Court Opinion

ID: 2679333
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-06-19 01:23:01.276127+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:39:07.554839
License: Public Domain

2014 IL App (1st) 130308

                                                                             FIRST DIVISION
                                                                             APRIL 28, 2014

No. 1-13-0308

FORTINO FONSECA,                                             )       Appeal from the
                                                             )       Circuit Court of
                Plaintiff-Appellant,                         )       Cook County.
                                                             )
       v.                                                    )
                                                             )
CLARK CONSTRUCTION GROUP, LLC,                               )       No. 10 L 1404
                                                             )
                Defendant-Appellee,                          )
      and                                                    )
Maron Electric Company,                                      )       Honorable
                                                             )       Kathy M. Flanagan,
                Defendant.                                   )       Judge Presiding.

       JUSTICE CUNNINGHAM delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
       Presiding Justice Connors and Justice Delort concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                           OPINION

¶1     This appeal arises from an October 15, 2012 order which granted the motion for

summary judgment filed by defendant-appellee Clark Construction Group, LLC (Clark

Construction), and denied the motion for summary judgment filed by defendant Maron Electric

Company (Maron Electric). Maron Electric is not participating in this appeal. On appeal,

plaintiff-appellant Fortino Fonseca (Fonseca) argues that the trial court erred in granting

summary judgment in favor of Clark Construction because there was sufficient evidence to

establish that Clark Construction owed Fonseca a duty to exercise reasonable care. For the

following reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County.
1-13-0308

¶2                                      BACKGROUND

¶3      In March 2008, Clark Construction was the general contractor working on the

construction of an office building located at 300 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois (the

building). The building was owned by 300 LaSalle LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

(300 LaSalle). Fonseca was employed as a contractor for RG Construction, a drywall

subcontractor of Clark Construction. Maron Electric was also a subcontractor of Clark

Construction and was in charge of the electrical work for the building. The contracts between

the owner of the building, the general contractor, and the subcontractors contained several

provisions that are at issue in this case.

¶4      300 LaSalle and Clark Construction executed a contract for the construction of the

building (the Clark contract). Section 3.3.1 of the Clark contract stated:

                        "[Clark Construction] shall be solely responsible for and

                have control over construction means, methods, techniques,

                sequences and procedures and for coordinating all portions of the

                Work under Contract Documents or otherwise required by good

                construction practice or by any applicable code. Contractor

                understands and acknowledges that although certain construction

                means, methods, techniques, sequences and procedures necessary

                for the completion of the Project may be referenced in the Contract

                Documents, it shall remain responsible for and have control over

                the construction means, methods, and techniques necessary to

                comply with such sequences and procedures."

¶5      Section 3.3.2 of the Clark contract stated:

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                       "[Clark Construction] shall be responsible to [300 LaSalle]

               for acts and omissions of [Clark Construction's] employees,

               suppliers, consultants, Subcontractors and Sub-Subcontractors and

               their respective agents and employees, and all other persons or

               entities performing portions of the Work."

¶6     Section 10.2.1 of the Clark contract stated:

                       "[Clark Construction] shall be responsible for initiating,

               maintaining and supervising all safety precautions and programs in

               connection with the Work, including safety of all persons and

               property during performance of the Work. This requirement shall

               apply continuously throughout the course of the Work and shall

               not be limited by normal working hours. [Clark Construction]

               shall take all reasonable precautions and safety measures,

               including those listed in the Contract Documents (which are

               presumably deemed reasonable), for the safety of, and shall

               provide reasonable protection to prevent damage, injury or loss to:

                                .1. All employees on, and persons performing, the

                       Work and all other persons who may be affected thereby."

¶7     Additionally, Clark Construction and Maron Electric executed a subcontract for Maron

Electric to perform the electrical work for the building (the Maron subcontract). Paragraph 1a of

the Maron subcontract stated:

                       "[Maron Electric] shall perform all work and shall furnish

               all supervision, labor, materials, plant, scaffolding, tools,

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               equipment, supplies and all other things necessary for the

               construction and completion of the work described in Exhibit B

               and work incidental thereto, in strict accordance and full

               compliance with the terms of the Contract Documents (which are

               hereby incorporated by reference) and this Subcontract and to the

               satisfaction of [Clark Construction] and [300 LaSalle]."

