Court Opinion

ID: 9952476
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-19 20:09:25.663773+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:39:42.824158
License: Public Domain

Lopez v NG 645 Madison Ave. LLC
               2024 NY Slip Op 30804(U)
                     March 13, 2024
           Supreme Court, New York County
        Docket Number: Index No. 158495/2019
                  Judge: Arlene P. Bluth
Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip
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 State and local government sources, including the New
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 This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official
                       publication.
                                                                                                                        INDEX NO. 158495/2019
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 182                                                                                             RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/13/2024

                                   SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
                                             NEW YORK COUNTY
            PRESENT:             HON. ARLENE P. BLUTH                                               PART                              14
                                                                                      Justice
            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X      INDEX NO.          158495/2019
             LEONEL LOPEZ,
                                                                                                    MOTION DATE         03/08/2024
                                                         Plaintiff,
                                                                                                                       001 002 003
                                                 -v-                                                MOTION SEQ. NO.        004

             NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC,BLR MADISON LLC,
                                                                                                      DECISION + ORDER ON
                                                         Defendant.                                         MOTION

            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X

             NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC, BLR MADISON LLC                                                           Third-Party
                                                                                                         Index No. 595954/2019
                                                          Plaintiff,

                                                 -against-

             VANGUARD CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT CO., INC.,
             REAL PLUMBING CORP.

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

             NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC, BLR MADISON LLC                                                       Second Third-Party
                                                                                                         Index No. 595759/2021
                                                          Plaintiff,

                                                 -against-

             ZEREM ELECTRIC CORP.

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

            The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 001) 78, 79, 80, 81, 82,
            83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 147, 155, 156, 161, 162, 163, 169
            were read on this motion to/for                                                      JUDGMENT - SUMMARY                   .

            The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 002) 91, 92, 93, 94, 95,
            96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 148, 157, 158,
            170, 171, 172, 173
            were read on this motion to/for                                             PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT                      .

            The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 003) 116, 117, 118, 119,
            120, 149, 164, 165, 166, 174, 175, 176, 177

             158495/2019 LOPEZ, LEONEL vs. NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC                                                      Page 1 of 13
             Motion No. 001 002 003 004

                                                                          1 of 13
[* 1]
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  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 182                                                                         RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/13/2024

            were read on this motion to/for                               JUDGMENT - SUMMARY                         .

            The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 004) 121, 122, 123, 124,
            125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145,
            146, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 159, 160, 167, 168, 178
            were read on this motion to/for                               JUDGMENT - SUMMARY                         .

                   Motion Sequence Numbers 001 through 004 are consolidated for disposition. Second

            third-party defendant Zerem Electric Corp. (“Zerem”)’s motion (MS001) for summary judgment

            is denied. Plaintiff’s motion (MS002) for partial summary judgment under Labor Law § 241(6)

            and to dismiss affirmative defenses alleging culpable conduct is granted. Third-party defendant

            Real Plumbing Corp. (“Real Plumbing”)’s motion (MS003) for summary judgment is granted as

            described below. Defendants NG 645 Madison Ave LLC and BLR Madison LLC (collectively

            the “Madison Defendants”)’s motion (MS004) for summary judgment is granted in part and

            denied in part.

            Background

                   This Labor Law action arises out of a construction accident suffered by plaintiff in which

            he suffered an electrical shock while cutting into a metal tray that threw him off a ladder.

            Unfortunately for plaintiff, the metal tray turned out to be an electrical bus that was not

            deenergized. Plaintiff spent a month in the burn unit following this accident.

                   He contends that he was working as a laborer for third-party defendant Vanguard

            Construction & Development Co. Inc. (“Vanguard”) on the day of the accident (NYSCEF Doc.

