Melendez v. 275 Canal SPE LLC

2025 NY Slip Op 30719(U)

• Court: New York Supreme Court, New York County
• Decided: March 3, 2025
• Docket: Index No. 162578/2019
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Melendez v 275 Canal SPE LLC 2025 NY Slip Op 30719(U) March 3, 2025 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 162578/2019 Judge: Mary V. Rosado Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. [FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 03/04/2025 01:01 P~ INDEX NO. 162578/2019 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 109 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/04/2025

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY PRESENT: HON. MARY V. ROSADO PART 33M Justice ----------------------------------------------X INDEX NO. 162578/2019 ALEXIS MELENDEZ, MOTION DATE 10/26/2023 Plaintiff, MOTION SEQ. NO. _ _ _0_0_1_ _ - V -

275 CANAL SPE LLC,BOSSE, LLC, DECISION + ORDER ON MOTION Defendant. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X

BOSSE, LLC Third-Party Index No. 595689/2020 Plaintiff,

-against-

A&B REMODELING GROUP INC.

Defendant. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------X

275 CANAL SPE LLC Second Third-Party Index No. 595275/2021 Plaintiff,

GANNI INC. Defendant. ------------------------------------------------ ---------X

The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 001) 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60,61,62, 63, 64, 65,66, 67,68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 107, 108 were read on this motion to/for JUDGMENT-SUMMARY Upon the foregoing documents, and after a final submission date of December 17, 2024,

Plaintiff Alexis Melendez's ("Plaintiff') motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability on

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his Labor Law§§ 240(1) and 241(6) claims against Defendants/Third-Party Plaintiffs 275 Canal

SPE LLC ("275 Canal") and Bosse, LLC ("Bosse") is denied.

275 Canal's cross-motion seeking summary judgment dismissing Plaintiffs Labor Law

§§ 241 (6) and 200 claims, an award of contractual indemnification against Defendants Bosse and

Ganni Inc. ("Ganni"), summary judgment on its breach of contract claims against Bosse and Ganni,

and dismissal of all crossclaims and counterclaims asserted against 275 Canal is granted in part

and denied in part.

I. Background

On November 29, 2019, subcontractor A&B Remodeling Group, Inc. ("A&B

Remodeling") employed Plaintiff as a laborer at a construction project at 275 Canal Street, New

York, New York (the "Premises"). Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff 275 Canal owned the Premises

and Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff Bosse was the general contractor. Plaintiff fell while painting

on a wheeled scaffold platform without guardrails in the portion of the Premises leased by Third-

Party Defendant Ganni. According to Plaintiffs employer, he was not supposed to be working on

the date of his accident, nor was he ever instructed to paint (NYSCEF Doc. 61 at 36, 46-47, 49).

Plaintiff moves for summary judgment on his Labor Law§§ 240(1) and 241(6) claims. 275

Canal cross moves for summary judgment seeking dismissal of Plaintiffs Labor Law §§ 241 (6)

and 200 claims, dismissal of all crossclaims and counterclaims asserted against them, and an award

of summary judgment on its contractual indemnification and breach of contract claims against

Bosse and Ganni.

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II. Discussion

A. Standard

"Summary judgment is a drastic remedy, to be granted only where the moving party has

tendered sufficient evidence to demonstrate the absence of any material issues of fact." (Vega v

Restani Const. Corp., 18 NY3d 499, 503 [2012]). The moving party's "burden is a heavy one and

on a motion for summary judgment, facts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-

moving party." (Jacobsen v New York City Health and Hasps. Corp., 22 NY3d 824, 833 [2014]).

Once this showing is made, the burden shifts to the party opposing the motion to produce

evidentiary proof, in admissible form, sufficient to establish the existence of material issues of fact

which require a trial (See e.g., Zuckerman v City of New York, 49 NY2.d 557, 562 [1980]).

B. Plaintiffs Motion

Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment on his Labor Law§§ 240(1) and 241(6) claims

against 275 Canal and Bosse is denied. As stated by the Court of Appeals, to recover under Labor

Law §§ 200, 240, and 241, a plaintiff must establish that he was permitted to perform work on a

structure (Mordkoftky v V C. V Development Corp., 76 NY2d 573, 576 [1990]). Before the Court

is conflicting sworn testimony as to whether Plaintiff had permission to be at the Premises on the

date of the accident and whether he was ever instructed to mount the scaffold and to paint

(NYSCEF Doc. 61 at 36, 46-47, 49). Where there is conflicting evidence as to whether a plaintiff

had permission to perform work at the accident site, a motion for summary judgment premised on

Labor Law§§ 240(1) and 241(6) should be denied (Goya v Longwood Haus. Dev. Fund Co., Inc.,

167 AD3d 402 [1st Dept 2018] citing Aslam v Neighborhood Partnership Haus. Dev. Fund Co.,

Inc., 135 AD3d 790, 791-792 [2d Dept 2016]).

