint was properly dismissed.

Section 241 of the Labor Law imposes a nondelegable duty on the general contractor or owner to provide a safe place to work. However, he is not responsible for injuries caused by the negligent acts of subcontractors when he — the owner or general contractor — has exercised no control or supervision of the work site. Under those circumstances there is no breach of the duty imposed by section 241 of the Labor Law. (Bidetto v New York City Housing Auth., 25 N.Y.2d 848; Persichilli v Triborough Bridge Tunnel Auth., 16 N.Y.2d 136, 146; Wright v Belt Assoc., 14 N.Y.2d 129, 134; Hess v Bernheimer Schwartz Brewing Co., 219 N.Y. 415, 418-419.)

To hold otherwise would result in the owner or general contractor being made a guarantor of the safety of all workmen at the site despite the negligence of any subcontractor and even in the absence of control or supervision by the owner or general contractor.

Nor should our decision in Kelly v Diesel Constr. Div. of Carl A. Morse, Inc. ( 35 N.Y.2d 1) be construed to require a contrary result. In Kelly the general contractor exercised general supervision and control of the work site and furnished, maintained and operated a personnel hoist which was the sole means of reaching various work areas.

In the instant case neither the owner nor the general contractor participated or in any way controlled the activity causing the injury.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.

Chief Judge BREITEL and Judges JASEN, GABRIELLI, JONES, WACHTLER, FUCHSBERG and COOKE concur.

Order affirmed, with costs, in a memorandum.


Summaries of

Iuliani v. Great Neck Sewer Dist

Court of Appeals of the State of New York
Feb 12, 1976
346 N.E.2d 547 (N.Y. 1976)
Case details for

Iuliani v. Great Neck Sewer Dist

Case Details

Full title:ROBERT IULIANI et al., Appellants, v. GREAT NECK SEWER DISTRICT…

Court:Court of Appeals of the State of New York

Date published: Feb 12, 1976

Citations

346 N.E.2d 547 (N.Y. 1976)
346 N.E.2d 547
382 N.Y.S.2d 746

Citing Cases

Washington v. Contracting Co.

In construing the language of section 241 enacted in 1962, which now constitutes subdivision (6), the Court…

Tilkins v. Niagara Falls

As has been noted elsewhere, the statutory purpose may be frustrated and liability may be shifted by…