            No. 82 at 17 [plaintiff’s deposition transcript]). Vanguard was the “construction manager” on site

            hired by the owners of the buildings, the Madison Defendants. Plaintiff testified that he was

            instructed by his foreman from Vanguard to “clear the path for the Real Plumbing to put the

            anchors to support the temporary loop” (id. at 34-35). He explained that clearing the path meant

             158495/2019 LOPEZ, LEONEL vs. NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC                                     Page 2 of 13
             Motion No. 001 002 003 004

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            clearing “debris from the demo from before, some pieces of sheet rock” (id. at 35). The materials

            to be removed were located in the ceiling (id.).

                   Plaintiff testified that he had to remove the ceiling tiles, which were light, with his hands

            but that he needed a six-foot A-frame ladder to do his work (id. at 36). Next, the spots for the

            anchors were marked by Real Plumbing and plaintiff was told to “remove whatever was in the

            way so that they can drill the concrete to put the anchors” (id. at 37-38). He explained that “it

            was my job to get all the tools that I need to get together and start doing the job” (id. at 40).

                   Plaintiff observed that he also had to remove a tray, a piece of metal, that had to be cut

            and that this tray sometimes holds cables on top of it although plaintiff explained that his

            foreman (Steve) investigated and confirmed that there were no cables present (id. at 40-41). He

            insisted that his foreman (Steve) told him that he should cut the metal tray into pieces and then

            put these pieces into containers to be thrown out (id. at 47-48). Petitioner testified he used a

            “sawsaw” (commonly known as a sawzall or reciprocal saw) for this job (id. at 49).

                   Petitioner observed he was wearing work boots, jeans, a long sleeve shirt, cloth gloves, a

            hat and goggles that day (id. at 54). He explained that he only made a single cut lasting between

            30 seconds and a minute into the metal when his accident occurred (id.). Plaintiff testified that

            after “45 second that I was going into the metal was when the explosion occurred” (id. at 55). “It

            was--- it was a very bright light and very loud noise when the sawsaw went through the tray”

            (id.). He added that there were flames and that he probably suffered some type of shock that

            threw him off the ladder (id. at 56).

                   At the time of the accident no one was with plaintiff in the hallway where he was

            working although there were plumbers about 30 to 40 feet away behind a door (id.). Plaintiff

            noted that after his accident, he learned that he had cut into something called an electrical bus

             158495/2019 LOPEZ, LEONEL vs. NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC                                   Page 3 of 13
             Motion No. 001 002 003 004

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            (id. at 58). He was told that there was about 10,000 to 12,000 volts going through the board to

            the tray he cut (id. at 58-59).

            MS001

                    Zerem, the electrical contractor, moves for summary judgment on the ground that it had

            no connection to the accident. It observes that the electrical bus that plaintiff cut into was

            mistaken for a data tray and had been inadvertently marked for demolition without Zerem’s

            knowledge. Zerem claims that it was never asked to do anything with regard to the electrical bus

            and, even if it had, the building staff would have had to help turn off the power in order to

            remove this item.

                    In opposition, Real Plumbing contends that plaintiff testified that someone from Zerem

            came the day before his accident to ensure that everything was ready for the demo crew. Real

            Plumbing claims Zerem failed to ensure that the power was turned off on the floor in question—

            the fourth floor.

                    The Madison Defendants also submit opposition. They claim that Vanguard’s witness

            testified that Zerem was responsible for ensuring that the electricity was turned off on the date of

            the accident. (The Madison Defendants also moved separately for relief against Zerem, issues

            that will be discussed below).

                    In reply, Zerem emphasizes that it was never asked to inspect this area or to evaluate

            whether or not the power should be shut off.

                    The Court denies this motion. Plaintiff testified that he recalled that an electrician from

            Zerem had come to the fourth floor where he was working before the demolition in order to kill

            the power (NYSCEF Doc. No. 82 at 32). That Zerem contends this did not occur raises an issue

            of fact about whether Zerem was asked but failed to ensure that the power was turned off in the

             158495/2019 LOPEZ, LEONEL vs. NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC                                   Page 4 of 13
             Motion No. 001 002 003 004

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            areas in which plaintiff was working. Moreover, the purchase order between Zerem and

            Vanguard raises another issue of fact as it required Zerem to “provide all disconnects and safe

            offs for the removals by others” (NYSCEF Doc. No. 104).

