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  • Kevin Mcgonigal v. Nyy Steak Manhattan, Llc, Plaza Construction Corp., Baring Industries, Inc. Tort document preview
  • Kevin Mcgonigal v. Nyy Steak Manhattan, Llc, Plaza Construction Corp., Baring Industries, Inc. Tort document preview
  • Kevin Mcgonigal v. Nyy Steak Manhattan, Llc, Plaza Construction Corp., Baring Industries, Inc. Tort document preview
  • Kevin Mcgonigal v. Nyy Steak Manhattan, Llc, Plaza Construction Corp., Baring Industries, Inc. Tort document preview
  • Kevin Mcgonigal v. Nyy Steak Manhattan, Llc, Plaza Construction Corp., Baring Industries, Inc. Tort document preview
  • Kevin Mcgonigal v. Nyy Steak Manhattan, Llc, Plaza Construction Corp., Baring Industries, Inc. Tort document preview
  • Kevin Mcgonigal v. Nyy Steak Manhattan, Llc, Plaza Construction Corp., Baring Industries, Inc. Tort document preview
  • Kevin Mcgonigal v. Nyy Steak Manhattan, Llc, Plaza Construction Corp., Baring Industries, Inc. Tort document preview
						
                                

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FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 02:49 11:32 PM AM INDEX NO. 158327/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 515 322 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK -----------------------------------------------------------X Index No. 158327/13 KEVIN McGONIGAL, Plaintiff, NOTICE OF MOTIOP -against- NYY STEAK MANHATTAN, LLC, PLAZA CONSTRUCTION CORP. and BARING INDUSTRIES, INC. Defendants. ------_____------------------------------------------------X Third-Party Index No.: PLAZA CONSTRUCTION CORP., 595146/2014 Third-Party PlaintitT, -against- BARING INDUSTRIES, INC., Third-Party Defendant. ____________-------------------.....------ ---------X BARING INDUSTRIES, INC., Second-Third-Party Index No.: 595130/15 Second-Third-Party PlaintitT, -against- DAY & NITE REFRIGERATION CORP. and KlMCO REFRIGERATION CORP. Second-Third-Party Defendants. __________----------..-----........---------..---------------X NYY STEAK MANHATTAN, LLC, & PLAZA CONSTRUCTION LLC f/k/a PLAZA CONSTRUCITON CORP. Third-Third Party Index No. Third Third-Party Plaintiffs, -against- B&G ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, ESS & VEE ACCOUSTICAL CONTRACTORS, INC. and BARING INDUSTRIES, INC. Third Third-Party Defendants. ----.._______--.--------------------...___.----------------X 1 of 44 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 02:49 11:32 PM AM INDEX NO. 158327/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 515 322 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that upon the annexed affinnation of NIKOLAOS E. DIAMANTIS, ESQ., dated July 18, 2018, and the exhibits annexed hereto, and upon all the pleadings and proceedings heretofore had herein, a motion will be made before this Court at the Supreme Court, New York County, located at IAS Motion Support Part, Room 130 of the 22" Courthouse, located at 60 Centre Street, New York on day of August, 2019 at 9:30 o'clock in the forenoon of that day, or as soon thereafter as counsel can be heard, for an Order, pursuant to CPLR §§ 3211(a)[1], 3212 and 306-b, granting summary judgment to defendant/Third-Party Defendant/Third-Third Party Defendant BARING INDUSTRIES, INC., dismissing all claims and cross-claims against them, and granting summary judgment to Defendant/Third-Party Defendant/Second Third-Party Plaintiff/Third-Third Party Defendant BARING INDUSTRIES, INC., on its contractual indemnity claims against Second Third-Party Defendant DAY & NITE REFRIGERATION CORP. and KIMCO REFRIGERATION CORP.; an order dismissing the claims of Defendant/Third-Third Party Plaintiff NYY STEAK MANHATTAN, LLC and Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff/Third Third-Party Plaintiff PLAZA CONSTRUCTION LLC f/k/a PLAZA CONSTRUCITON CORP., along with such other and further relief as this Court may deem just and proper. 