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To the extent Plaintiff argues that "Cesar" authorized Plaintiff to be at the worksite, this is

a triable issue of fact which precludes summary judgment. There is no deposition testimony from

Cesar indicating what authority, if any, he had to permit individuals to be at the worksite.

Moreover, according to Plaintiff's supervisor, Cesar was explicitly told only he was allowed on

the worksite at the time of Plaintiff's accident (NYSCEF Doc. 61 at 49; 53). Accordingly,

Plaintiff's motion is denied.

C. 275 Canal's Cross Motion

i. Dismissal of Plaintifrs Labor Law §§ 241(6) and 200 claims

The branch of 275 Canal's cross motion seeking dismissal of Plaintiff's Labor Law

§ 241(6) claims is granted in part and denied in part. 275 Canal is correct Plaintiff's Bill of

Particulars fails to cite specific subdivisions of certain sections of the Industrial Code. However,

on Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, and in opposition to 275 Canal's cross motion,

Plaintiff cites specifically for liability under Labor Law § 241 (6) predicated on a violation of

Industrial Code§§ 23- 5. l 8(b), (e), and (g).

275 Canal has not shown the requisite prejudice by Plaintiff's failure to cite to specific

subdivisions during discovery to warrant dismissal of Plaintiff's § 241(6) claim. (see Cevallos v

Morning Dun Realty, Corp., 78 AD3d 547, 549 [1st Dept 2010]). As 275 Canal offers no

substantive reasons for dismissal, these claims survive.

However, Plaintiff has failed to oppose dismissal of the remainder of his alleged Labor

Law§ 241(6) claims predicated on violations oflndustrial Code§§ 23-5.1 and 23-5.3. Therefore,

these claims are dismissed as abandoned (see Caminiti v Extell West 57th Street LLC, 166 AD3d

440 [1st Dept 2018]). The branch of 275 Canal's cross motion seeking dismissal of Plaintiff's

Labor Law § 200 claim is granted as Plaintiff failed to oppose dismissal of those claims.

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ii. Contractual Indemnification and Breach of Contract

275 Canal's cross motion seeking summary judgment on its contractual indemnification

claim against Bosse is conditionally granted. The indemnification clause, found in § 9.15 .1 of the

agreement between 275 Canal and Bosse (NYSCEF Doc. 65) is clear that Bosse is "to the fullest

extent permitted by law" to:

"defend, indemnify and hold harmless [275 Canal] .... from and against claims, damages, losses, and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys' fees arising out of or resulting from performance of [Bosse's work], provided that such claim, damage, loss or expense is attributable to bodily injury, sickness, disease or death, ... by any of [Bosse's] subcontractors .... but only to the extent caused by the acts or omissions of [Bosse], a subcontractor, or anyone directly or indirectly employed by them .... "

Here, it is undisputed that Plaintiff was employed by Bosse's subcontractor, A&B

Remodeling, and that he claims injuries arising from A&B Remodeling's work. Therefore 275

Canal and Bosse's indemnification clause is triggered, and Bosse is required to indemnify 275

Canal to the extent Bosse and A&B Remodeling are found responsible for Plaintiff's injuries (see,

e.g. Weidtman v Tremont Renaissance Haus. Dev. Fund Co., Inc., 224 AD3d 488, 491 [1st Dept

2024]; Estevez v SLG JOO Park LLC, 215 AD3d 566,570 [1st Dept 2023]).

Likewise, 275 Canal's cross motion seeking summary judgment on its contractual

indemnification claim against Ganni is conditionally granted. 1 The indemnification clause found

in§ 71 of the lease rider executed between 275 Canal and Ganni provides:

"[Ganni] shall defend, indemnity and hold [275 Canal] harmless from and against any and all claims, losses, liability or expense, including reasonable attorney's fees ... arising out of [Ganni's] use of the demised premises and/or arising in or about the demised premises or any part thereof from any other causes due to the negligence, carelessness or otherwise improper conduct (including illegal activities) of Ganni, its servants, agents, employees, visitors, licensees during the Term of this Lease."