                    A fact finder must evaluate whether nor Zerem had a responsibility or obligation to

            ensure that the power was turned off. The jury can also evaluate Zerem’s contention that it was

            not hired to do anything related to bus duct in question, that it was never told it had to shut off

            the power for this electrical bus and that it could not have done anything without direction from

            someone in building management.

            MS002

                    Plaintiff moves for partial summary judgment as to liability on this claim under Labor

            Law § 241(6) and specifically 12 NYCRR 23-1.13(b)(3) and 23-1.13(b)(4) (sections under the

            Industrial Code). He insists that these regulations require that where a worker is going to be

            working in an area where there is an electric power circuit, there must be precautions taken and

            the power circuit deenergized. Plaintiff insists that any question about his comparative fault does

            not prevent the Court from a finding that he is entitled to summary judgment as to liability on

            this claim.

                    In opposition, the Madison Defendants contend that their representative (“Nightingale”)

            has policies in place to ensure it received written notices for requests to shut off power in the

            building. They insist that none of the contractors submitted these forms and so the power was not

            shut off. They also argue that their affirmative defenses that assert that plaintiff should have

            ensure that the electrician had properly turned off the power should not be dismissed.

             158495/2019 LOPEZ, LEONEL vs. NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC                                  Page 5 of 13
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                   In reply, plaintiff emphasizes that the Madison Defendants appear to blame others for the

            accident but that the Labor Law requires them, as owners of the building, to ensure that proper

            safety requirements were followed.

                   “The duty to comply with the Commissioner’s safety rules, which are set out in the

            Industrial Code (12 NYCRR), is nondelegable. In order to support a claim under section 241(6). .

            . the particular provision relied upon by a plaintiff must mandate compliance with concrete

            specifications and not simply declare general safety standards or reiterate common-law

            principles” (Misicki v Caradonna, 12 NY3d 511, 515, 882 NYS2d 375 [2009]). “The regulation

            must also be applicable to the facts and be the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury” (Buckley

            v Columbia Grammar and Preparatory, 44 AD3d 263, 271, 841 NYS2d 249 [1st Dept 2007]).

                   “Section 241(6) subjects owners and contractors to liability for failing to adhere to

            required safety standards whether or not they themselves are negligent. Supervision of the work,

            control of the worksite, or actual or constructive notice of a violation of the Industrial Code are

            not necessary to impose vicarious liability against owners and general contractors, so long as

            some actor in the construction chain was negligent” (Leonard v City of New York, 216 AD3d 51,

            55-56, 188 NYS3d 471 [1st Dept 2023]).

                   The Industrial Code Sections cited by plaintiff are :

                   “(3) Investigation and warning. Before work is begun the employer shall ascertain
                   by inquiry or direct observation, or by instruments, whether any part of an electric
                   power circuit, exposed or concealed, is so located that the performance of the work
                   may bring any person, tool or machine into physical or electrical contact therewith.
                   The employer shall post and maintain proper warning signs where such a circuit
                   exists. He shall advise his employees of the locations of such lines, the hazards
                   involved and the protective measures to be taken.

                   (4) Protection of employees. No employer shall suffer or permit an employee to
                   work in such proximity to any part of an electric power circuit that he may contact
                   such circuit in the course of his work unless the employee is protected against
                   electric shock by de-energizing the circuit and grounding it or by guarding such

             158495/2019 LOPEZ, LEONEL vs. NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC                                  Page 6 of 13
             Motion No. 001 002 003 004

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                    circuit by effective insulation or other means. In work areas where the exact
                    locations of underground electric power lines are unknown, persons using jack
                    hammers, bars or other hand tools which may contact such power lines shall be
                    provided with insulated protective gloves, body aprons and footwear. (12 NYCRR
                    § 23-1.13[b]).