2 2 of 44 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 02:49 11:32 PM AM INDEX NO. 158327/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 515 322 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that answering affidavits, if any, are to be served no later than seven (7) days prior to the return date of the motion pursuant to CPLR §2214(b). Dated: Melville, New York July 11, 2019 Yours, etc., Law Offices of TROMELLO & FISHMAN Attorneys for Defendant/Third-Party Defendant/ Second Third-Party Plaintiff/Third Third-Party Defendant BARING INDUSTRIES, INC. 395 North Service Road, Suite 410 P.O. Box 9038 Melville, New York 11747 (212) 440-2318 By: N1KOLAOS E. DIAMANTIS To: FABIANI COHEN & HALL, LLP Attorneys for Defendant/Third Third Party Plaintiff NYY STEAK MANHATTAN, LLC And Defendant/Third Party Plaintiff/Third Third Party Plaintiff PLAZA CONSTRUCTION LLC f/k/a PLAZA CONSTRUCTION CORP 570 Lexington Avenue, 4th Floor New York, NY 10022 212-644-4420 VIA NYSCEF SACKS AND SACKS, LLP Attorney for Plaintiff 150 Broadway, 4th Floor New York, NY 10038 212 964-5570 VIA NYSCEF 3 3 of 44 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 02:49 11:32 PM AM INDEX NO. 158327/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 515 322 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 MILBER MAKRIS PLOUSADIS & SElDEN, LLP Attorneys for Second Third Party Defendants DAY & NITE REFRIGERATION CORP. and K.I.M. CO. REFRIGERATION CORP. s/h/a KlMCO REFRIGERATION CORP. 1000 Woodbury Road, Suite 402 Woodbury, NY 11797 516-712-4000 File No. 532.11347 VIA NYSCEF B&G ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Third Third Party Defendant 7100 New Horizons Boulevard North Amityville, NY 11701 VIA REGULAR MAIL ESS & VEE ACOUSTICAL CONTRACTORS, INC. Third Third Party Defendant 23-30 50 Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101 VIA REGULARMAIL 4 of 44 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 02:49 11:32 PM AM INDEX NO. 158327/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 515 322 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK -----------------------------------------------------------X index No. 158327/l3 KEVIN McGONIGAL, PlaintifT, AFFIRMATION IN SUPPORT -against- NYY STEAK MANHATTAN, LLC, PLAZA CONSTRUCTION CORP. and BARING INDUSTRIES, INC. Defendants. ____.....-------_.---...________......---_.--____--...-----X PLAZA CONSTRUCTION CORP., Third-Party Index No.: 595146/2014 Third-Party Plaintiff, -against- BARING INDUSTRIES, INC., Third-Party Defendant. ___--..------.....---.....__..........--__--..--------------X BARING INDUSTRIES, INC., Second-Third-Party Second-Third-Party Plaintiff, Index No.: 595130/I5 -against- DAY & NITE REFRIGERATION CORP. and KIMCO REFRIGERATION CORP. Second-Third-Party Defendants. ..____.--...___..---.......__.-__.....__-__----------------X NYY STEAK MANHATTAN, LLC, & PLAZA CONSTRUCTION LLC f/k/a PLAZA CONSTRUCITON CORP. Third-Third Party Third Third-Party Plaintiffs, Index No. -against- B&G ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, ESS & VEE ACCOUSTICAL CONTRACTORS, INC. and BARING INDUSTRIES, INC. Third Third-Party Defendants. ------------.....--..--.--.....--______--...._______-------X 5 of 44 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 02:49 11:32 PM AM INDEX NO. 158327/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 515 322 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 NIKOLAOS E. DIAMANTIS, an attorney duly admitted to practice law before the courts of the State of New York, affirms the following to be true under penalties of perjury pursuant to New York Civil Practice Law and Rules § 2106: 1. I am associated with the Law Office of Tromello & Fishman, attorneys for Defendant/Third-Party Defendant/Second Third-Party Plaintiff/Third-Third Party Defendant BARING INDUSTRIES, INC., (hereinafter "BARING") and as such I am fully familiar with the facts and circumstances of the within action based upon a review of the file maintained by my office and my handling of this litigation. 