J.H. v 1288 LLC
2019 NY Slip Op 02835 [171 AD3d 549]
April 16, 2019
Appellate Division, First Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, May 29, 2019


[*1]
 J.H., an Infant, Plaintiff,
v
1288 LLC et al., Defendants. 1288 LLC et al., Third-Party Plaintiffs-Respondents, v BX Washington LLC, Third-Party Defendant-Appellant, et al., Third-Party Defendants.

Ahmuty, Demers & McManus, New York (Frank J. Wenick of counsel), for appellant.

Gallo Vitucci Klar LLP, New York (Kimberly A. Ricciardi of counsel), for respondents.

Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Kenneth L. Thompson, Jr., J.), entered March 13, 2018, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, denied third-party defendant's motion to dismiss the causes of action for common-law indemnity and contribution as against it, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Plaintiff alleges that he sustained injuries in connection with a bedbug infestation of his apartment. He commenced this action against defendants (collectively, Chestnut), the owners of the building, which brought a third-party action against the former owner (BX). Chestnut alleges that plaintiff's injuries were caused by BX's negligence or breach of contract while BX owned and controlled the building and was responsible for removing the bedbugs from plaintiff's apartment, and that any liability attributed to it, Chestnut, will be purely vicarious, without actual fault on its part. These allegations state a cause of action for common-law indemnity (see 17 Vista Fee Assoc. v Teachers Ins. & Annuity Assn. of Am., 259 AD2d 75, 81-82 [1st Dept 1999]; Elkman v Southgate Owners Corp., 246 AD2d 314 [1st Dept 1998]). Chestnut further alleges that, if it is found negligent in fact, the greater or sole responsibility for plaintiff's injuries is attributable to BX, and BX should pay its proportionate share of the judgment. These allegations state a cause of action for contribution (see Fendley v Power Battery Co., 167 AD2d 260, 261 [1st Dept 1990]). Concur—Renwick, J.P., Gische, Kapnick, Kern, Moulton, JJ.