¶8     Paragraph 6a of the Maron subcontract stated:

                      "[Maron Electric] hereby assumes the entire responsibility

               and liability for all work, supervision, labor and materials provided

               hereunder, whether or not erected in place, and for all plant,

               scaffolding, tools, equipment, supplies and other things provided

               by [Maron Electric] until final acceptance of work by [300

               LaSalle] as defined by the Contract Documents."

¶9     Paragraph 18 of the Maron subcontract stated "[Maron Electric] shall clean its work and

remove all debris resulting from its work in a manner that will not impede either the progress of

the Project or of other trades." Paragraph 22 of the Maron subcontract stated:

                      "a. [Maron Electric] shall be bound by, and, at its own

               cost, shall comply with all Federal, state and local laws, codes,

               ordinances and regulations applicable to this Subcontract and the

               performance of the work hereunder whether by reason of general

               law or by reason of provisions in the Contract Documents.

                      b. Specifically and without limitation, [Maron Electric] and

               all employees and agents thereof shall comply with the applicable

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               requirements issued pursuant to the Occupational Safety and

               Health Act of 1970, as amended, all other applicable health and

               safety laws and regulations, and all laws and regulations applicable

               to the hiring of aliens."

¶ 10   Exhibit D of the Maron subcontract stated that the contract included daily clean-up of all

trash and debris in its work area. The Maron subcontract stated that Clark Construction had the

right to reject the work of Maron Electric if it did not conform with the requirements of the

Maron subcontract. Additionally, an 18-page safety and health manual was incorporated into the

Maron subcontract. The safety manual stated that "[a]ll subcontracting personnel are required to

follow all of [Clark Construction's] safety and health policies, in addition to their own company

program." Further, the safety manual established that Clark Construction had a safety manager

for the project, and that Maron Electric was required to attend a safety orientation conducted by

Clark Construction's safety manager prior to starting work. The safety manual required that

Maron conduct weekly "toolbox talks" with its workers using forms provided by Clark

Construction that were to be returned to Clark Construction's safety manager. The safety manual

stated that Clark Construction would chair monthly safety meetings and weekly toolbox talks

that Maron Electric's foreman was required to attend.

¶ 11   On a day in late March 2008, Fonseca was framing and installing drywall with his brother

between the second and fourth floors of the building. Fonseca spent the day carrying drywall

sheets and working on areas between the second and fourth floors of the building. At one point,

Fonseca was carrying a large sheet of drywall weighing approximately 100 pounds down a

hallway in order to hand the sheet to his brother. Before reaching his brother, Fonseca tripped on

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an electrical pipe that was on the floor of the hallway. The drywall broke into two pieces, and

one piece fell on top of Fonseca.

¶ 12    After Fonseca fell, he called for his brother and laid on the ground for about three

minutes. Fonseca and his brother walked down to the basement to tell RG Construction foreman

Robert Alarid (Alarid) about Fonseca's accident. As a result of his fall, Fonseca suffered

multiple injuries to his neck and back. Fonseca had surgery on his back and his right shoulder to

treat his injuries.

¶ 13    On February 1, 2010, Fonseca filed a complaint for negligence in the circuit court of

Cook County against Clark Construction and Kelso-Burnett Company (Kelso-Burnett). On

March 26, 2010, Fonseca filed a first amended complaint for negligence against Clark

Construction, Continental Electrical Construction Company (Continental Electrical), Maron

Electric, and Gibson Electric and Technology Solutions (Gibson Electric). On July 28, 2010,

Kelso-Burnett filed a motion to dismiss. On that same day, the trial court granted Kelso-

Burnett's motion to dismiss. On August 12, 2010, Continental Electrical filed a motion to

dismiss. On September 7, 2010, Gibson Electric filed a motion to dismiss. On October 18,

2010, Continental Electrical and Gibson Electric were dismissed without prejudice. On

November 1, 2010, Fonseca filed a second amended complaint for negligence against Clark

Construction and Maron Electric. On April 15, 2011, Fonseca filed a motion for leave to file a

third amended complaint, which was granted by the trial court. On that same day, Fonseca filed

his third amended complaint for negligence against Clark Construction and Maron Electric.

