212 Services, LLC v. J. Anthony Enterprises Inc.

50 Misc. 3d 339, 18 N.Y.S.3d 830
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 21, 2015
StatusPublished

This text of 50 Misc. 3d 339 (212 Services, LLC v. J. Anthony Enterprises Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
212 Services, LLC v. J. Anthony Enterprises Inc., 50 Misc. 3d 339, 18 N.Y.S.3d 830 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2015).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Vito M. DeStefano, J.

Defendant Glen Cove City Central School District moves for an order pursuant to CPLR 3212 granting it summary judgment dismissing the cross claim, and complaint, insofar as asserted against it.

Background

On March 27, 2013, defendant Glen Cove City Central School District entered into an agreement with defendant J. Anthony Enterprises Inc. whereby J. Anthony agreed to serve as the [341]*341general contractor in connection with the renovation of the boys and girls locker rooms at the Glen Cove High School (the project). Pursuant to that agreement (the general contract), J. Anthony agreed to:

“Remove and dispose of the following asbestos containing, and/or asbestos contaminated materials, in the following areas:
“3. Abatement contractor to remove and dispose of all asbestos containing pipe fitting and pipe insulation located above the existing ceiling throughout the boys and girls locker rooms and team locker rooms. The contractor is advised that this material is in very close proximity to the existing ceiling and in the boys shower drying room has delaminated and is lying on the ceiling. The abatement contractor to perform all work in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations” (exhibit A to motion at GC000230).

On March 6, 2013, J. Anthony entered into a subcontract agreement with plaintiff 212 Services, LLC whereby 212 Services agreed to supply labor, material, equipment and containers to complete asbestos abatement work at the project in exchange for $127,500 (subcontract). The subcontract documents consisted of:

“(1) this Agreement; (2) the [General] Contract, consisting of the Agreement between the [District] and [J. Anthony] and the other Contract Documents enumerated therein; (3) Modifications issued subsequent to the execution of the Agreement between the [District] and [J. Anthony], whether before or after the execution of this Agreement; (4) other documents listed in Article 16 of this Agreement; and (5) Modifications to this Subcontract issued after execution of this Agreement. These form the Subcontract, and are as fully a part of the Subcontract as if attached to this Agreement or .repeated herein. The Subcontract represents the entire and integrated agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes prior negotiations, representations or agreements, either written or oral. An enumeration of the Subcontract Documents, other than Modifications issued subsequent to the execution of this Agreement, appears in Article 16” (exhibit H to motion at art 1).

[342]*342With respect to the scope of work to be performed, the subcontract set forth the following:

“The Subcontractor shall execute the following portion of the Work described in the Subcontract Documents, including ....
“4. Provide all labor and materials required to perform all asbestos abatement as indicated on the contract documents ....
“9. Coordinate all asbestos removal activities through the District’s environmental consultant— J.C. Broderick.
“10. All asbestos and demolition work to be phased as per the contract documents ....
“Work to be: ceiling plaster (ACM) [asbestos containing materials] in girls and boys locker rooms approx. 7,000 S/F plus all insulation, fittings, etc that are indicated on drawings and specifications” (exhibit H to motion at art 8).

On October 26, 2012, following an inspection and bulk sampling, nonparty J.C. Broderick & Associates, Inc. (JCB) prepared an “Asbestos Pre-Construction Survey, Bulk Sampling & Analysis of Additional Suspect Asbestos Containing Materials” (JCB analysis). The JCB analysis, which was based on bulk sampling conducted by JCB and on a prior sampling done by nonparty Enviroscience, indicated that some of the materials used at the project contained asbestos while others did not. Specifically, the bulk sampling indicated that there was no asbestos in the “pipe insulations,” “pipe fitting insulation,” “pipe insulation, wrap paper with tar paper cover,” or “tar paper cover on pipe insulation” (exhibit B to Oladiran aff in opposition at 1-2). Notwithstanding the bulk sampling and the results set forth in the JCB analysis, JCB included in its analysis the following provision:

“Limitations:
“Although JCB took great care to identify and sample all suspect asbestos containing materials in the areas identified as being impacted by the proposed scope of work several areas (spaces) and or suspect building materials may have not been accessible for inspection and or sampling without significant damage to the existing building” (exhibit B to Oladiran aff in opposition at 3).

As part of the JCB analysis, JCB recommended that the “district architect consider including an allowance for asbestos abatement work. The allowance shall be used to cover the cost [343]*343of asbestos abatement work resulting in unforseen conditions discovered during demolition and beyond the scope of the contract documents” (exhibit B to Oladiran aff in opposition at 3).

On May 25, 2013, 212 Services commenced asbestos removal work at the project. “Upon fully opening the ceiling it became apparent that much more of the piping was wrapped in ACM than was indicated on the drawings and specifications” and that 212 Services “agreed to expand the scope of work on the Project to include the additional ACM wrapping the piping in exchange for additional compensation” (Oladiran aff in opposition ¶¶ 14-18; exhibit C to Oladiran aff in opposition). According to the affidavit of Adesanola Oladiran, the head of operations of 212 Services, prior to entering into the subcontract, 212 Services conducted “a limited inspection in the areas above the locker rooms ceilings”; that it

“was impossible to know from the inspection that there was ACM wrapping the pipes above the locker rooms due to the extremely limited nature of the inspection and the simple fact that [212 Services] was not the party that conducted the asbestos investigation, that drafted the asbestos survey or that drafted the plans upon which the scope of work is based”; but that on May 25, 2013, upon “fully opening the ceiling it became apparent that much more of the piping was wrapped in ACM than was indicated on the drawings and specifications.”1

Oladiran further stated that, pursuant to the terms of the subcontract, and upon “receiving a signed change order for the additional ACM wrapping,” 212 Services “agreed to expand the scope of work on the Project to include the additional ACM wrapping the piping in exchange for additional compensation” (Oladiran aff in opposition ¶¶ 14-18; exhibit C to Oladiran aff in opposition).2

Excerpts from one of the biweekly construction progress meetings held on June 14, 2013 indicate that “J. Anthony questioned note in JC Broderick scope of 'all pipe insulation above ceiling to be removed’ ”; and that the architect “stated [344]*344any insulation in addition to what’s shown on drawing will be accounted for and taken out of allowance. Quantities to be determined” (exhibit B to J. Anthony affirmation in opposition).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
50 Misc. 3d 339, 18 N.Y.S.3d 830, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/212-services-llc-v-j-anthony-enterprises-inc-nysupct-2015.