                    There is no doubt that neither of these code sections were complied with by anyone.

            There were no warnings and the circuit was certainly not deenergized. Instead, the Madison

            Defendants contend that they are not liable because other contractors failed to comply with their

            internal processes regarding electric shut offs. But, as noted above in Leonard, it does not matter

            whether or not the Madison Defendants were negligent as long as someone on the site was

            negligent. And, here, no one checked to ensure that the metal tray plaintiff was told to cut into

            was deenergized, which entitles plaintiff to summary judgment as to liability. Someone (the

            Court makes no specific finding as to which entity is ultimately responsible in this motion)

            should have recognized the metal piece was an electrical bus and ensured it was deenergized.

                    The Court also severs and dismisses the Madison Defendants’ affirmative defenses

            related to comparative negligence. Although dismissal of these defenses is not required in order

            to grant summary judgment as to liability, the Madison Defendants failed to raise an issue of fact

            as to how plaintiff could be negligent. He was undoubtedly a laborer; it was not his

            responsibility to check whether or not the power was off. That responsibility was, as a matter of

            law, on other entities. Plaintiff simply did what he was told.

            MS003

                    In this motion, Real Plumbing moves for summary judgment dismissing the third-party

            complaint filed by the Madison Defendants. It claims it had no part in plaintiff’s accident, that it

            did not perform any electrical or demolition work, and that plaintiff worked exclusively for

             158495/2019 LOPEZ, LEONEL vs. NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC                                 Page 7 of 13
             Motion No. 001 002 003 004

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            Vanguard. Real Plumbing maintains that it entered into a contract with Vanguard to do plumbing

            work.

                    In opposition, the Madison Defendants contend that because the accident arose out of the

            work of Real Plumbing by improperly failing to mark the areas to be demolished, they are

            entitled to contractual indemnity from Real Plumbing and their claims against this entity should

            not be dismissed. They also claim there is an issue of fact with respect to their claims for

            common law indemnification against Real Plumbing. The Madison Defendants also claim that

            Real Plumbing did not show that it procured insurance as required under Real Plumbing’s

            contract with Vanguard.

                    Zerem also submits opposition and argues that it was Real Plumbing that marked the

            areas to be demolished in order for its anchors to be installed.

                    In reply, Real Plumbing insists that it did not make any marks on the ceiling where

            plaintiff was working to clear debris. It insists it made markings on the floor. And it attached the

            insurance policy it obtained to justify dismissal of the breach of contract for failure to procure

            insurance claim. Real Plumbing also argues that there is no contractual indemnity with the

            Madison Defendants because the contract was with Vanguard.

                    The central question on this motion is a theory under which Real Plumbing could be held

            liable under theories of contractual indemnity or common law indemnification. The Court finds

            that Real Plumbing established as a matter of law that it is not negligent and grants its motion.

            The Court reaches this conclusion, mainly, on the ground that Real Plumbing was not tasked

            with performing the demolition (that was Vanguard, plaintiff’s employer) nor was it responsible

            for turning off the electricity.

             158495/2019 LOPEZ, LEONEL vs. NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC                                  Page 8 of 13
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                    Instead, the record shows that while the work was being performed so that Real Plumbing

            could do its work related to sprinkler installation, it was plaintiff’s foreman who supervised

            plaintiff’s work and other entities that may have been responsible for ensuring the electricity was

            turned off. As plaintiff noted at his deposition “Every time we do demolition in certain areas in

            the floor the buildings, one day before, the plumbing company goes and makes sure all the parts

            are shut down to avoid a flood, and the electricians kill all the power to the lights and the outlets

            so when the a [sic] demo crew starts doing the demo, they don’t run into any accidents”

            (NYSCEF Doc. No. 82). Nothing in Real Plumbing’s contract or in this record suggests they

            had any duty with respect to demolition or electricity such that they could be held liable here.