Specifically, Fonseca alleged that Maron Electric failed to remove its construction debris from

the area where he was working, causing him to fall, and that Clark Construction failed to

properly supervise the work being done on the construction site.

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¶ 14   On April 21, 2011, the deposition of Amy Olmsted (Olmsted), senior safety manager of

Clark Construction, was taken. Olmsted stated that she was the safety manager for the

construction of the building. It was her job to walk around the building and make sure everyone

was working safely. Olmsted stated that Clark Construction had the authority to stop work if it

was not being done correctly. Olmsted did not recall stopping the work of any subcontractors

during the construction of the building.

¶ 15   Also on April 21, 2011, the deposition of Robert Borello (Borello), senior superintendent

of Clark Construction, was taken. Borello was the superintendent during the construction of the

building. Borello stated that if he saw that a subcontractor was working in an unsafe manner, he

had the authority to stop the work. If Borello saw debris in the work area of a subcontractor, it

was his responsibility to tell the subcontractor to clean it up. Further, Borello stated that it was

Maron Electric's responsibility to inspect its own work, and no one from Clark Construction ever

inspected Maron Electric's work. Borello stated that it was Maron Electric's responsibility to

clean up debris and no one from Clark Construction ever cleaned up debris left by any

subcontractors.

¶ 16   On May 3, 2011, the deposition of David O'Malley (O'Malley), safety director for Maron

Electric, was taken. O'Malley stated that it was Clark Construction's job to coordinate Maron

Electric's work with other subcontractors. Also, O'Malley stated that Maron Electric workers

were expected to take care of housekeeping in their work areas. O'Malley acknowledged that

during construction, there was conduit scrap from Maron Electric's work. O'Malley stated that

the conduit scrap might represent a tripping or slipping hazard.

¶ 17   On March 27, 2012, Joe Mahler (Mahler), general foreman of Maron Electric, executed

an affidavit. In his affidavit, Mahler stated that he supervised and gave direction to Maron

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Electric employees. Mahler stated that pursuant to the Maron subcontract, Maron Electric

agreed to perform housekeeping duties in the Maron Electric work areas. In his capacity as

general foreman, Mahler enforced the housekeeping rules. Mahler was responsible for and

confirmed that housekeeping procedures were followed. Mahler stated that he was never

informed that a worker from RG Construction became injured after stepping onto electrical

piping. On May 23, 2012, Mahler's deposition was taken. Mahler stated that it was his job to

direct and supervise Maron Electric foremen and electricians. He stated that it was Maron

Electric's responsibility to clean up debris, which it did daily. He did not receive any complaints

from Clark Construction about housekeeping. Mahler stated that Clark Construction never

stopped any work that was done by Maron Electric. He stated that it was up to Maron Electric to

control the means and methods of its own work during construction of the building. Further,

Mahler stated that Clark Construction did not provide Maron Electric with any tools. Also,

Mahler held weekly toolbox talks for his employees to talk about safety.

¶ 18   On April 3, 2012, Clark Construction and Maron Electric filed separate motions for

summary judgment. Clark Construction argued that it did not owe a duty to Fonseca because it

"did not retain any actual control, including supervisory control, over the work performed by

Maron Electric." On October 15, 2012, the trial court entered a memorandum opinion and order

which denied Maron Electric's motion for summary judgment and granted Clark Construction's

motion for summary judgment. In its order, the trial court found that Clark Construction did not

owe Fonseca a duty under section 414 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts (1965) because

Clark Construction did not control the means and methods or operative details of Maron

Electric's work. The trial court found that Clark Construction retained nothing more than "the

general rights attributable to general contractors." Further, the court reasoned that "the existence

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of a safety program, safety manual, or safety director does not constitute retained control per se."

