Appellate Division, First Department · September 10, 2026 · 2026 NY Slip Op 05241
Riley v Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Ctr.
Read the official decision: 2026 NY Slip Op 05241
Holding The court held that a permanent staircase qualifies as a statutory safety device under Labor Law § 240(1) when it is the sole means of access to the work area, even if an alternative route exists but is not viable. The court also granted conditional contractual indemnification to the general contractor based on the subcontract terms.
The court’s words
permanent staircases are not categorically excluded from Labor Law 240(1) coverage
2026 NY Slip Op 05241, at the official text
the purported alternative staircase did not present a viable means of egress for plaintiff
2026 NY Slip Op 05241, at the official text
the indemnification clause in the subcontract between JGN and ADCO was triggered
2026 NY Slip Op 05241, at the official text
| Court | Appellate Division, First Department |
|---|---|
| Decided | September 10, 2026 |
| Citation | 2026 NY Slip Op 05241 |
| Area of law | Labor Law and Construction Accidents |
| Week | Week ending September 12, 2026 |
| Official text | Official decision: 2026 NY Slip Op 05241 |
| Publication status | Slip opinions are uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports. |
| Source feed | New York slip opinion page |
| Law Watch record id | 139 |
Recommended citation
ESQ HQ, New York Law Watch, Riley v Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Ctr., 2026 NY Slip Op 05241 (Appellate Division, First Department, September 10, 2026), https://esqhq.com/decisions/2026-ny-slip-op-05241/
How this record was made
Holding drafted by Law Watch’s in-house model, graded by three reviewers; every quotation verified word for word against the official text.
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