2. I submit this affirmation, upon infonnation and belief, in support of the BARING'S motion for summary judgment dismissing all claims and cross-claims, and granting the BARING summary judgment on its contractual indemnity claims against Second Third-Party Defendant DAY & NITE REFRIGERATION CORP. and KIMCO REFRIGERATION CORP. (hereinafter collectively as "DAY & NIGHT") and dismissal of Defendant/Third-Third Party Plaintiff NYY STEAK MANHATTAN, LLC (herein after "NYY") and Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff/Third Third-Party Plaintiff PLAZA CONSTRUCTION LLC f/k/a PLAZA CONSTRUCITON CORP. (hereinafter "PLAZA") claims. NATURE OF ACTION 3. This action arises from a when plaintiff, a union steamfitter for & was Day Night, injured while delivering a refrigeration unit into the construction project when he allegedly tripped over wood debris causing him to lose his balance and fall into an opening/pit which was behind in the path that he was that morning. taking 2 6 of 44 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 02:49 11:32 PM AM INDEX NO. 158327/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 515 322 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 4. This project was for the renovation of the New York Yankees Steakhouse, Defendant NYY Steak Manhattan, LLC was the tenant at this location and Plaza Construction, LLC was the construction manager for the renovations of an existing bank at said location into the restaurant. B&G Electrical Contractors was hired by Plaza as the electrical subcontractor for this project. Ess & Vee Acoustical Contractors, Inc. was hired by Plaza as the carpentry subcontractors. Baring Industries, Inc. was hired by Plaza as the kitchen subcontractor at this site. Baring contracted with Day & Night to perform the installation of the refrigeration equipment for the restaurant. 5. As a result of this incident, plaintiff seeks monetary damages from the NYY, PLAZA and BARING contending that all defendants are statutorily liable pursuant to Labor Law §§ 240(1), 24l(6) and 200, as well as by the doctrine of common law negligence for his injuries. 6. Via its second third-party action against Day & Night, Baring seeks contractual indemnification from Day & Night as the evidence has established that Day & Night's contract with Baring requires it to defend and indemnify Baring for claims that occur as a result of their work. In this case, the plaintitTwas an employee for Day & Night and under the applicable contract, Day & Night is required to defend and indemnify Baring herein. SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT 7. Baring's motion for dismissal of plaintiff's complaint and all cross- summary claims against it must be granted as a matter of law as the evidence has established that Baring was neither the owner, general contractor or an owner's agent at the project and did not control the means and methods of the work plaintiff was at the time of his accident. performing Thus, "agent" Baring cannot be found to be an under the Labor Law. In there has been addition, absolutely no evidence that Baring would be liable under Labor Law 200 as lacked the they 3 7 of 44 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 02:49 11:32 PM AM INDEX NO. 158327/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 515 322 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 requisite direction and control over plaintiff's work and there is no evidence that Baring was otherwise negligent in the happening of this accident. 8. Further, the work plaintiff was perfonning on the date of his accident did not expose him to a gravity related risk and thus Labor Law 240(1) should not apply. In addition, plaintiff has failed to establish applicable Industrial Code violations under Labor Law 241(6) which would similarly not apply in this case. 9. Baring motion for summary judgment against Day & Night for contractual indemnification should also be granted since the evidence has clearly established that plaintiff was an employee of Day & Night on the date of this incident and Baring is entitled to contractual indemnity based on the relevant purchase order for this project. PROCEDURAL HISTORY 10. Plaintiff commenced an action by the service of a Summons and Verified ST Compliant against NYY STEAK MANHATTAN, LLC, PREF 7 WEST 51 STREET, LLC and PLAZA CONSTRUCTION on September 12, 2013. A copy of the Summons and Verified Complaint is annexed hereto as Exhibit "A". In sum, Plaintiff asserts that on September 6, 2013, Plaintiff was allegedly injured while furnishing and installing kitchen equipment for the 51" NY Yankees Steak Manhattan project located at 7 West Street, New York, New York 10020. 11. Issue was joined through the interposition of a Verified Answer Defendant by NYY STEAK on October 14, 2013, and a Verified Answer by Defendant PLAZA on November 8, 2013, annexed hereto collectively as Exhibit "B". 