Thus, the trial court granted Clark Construction's motion for summary judgment. Additionally,

the trial court found that pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 304(a) (eff. Feb. 26, 2010),

there was no just reason to delay the enforcement or appeal of its order.

¶ 19   On November 5, 2012, Fonseca filed a timely notice of appeal. Therefore, this court has

jurisdiction to consider Fonseca's arguments on appeal pursuant to Rule 304(a) and Illinois

Supreme Court Rule 303 (eff. May 30, 2008).

¶ 20                                  ANALYSIS

¶ 21   On appeal, we determine whether the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in

favor of Clark Construction.

¶ 22   Fonseca argues that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Clark

Construction because there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Clark Construction

owed Fonseca a duty under section 414 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts. Specifically,

Fonseca argues that Clark Construction owed him a duty to exercise reasonable care because the

language of the Clark contract states that Clark Construction was solely responsible for, and had

control over, the means, methods, techniques and procedures of the construction of the building

and Maron Electric's work. Also, Fonseca contends that Clark Construction owed him a duty

because it retained significant control over the safety aspects of the construction. Fonseca points

out that Clark Construction had a full-time safety manager and that there was a safety manual

with extensive safety procedures that Maron Electric had to follow. Fonseca emphasizes that

Borello and Olmsted had the authority to stop Maron Electric's work if they thought the work

was being done in an unsafe manner. Fonseca asserts that Clark Construction went to great

lengths to control the safety standards of the work site. Therefore, Fonseca contends that there

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are genuine issues of material fact regarding Clark Construction's duty and liability.

Accordingly, Fonseca argues that the trial court erred in granting Clark Construction's motion for

summary judgment.

¶ 23   In response, Clark Construction argues that the trial court did not err in granting its

motion for summary judgment. Specifically, Clark Construction argues that it did not owe

Fonseca a duty under section 414 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts because it did not retain

any actual control, or general supervisory control, over Maron Electric's work. Clark

Construction asserts that the language in the Maron subcontract shows that Maron Electric

agreed to assume the entire responsibility for all work, supervision, labor and materials during

construction of the building and that Maron Electric was responsible to clean up all of its debris.

Thus, Clark Construction was not responsible for the debris that caused Fonseca's injury. Also,

Clark Construction argues that Illinois law states that even where general contractors are given

general supervisory and controlling powers over a jobsite, liability will not be found if the

general contractor does not take an active role in ensuring safety and does not retain control over

the incidental aspects of a subcontractor's work. Clark Construction contends that the

depositions and affidavits of the parties show that Clark Construction did not control the

operative details of Maron Electric's work. Clark Construction points out that it never inspected

Maron Electric's work and never ordered Maron Electric to stop working. Further, Clark

Construction argues that it only promoted general safety efforts as opposed to controlling the

safety procedures of Maron Electric. Clark Construction highlights that Maron Electric held its

own toolbox talks and Clark Construction had no input regarding the topics covered in those

meetings. Clark Construction asserts that contrary to Fonseca's argument, it did not go to great

lengths to control the safety standards of the worksite. Thus, Clark Construction contends that it

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did not owe Fonseca a duty under section 414 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts.

Accordingly, Clark Construction argues that the trial court did not err in granting its motion for

summary judgment.

¶ 24   Summary judgment is appropriate when the pleadings, admissions, and affidavits show

that there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a

matter of law. 735 ILCS 5/2-1005(c) (West 2008); Ioerger v. Halverson Construction Co., 232
Ill. 2d 196, 201 (2008). We review the trial court's summary judgment ruling under the de novo

standard of review. Ioerger, 232 Ill. 2d at 201.

¶ 25   In this case, Fonseca's lawsuit against Clark Construction is based on common-law

negligence. "In any action for negligence, the plaintiff must present sufficient evidence to

establish the defendant owed a duty to the plaintiff." Rangel v. Brookhaven Constructors, Inc.,

307 Ill. App. 3d 835, 837 (1999). The court decides as a matter of law whether a duty exists, and

if no duty exists then there can be no recovery. Id. at 837-38.

