Case ID: ad2d_193/html/0357-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Frederick Schwarzrock, Jr., et al., Plaintiffs, and John Rack, Appellant, v Thurcon Development Co. et al., Respondents, et al., Defendants.
    [597 NYS2d 41]
   —Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Leland DeGrasse, J.), entered on or about March 9, 1992, inter alia, granting the motions of defendants, Thurcon Development Co., Thurcon Properties, Ltd., Harold Thurman, Patrick Consalves and Thurcon Construction Corp., to dismiss the complaint of plaintiff John Rack, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

General Municipal Law § 205-a imposes liability where an injury to a fireman "occurs directly or indirectly” from the negligent failure of a defendant to comply with statutory or regulatory provisions respecting the safety and maintenance of premises (Lusenskas v Axelrod, 183 AD2d 244, 246). As interpreted by this Court, this means that liability ensues " 'where there is any practical or reasonable connection between a violation and the injury or death of a fireman’ ” (supra, at 246, quoting McGee v Adams Paper & Twine Co., 26 AD2d 186,195, affd 20 NY2d 921).

Plaintiff, a firefighter, was allegedly injured when he jumped off near the top of a rapidly sliding unsecured 35 foot ladder that had been angled against the premises which were on fire, and alleged to have building code violations. Under these circumstances, the IAS Court properly dismissed plaintiffs cause of action, alleging a violation of General Municipal Law § 205-a, since there was no reasonable connection between the violations alleged and plaintiffs injuries (see, e.g., Heyer v City of New York, 176 AD2d 550). Concur—Murphy, P. J., Sullivan, Wallach, Ross and Kassal, JJ.