12. On or about June 5, 2014, Defendant, PLAZA filed a Third Summons and Party Complaint against BARING INDUSTRIES, INC., (hereinafter as "BARING"). On or about September 12, 2014, BARING interposed its Verified Answer to the Third Party Complaint. A 4 8 of 44 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 02:49 11:32 PM AM INDEX NO. 158327/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 515 322 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 copy of the Third Party Complaint and BARING's Verified Answer are annexed hereto collectively as Exhibit "C". 13. On or about February 12, 2015, Plaintiff filed a Supplemental Summons and Complaint naming NYY STEAK MANHATTAN, LLC, PLAZA CONSTRUCTION CORP. and BARING. NYY STEAK MANHATTAN, LLC and PLAZA CONSTRUCTION CORP. filed its Amended Answer on or about April 27, 2015, annexed hereto as Exhibit "D". 14. On or about February 24, 2015, Defendant BARING filed a Second-Third Party Summons and Complaint against DAY & NITE. DAY & NITE filed its Amended Answer on or about May 12, 2015. A copy of the Second Third Party Complaint and DAY & NITE's Verified Answer are annexed hereto collectively as Exhibit"E". 15. On or about September 2, 2015, Defendants NYY STEAK MANHATTAN, LLC and PLAZA CONSTRUCTION CORP. filed a Third-Third Party Summons and Complaint against B&G ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS (hereinafter as "B&G"), ESS & VEE ACOUSTICAL CONTRACTORS, INC. (hereinafter as "ESS") and BARING. B&G filed its Verified Answer on or about October 27, 2015; ESS filed its Answer on or about November 4, 2015; and BARING filed its Answer on July 11, 2019. A copy of the Third Third-Party Summons and Complaint and Verified Answers are annexed hereto collectively as Exhibit "F". 16. On May 21, 2019, plaintiff filed Note of Issue and Certificate of Readiness. "G" Annexed hereto as Exhibit is a copy of the Note of Issue filed in this case. Thus, the within motion is timely and appropriate. 17. Plaintiff appeared for an Examination before Trial on November 9, 2016. A copy of his transcript is annexed hereto as Exhibit "H". Plaintiff was deposed again on November 5 9 of 44 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 02:49 11:32 PM AM INDEX NO. 158327/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 515 322 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 14, 2016, a copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit "I". Plaintiff was again deposed on April 12, 2018, a copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit "J". 18. On March 10, 2017, PLAZA CONSTRUCTION CORP. produced George E. Usher, Jr. for examination before trial. A copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit "K". 19. On May 3, 2017, Chris Wolske appeared for an Examination before Trial on behalf of Defendant, BARING. A copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit "L". 20. On May 4, 2017, James Vespe appeared for an Examination before Trial on behalf of Second Third Party Defendant DAY & NITE REFRIGERATION CORP. A copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit "M". 21. On May 8, 2017, Raymond Chin appeared for an Examination before Trial on behalf of Third Third Party Defendant B&G. A copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit "N". 22. On May 24, 2017, Frank Cioppa appeared for an Examination before Trial on behalf of Third Third Party Defendant ESS. A copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit "O". 23. On June 5, 2018, Julian Gomez, appeared for an Examination before Trial on behalf of Second Third Party Defendant, DAY & NITE REFRIGERATION CORP. A copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit "P". 24. There has been no prior application by BARING for the relief sought herein. 6 10 of 44 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 02:49 11:32 PM AM INDEX NO. 158327/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 515 322 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/26/2020 07/19/2019 STATEMENT OF FACTS Testimony of Plaintiff, Kevin McGonigal 25. Plaintiff is a member of Local 638 Steamfitter's union. (Exhibit H, p. 14) Plaintiff began working for D&N in August of 2013, two or three weeks before the subject accident occurred. (Exhibit H, p.34) 26.