                    The issue of the markings, in this Court’s view, is immaterial. Real Plumbing merely told

            plaintiff’s foreman (Steve) which places they needed to be cleared. And plaintiff testified that it

            was “just Steve” who told him to remove what was in the path and that Steve walked around the

            path telling plaintiff what to remove (id. at 38-39). Plaintiff emphasized that no one from Real

            Plumbing pointed out things for him to remove (id.). And, critically, it was Steve who looked at

            the tray to see if it had any cables attached (id. at 41); the tray that turned out to be the electrical

            bus that electrocuted plaintiff. There was no testimony that Real Plumbing ever made any

            representations about the safety of cutting into the metal tray.

                    Therefore, all claims and cross-claims against this third-party defendant, Real Plumbing,

            are severed and dismissed.

            MS004

                    The Madison Defendants seek summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s Labor Law §

            200 claim, dismissing his Labor Law § 241(6) claim and relief granting them summary judgment

            against Real Plumbing as well as against Zerem.

             158495/2019 LOPEZ, LEONEL vs. NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC                                     Page 9 of 13
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                     With respect to the Labor Law § 200 claim, the Madison Defendants claim that they did

            not control the means or methods of plaintiff’s work. They emphasize that plaintiff testified that

            he took instructions from his supervisor. They claim that they had no actual or constructive

            notice of the allegedly dangerous condition (the energized electric bus). The Madison

            Defendants blame Zerem for not turning off the power.

                     Plaintiff contends that the Madison Defendants failed to meet their burden when the area

            was last inspected and so they are not entitled to summary judgment on their Labor Law § 200

            claim.

                     Zerem files opposition and emphasizes that no one ever told it to turn off the electricity.

                     As a preliminary matter, the Court observes that it awarded summary judgment to

            plaintiff on his Labor Law § 241(6) claim and to Real Plumbing earlier in this decision.

            Therefore, the Court need not address those portions of the Madison Defendants’ motion here.

                     With respect to Labor Law § 241(6), the Court observes that the Madison Defendants

            moved for summary judgment dismissing certain Industrial Code sections not discussed above.

            These include 23-1.13 (b) (1), (2), (5) and (8), 23-1.13(c)(1)(i) and (ii).

                     Although plaintiff’s opposition mentions 23-1.13(b)(2), which concerns a determination

            about voltage levels, he did not substantively oppose this branch of the motion and so the claim

            regarding this Industrial Code section is therefore dismissed. Instead, plaintiff insists that the

            Madison Defendants did not meet their burden on this section. However, the record is clear that

            there was nothing raised about determining the voltage levels or how that relates to plaintiff’s

            accident.

                     The only other Industrial Code section plaintiff discusses is 23-1.13(b)(1), which

            provides that “(1) Precautions. All power lines and power facilities around or near construction,

             158495/2019 LOPEZ, LEONEL vs. NG 645 MADISON AVE LLC                                  Page 10 of 13
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            demolition and excavation sites shall be considered as energized until assurance has been given

            that they are otherwise by qualified representatives of the owners of such power lines or power

            facilities.” The Court declines to dismiss plaintiff’s claim based on this Industrial Code section

            as the Madison Defendants simply claim they never received written notice to turn off the

            electricity. But this section mentions nothing about having to receive written notice.

                   The remaining Industrial Code section are therefore dismissed as unopposed.

                   Turning to plaintiff’s Labor Law § 200 claim, the Court observes that Labor Law § 200

            “codifies landowners’ and general contractors’ common-law duty to maintain a safe workplace”

            (Ross v Curtis-Palmer Hydro-Electric Co., 81 NY3d 494, 505, 601 NYS2d 49 [1993]).

            “[R]ecovery against the owner or general contractor cannot be had unless it is shown that the

            party to be charged exercised some supervisory control over the operation . . . [A]n owner or

            general contractor should not be held responsible for the negligent acts of others over whom the

            owner or general contractor had no direction or control” (id. [internal quotations and citation

            omitted]).

