Tworek v. Mutual Housing Ass'n of New York, Inc.
The injured plaintiff, Cezary Tworek, an employee of Fresh Meadows Painting Corp., d/b/a Fresh Meadows Construction Contractors, suffered personal injuries after falling from a defective A-frame ladder while installing a structural beam. The incident occurred in a building owned by Mutual Housing Association of New York, Inc. (MHANY), which had contracted Fresh Meadows for renovation work. The Supreme Court granted Tworek partial summary judgment on liability under Labor Law § 240 (1), citing the uncontroverted evidence of the ladder's defective condition. Additionally, MHANY's cross-motion for summary judgment against Fresh Meadows on issues of contractual and common-law indemnification was granted, as MHANY's liability was vicarious, and Fresh Meadows was contractually responsible for safety equipment and controlled the work.