¶ 26   Generally, it is the rule in Illinois that a party who entrusts an independent contractor will

not be held vicariously liable for tortuous acts or omissions committed by the independent

contractor. Madden v. P.M. Paschen/S.N. Nielson, Inc., 395 Ill. App. 3d 362, 381 (2009). "This

is because one who hires an independent contractor usually does not supervise the details of the

contractor's work and is therefore not in a good position to prevent the contractor from acting

negligently." Id. However, if sufficient control is exercised over the independent contractor,

then that rule no longer applies and section 414 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts is

triggered. Id. at 382. Illinois has adopted the approach of section 414 of the Restatement

(Second) of Torts. Rangel, 307 Ill. App. 3d at 838. Section 414 of the Restatement (Second) of

Torts states as follows:

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                     "One who entrusts work to an independent contractor, but

              who retains the control of any part of the work, is subject to

              liability for physical harm to others for whose safety the employer

              owes a duty to exercise reasonable care, which is caused by his

              failure to exercise his control with reasonable care." Restatement

              (Second) of Torts § 414 (1965).

¶ 27   Comments a and c of section 414 provide us with more guidance:

                     "a. If the employer of an independent contractor retains

              control over the operative detail of doing any part of the work, he

              is subject to liability for the negligence of the employees of the

              contractor engaged therein, under the rules of that part of the law

              of Agency which deals with the relation of master and servant. The

              employer may, however, retain a control less than that which is

              necessary to subject him to liability as master. He may retain only

              the power to direct the order in which the work shall be done, or to

              forbid its being done in a manner likely to be dangerous to himself

              or others. Such a supervisory control may not subject him to

              liability under the principles of Agency, but he may be liable under

              the rule stated in this Section unless he exercises his supervisory

              control with reasonable care so as to prevent the work which he

              has ordered to be done from causing injury to others.

                     ***

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                       c. In order for the rule stated in this Section to apply, the

               employer must have retained at least some degree of control over

               the manner in which the work is done. It is not enough that he has

               merely a general right to order the work stopped or resumed, to

               inspect its progress or to receive reports, to make suggestions or

               recommendations which need not necessarily be followed, or to

               prescribe alterations and deviations. Such a general right is usually

               reserved to employers, but it does not mean that the contractor is

               controlled as to his methods of work, or as to operative detail.

               There must be such a retention of a right of supervision that the

               contractor is not entirely free to do the work in his own way."

               Restatement (Second) of Torts § 414 cmts. a, c (1965).

¶ 28   In construction negligence cases where there is a contract between a general contractor

and an independent contractor that employed the plaintiff, it is the general rule that summary

judgment in favor of the general contractor is inappropriate when the general contractor agreed

to retain control over safety at the construction site or where the general contractor goes to great

lengths to control safety at the construction site. Joyce v. Mastri, 371 Ill. App. 3d 64, 74 (2007).

"However, summary judgment in favor of the general contractor is appropriate where an

independent contractor is contractually responsible for jobsite safety and the defendant general

contractor takes no active role in ensuring safety [citation], or where [the] general contractor

reserves the general right of supervision over the independent contractor but does not retain

control over the incidental aspects of the independent contractor's work [citation]." Id. A

general contractor's rights to stop work and order changes are general rights of supervision and

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not a retention of control over the incidental aspects of the work. Calderon v. Residential Homes

of America, Inc., 381 Ill. App. 3d 333, 346 (2008). "The mere existence of a safety program,

safety manual, or safety director is insufficient to trigger [section 414]." Madden, 395 Ill. App.
3d at 382. Even if a general contractor retains the right to inspect work, orders changes to the

plans, and ensures that safety precautions are observed and the work is done safely, the general

contractor will not be held liable unless the evidence shows that the general contractor retained

control over the incidental aspects of the independent contractor's work. Rangel, 307 Ill. App. 3d

at 839.