1 Although 275 Canal argues Gann i's opposition should not be considered because it is untimely, in the interest of resolving cases on the merits, and pursuant to CPLR 2004, the Court will consider Ganni's opposition. 162578/2019 MELENDEZ, ALEXIS vs. 275 CANAL SPE LLC Page 5 of 8 Motion No. 001

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Plaintiffs alleged injury occurred in the premises leased by Ganni during Ganni's lease

term. Ganni's indemnification clause is broad in that it agreed to indemnify 275 Canal for any

claim "due to the negligence ... of Ganni, its servants, agents, employers, visitors, [and/or]

licensees." It is further undisputed that Ganni entered an agreement with Bosse to complete

painting work (NYSCEF Doc. 68). Therefore, 275 Canal and Ganni's indemnification clause is

triggered. 275 Canal is entitled to indemnification from Ganni to the extent Ganni or its agents

may be found negligent (see also Bonaerge v Leighton House Condomnium, 134 AD3d 648, 650

[1st Dept 2015]). 2

However, 275 Canal's cross motion for summary judgment on its breach of contract for

failure to procure insurance claims against Bosse and Ganni is denied. A party moving for

summary judgment for failure to procure insurance must show correspondence from the insurer of

the party against whom summary judgment is sought indicating that the moving party was not

named as an insured on any policies issued (Dorset v 285 Madison Owner LLC, 214 AD3d 402

[1st Dept 2023]). 275 Canal has not met its burden. It failed to annex any of the applicable

insurance policies or communications from insurers declining coverage. 3

iii. Crossclaims Asserted Against 275 Canal

The crossclaims for common law indemnification and contribution against 275 Canal are

dismissed. There is no evidence that 275 Canal was actively negligent. Plaintiff even abandoned

his Labor Law § 200 claim against 275 Canal. Nor are there applicable contractual agreements

2 Although Ganni in opposition argues for dismissal of various causes of action asserted by Plaintiff and 275 Canal, Ganni never filed a formal cross-motion seeking said relief and therefore the Court will not entertain Ganni's request (see Fifth Partners LLC v Foley, 227 AD3d 543 [1st Dept 2024 ]). 3 NYSCEF Doc 95 shows that Ganni met its contractual obligations to obtain the required insurance and were providing 275 Canal with a defense subject to a reservation of rights. 162578/2019 MELENDEZ, ALEXIS vs. 275 CANAL SPE LLC Page 6 of 8 Motion No. 001

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where 275 Canal agreed to indemnify Ganni and Bosse. Therefore, the crossclaims asserted against

275 Canal are dismissed.

Accordingly, it is hereby,

ORDERED that Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability under

his Labor Law§§ 240(1) and 241(6) claims is denied; and it is further

ORDERED that Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff 275 Canal's cross motion is granted in

part and denied in part; and it is further

ORDERED that Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff 275 Canal's cross motion is denied to the

extent it seeks dismissal of Plaintiffs Labor Law § 241 (6) claims predicated on violations of

Industrial Code§§ 23- 5. l 8(b), (e), and (g); and it is further

ORDERED that Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff275 Canal's cross motion is granted to the

extent Plaintiffs Labor Law§ 241 (6) claims predicated on violations oflndustrial Code§§ 23-5.1

and 23-5.3 and Labor Law § 200, as alleged against Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff 275 Canal,

are dismissed without opposition; and it is further

ORDERED Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff 275 Canal's cross motion for summary

judgment on its claims for contractual indemnification against Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff

Bosse LLC and Third-Party Defendant Ganni, Inc. is granted on condition of a finding of

negligence against these parties; and it is further

ORDERED that Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff275 Canal's cross motion is granted to the

extent that all crossclaims and counterclaims against it are dismissed; and it is further

ORDERED that that Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff 275 Canal's cross motion for

summary judgment on its breach of contract for failure to procure insurance claims against

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Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff Bosse LLC and Third-Party Defendant Ganni, Inc. is denied; and

it is further

ORDERED within ten days of entry, counsel for Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff275 Canal

shall serve a copy of this Decision and Order, with notice of entry, on all parties via NYSCEF.

This constitutes the Decision and Order of the Court.

3/3/2025 DATE HON. MARY V. ROSADO, J.S.C. CHECK ONE: CASE DISPOSED NON-FINAL DISPOSITION

GRANTED □ DENIED GRANTED IN PART □ OTHER APPLICATION: SETTLE ORDER SUBMIT ORDER

CHECK IF APPROPRIATE INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT □ REFERENCE

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