                   “Claims for personal injury under this statute and the common law fall under two broad

            categories: those arising from an alleged defect or dangerous condition existing on the premises

            and those arising from the manner in which the work was performed” (Cappabianca v Skanska

            USA Bldg. Inc., 99 AD3d 139, 143-44, 950 NYS2d 35 [1st Dept 2012]). “Where an existing

            defect or dangerous condition caused the injury, liability attaches if the owner or general

            contractor created the condition or had actual or constructive notice of it” (id. at 144).

                   Based on this record, the Court grants the branch of the Madison Defendants’ motion that

            sought to dismiss the section 200 claim. There is no dispute that plaintiff’s supervisor controlled

            the means and methods of his work. Plaintiff’s deposition testimony is replete with how he

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            simply followed his supervisor’s instructions. There was no testimony that the Madison

            Defendants controlled the means and methods of plaintiff’s work.

                    With respect to the notice issue, the Court finds that it does not compel a different

            outcome. This case is not about an inherently dangerous or defective condition on the premises.

            It is about the means and methods for performing the work under the Labor Law. Plaintiff was

            hurt because someone, it is unclear who was ultimately responsible, forgot to turn off the power

            to the electric bus. That type of condition is not inherently dangerous; it only became a danger

            because of the nature of plaintiff’s task (i.e., the means and methods of his work). Simply

            running electricity in a building is not dangerous. This is not a situation, such as the one cited by

            plaintiff in opposition, where an injured worker stepped into a gap between the entrance to a

            catwalk and the catwalk itself (Urban v No. 5 Times Sq. Dev., LLC, 62 AD3d 553, 554, 879

            NYS2d 122 [1st Dept 2009]).

                    However, the Court denies the motion with respect to request relief against Zerem. The

            fact is that plaintiff’s supervisor testified that he could not recall having any discussions with

            Zerem about the subject tray and that he was not aware of someone from Zerem being asked to

            inspect the area prior to plaintiff starting his work (NYSCEF Doc. No. 87 at 92-93). Therefore,

            the Court is unable to find that Zerem must indemnify the Madison Defendants as a matter of

            law. If a fact finder believes Zerem that it was not obligated to do anything with respect to the

            electricity on that floor (i.e., that it was outside the scope of its contract), then a fact finder might

            find that no cause of action lies against Zerem.

                    Accordingly, it is hereby

                    ORDERED that third-party defendant Zerem Electric Corp.’s motion (MS001) for

            summary judgment is denied; and it is further

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                    ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motion (MS002) for partial summary judgment under Labor

            Law § 241(6) and to dismiss affirmative defenses alleging culpable conduct is granted as to

            liability only; and it is further

                    ORDERED that third-party defendant Real Plumbing Corp.’s motion (MS003) for

            summary judgment is granted to the extent that all claims and crossclaims against this defendant

            are severed and dismissed; and it is further

                    ORDERED that defendants NG 645 Madison Ave LLC and BLR Madison LLC’s motion

            (MS004) for summary judgment is granted only to the extent that plaintiff’s Labor Law § 200

            claim and his Labor Law 241(6) claim based upon ONLY Industrial Code Sections 23-1.13 (b)

            (2), (5) and (8) and 23-1.13(c)(1)(i) and (ii) are severed and dismissed and denied with respect to

            the remaining requests for relief.

                    3/13/2024                                                               $SIG$
                      DATE                                                          ARLENE P. BLUTH, J.S.C.
             CHECK ONE:                    CASE DISPOSED                X   NON-FINAL DISPOSITION

                                                                                                        □
                                           GRANTED             DENIED       GRANTED IN PART              X   OTHER

             APPLICATION:                  SETTLE ORDER                     SUBMIT ORDER

                                                                                                        □
             CHECK IF APPROPRIATE:         INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN       FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT            REFERENCE

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