¶ 29      We agree with Clark Construction's argument. In this case, Clark Construction did not

retain control over the incidental aspects of Maron Electric's work. Although the Clark contract

provided Clark Construction with general supervisory authority, Clark Construction did not

exercise this authority and in no way altered or directly supervised the work of Maron Electric.

In making this determination, we find the language of the Maron subcontract, the affidavit of

Mahler, and the depositions of the various employees involved in the construction project, to be

particularly important. The Maron subcontract stated that Maron Electric assumed the entire

responsibility and liability for work, supervision, labor and materials used in conjunction with

the construction of the building. Further, the Maron subcontract stated that Maron Electric was

responsible for cleaning and removing all debris from its work area and that Maron Electric was

bound by all laws, codes, ordinances and regulations applicable to the Maron subcontract

through general law or the Clark contract. In Olmsted's deposition, she stated that she would

walk around the jobsite to make sure that people were working safely, but she did not recall ever

stopping anyone's work. In Borello's deposition, he stated that it was Maron Electric's

responsibility to inspect its own work and clean up its own debris, and that he never inspected

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Maron Electric's work. In Mahler's deposition and affidavit, he stated that: he directed and

supervised Maron Electric employees; Maron Electric was responsible for cleaning up its own

debris; Clark Construction never stopped Maron Electric's work; and Maron Electric controlled

the means and methods of its own work during construction of the building. These facts show

that Clark Construction did not have control over the way that Maron Electric conducted its

work. Thus, Clark Construction did not retain control over Maron Electric's work.

¶ 30   We note that Clark Construction had a safety manager, held weekly safety meetings, and

had a safety manual that Maron Electric was directed to follow. However, we also note that

Maron Electric conducted its own weekly toolbox talks that had no input or direction from Clark

Construction. In support of his argument, Fonseca cites two cases which held that a general

contractor owed a duty to a plaintiff employee of a subcontractor because the general contractor

retained sufficient control over the subcontractors' work to trigger section 414 of the Restatement

(Second) of Torts. See Wilkerson v. Paul H. Schwendener, Inc., 379 Ill. App. 3d 491 (2008);

Bokodi v. Foster Wheeler Robbins, Inc., 312 Ill. App. 3d 1051 (2000). However, we find those

cases distinguishable from the instant case because the general contractors in those cases retained

significantly more control over the subcontractors' work. For example, in Wilkerson, the general

contractor required the subcontractor to provide a " 'site specific safety plan' " for the general

contractor's approval; and the general contractor sent the subcontractor a scathing letter warning

the subcontractor that its work would be stopped if it did not comply with the safety procedures.

Wilkerson, 379 Ill. App. 3d at 494-95. In Bokodi, this court found that the general contractor

went to "great lengths" to control the safety standards of the work site. Bokodi, 312 Ill. App. 3d

at 1063. The court noted that the subcontractors were instructed by the general contractor about

appropriate personal equipment and clothing, personal grooming, and when and where to erect

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barricades and warning lights. Id. Additionally, the subcontractors were required to achieve

consistency and participate in the general contractor's site safety program and rules. Id.

¶ 31   In this case, Clark Construction did not go to such great lengths to control Maron

Electric's work. Maron Electric was free to complete its work as it pleased and was responsible

for cleaning and monitoring its own work area in a safe condition. Moreover, as discussed

earlier, "[t]he mere existence of a safety program, safety manual, or safety director is insufficient

to trigger [section 414]." Madden, 395 Ill. App. 3d at 382. Accordingly, based on the language

of the Maron subcontract, the depositions of the various employees involved in the project and

their testimony regarding the actual practice at the construction site, as well as the affidavit and

deposition of Mahler; we find that Clark Construction did not retain sufficient control over

Maron Electric's work to trigger section 414 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts. Thus, we

hold that as a matter of law, Clark Construction did not owe Fonseca a duty to exercise

reasonable care, and the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of Clark

Construction.

¶ 32   For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed.

¶ 33   Affirmed.

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