TJG Realty of Rockland, LLC v. Con Serv Constr., Inc.
This case involves two related actions for property damage after a fire at a commercial building. Plaintiffs TJG Realty of Rockland, LLC, Excelsior Estate Homes, LLC, Timothy Gulla, and E. Daskal Corp. sued Con Serv Construction, Inc., alleging negligence in installing a waste oil heater and storing flammable materials. A jury trial found in favor of Con Serv, determining the fire did not originate in the heater. The Supreme Court granted a directed verdict on one negligence theory but denied another. The Appellate Division affirmed the clerk's judgment, concluding the jury's verdict was a fair interpretation of the evidence and any error in the directed verdict was harmless due to the jury's finding on the fire's origin.