{ "id": 5731495, "name": "GEORGE COCHRAN et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. GEORGE SOLLITT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee (Loyola University Medical Center, Defendant)", "name_abbreviation": "Cochran v. George Sollitt Construction Co.", "decision_date": "2005-06-30", "docket_number": "No. 1-04-2616", "first_page": "865", "last_page": "880", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "358 Ill. App. 3d 865" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "636 N.E.2d 1079", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1083" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "263 Ill. App. 3d 858", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5367490 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "864" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/263/0858-01" ] }, { "cite": "719 N.E.2d 174", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "177" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "307 Ill. App. 3d 835", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 173514 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "839" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/307/0835-01" ] }, { "cite": "776 N.E.2d 774", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "333 Ill. App. 3d 583", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 486173 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/333/0583-01" ] }, { "cite": "794 N.E.2d 937", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "342 Ill. App. 3d 730", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3473765 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/342/0730-01" ] }, { "cite": "295 N.E.2d 41", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "46" }, { "page": "50" }, { "page": "46" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "10 Ill. App. 3d 625", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5400319 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "634" }, { "page": "639" }, { "page": "634" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/10/0625-01" ] }, { "cite": "302 N.E.2d 642", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "649" }, { "page": "648" }, { "page": "649" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "14 Ill. App. 3d 481", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2688683 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "489" }, { "page": "488" }, { "page": "489" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/14/0481-01" ] }, { "cite": "524 N.E.2d 994", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "999" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "170 Ill. App. 3d 990", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3585622 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "998" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/170/0990-01" ] }, { "cite": "728 N.E.2d 726", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "312 Ill. App. 3d 1051", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 411636 ], "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/312/1051-01" ] }, { "cite": "807 N.E.2d 480", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "492" }, { "page": "492" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "347 Ill. App. 3d 303", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3950731 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "318-19" }, { "page": "318" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/347/0303-01" ] }, { "cite": "801 N.E.2d 612", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 10, "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "613" }, { "page": "613" }, { "page": "614-15" }, { "page": "615" }, { "page": "615" }, { "page": "617" }, { "page": "615" }, { "page": "621" }, { "page": "620" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "344 Ill. App. 3d 772", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3777302 ], "weight": 12, "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "774" }, { "page": "774" }, { "page": "776" }, { "page": "777" }, { "page": "777" }, { "page": "780" }, { "page": "777" }, { "page": "784" }, { "page": "784", "parenthetical": "Cook, J., specially concurring" }, { "page": "775-76", "parenthetical": "defendant was subject to section 414 liability where improperly placed equipment contributed to the worker's injury, contract terms limited the independent contractor's options regarding the placement of equipment, and defendant retained substantial contractual control of safety" }, { "page": "783" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/344/0772-01" ] }, { "cite": "276 N.E.2d 336", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "338" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "50 Ill. 2d 19", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2911653 ], "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "21" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/50/0019-01" ] }, { "cite": "211 N.E.2d 247", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1965, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "252-53" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "33 Ill. 2d 316", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2883616 ], "year": 1965, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "325" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/33/0316-01" ] }, { "cite": "554 N.E.2d 223", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "226" }, { "page": "226" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "136 Ill. 2d 132", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3255179 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "140" }, { "page": "140" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/136/0132-01" ] }, { "cite": "576 N.E.2d 303", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "308", "parenthetical": "theories not argued during summary judgment proceedings are waived" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "216 Ill. App. 3d 445", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5288218 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "452", "parenthetical": "theories not argued during summary judgment proceedings are waived" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/216/0445-01" ] }, { "cite": "713 N.E.2d 178", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "185", "parenthetical": "issues not raised during summary judgment proceedings are waived" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "306 Ill. App. 3d 131", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1336059 ], "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "140", "parenthetical": "issues not raised during summary judgment proceedings are waived" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/306/0131-01" ] }, { "cite": "662 N.E.2d 1248", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1253" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "169 Ill. 2d 525", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 909173 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "536" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/169/0525-01" ] }, { "cite": "786 N.E.2d 1010", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1014" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "203 Ill. 2d 456", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 799381 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "462" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/203/0456-01" ] }, { "cite": "772 N.E.2d 215", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "218" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "201 Ill. 2d 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1477033 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "6-7" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/201/0001-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1255, "char_count": 36456, "ocr_confidence": 0.734, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.6184164761368968e-07, "percentile": 0.6868215096710272 }, "sha256": "685c74dea3951d1bf31d385020b33ef6341924fd3876ab9786b40612633bf1f3", "simhash": "1:287d3dd02e75bde2", "word_count": 5952 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:37:08.387494+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "GEORGE COCHRAN et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. GEORGE SOLLITT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee (Loyola University Medical Center, Defendant)." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE JOSEPH GORDON\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nGeorge Cochran and his wife brought this negligence action against George Sollitt Construction Co. (Sollitt) and Loyola University Medical Center (Loyola Hospital), seeking damages for injuries sustained on the job by Cochran, a sheet metal worker, and for his wife\u2019s loss of consortium. The circuit court granted Sollitt\u2019s motion for summary judgment. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.\nBACKGROUND\nThe allegations of the complaint are as follows. On or about October 5, 2000, the day of the incident, Sollitt was a general contractor on a construction project at Loyola Hospital. Cochran was an employee of James H. Anderson (Anderson), one of Sollitt\u2019s subcontractors. Cochran was performing construction work on an old air duct in the sub-basement level of Loyola Hospital. While performing the work, he stood on a ladder which had been placed on a piece of plywood that itself was set on top of two milk crates. At one point, the ladder shifted to the edge of the plywood, causing it to tip. As a result, Cochran fell to the floor, sustaining injuries. Cochran alleged negligence on Sollitt\u2019s part in that Sollitt: failed to provide him with a safe place to work; failed to provide \u201ca safe, suitable, and proper support for [his] protection\u201d; and failed to properly \u201cmanage! ], maintain[] or control[] the premises and the support equipment used thereon.\u201d\nCochran testified in his deposition that the incident occurred on his first day on the job. When he reported for work at approximately 6 a.m. to the \u201cold fan room\u201d located in the hospital\u2019s sub-basement, Anderson\u2019s foreman, Bill Wesselhoff, gave him instructions to demolish the old ductwork from the ceiling of the \u201cold fan room.\u201d The \u201cold fan room\u201d had an overall dimension of 20 feet by 20 feet, was rectangular in shape and consisted of two separate areas. The two areas were referred to as compartment 1 and compartment 2. Cochran was to first work in compartment 2. To access compartment 2, Cochran walked through compartment 1. At that time, no ladders were set up in compartment 1. As Cochran was working in compartment 2, Wesselhoff was setting up ladders in compartment l. After Cochran had worked in compartment 2 for about half an hour, Wesselhoff directed him to work in compartment 1. When Cochran entered compartment 1, he saw an Anderson-owned ladder set up atop a four-foot by eight-foot piece of plywood. Compartment 1 was so poorly lit that Cochran would not have been able to see his feet. He was unaware that the plywood had been placed atop two milk crates set in a drainage pit that covered a greater portion of the room. After receiving instructions from Wesselhoff, which took approximately 10 minutes, Cochran stepped directly onto the plywood and climbed the ladder. For about 20 minutes, Cochran worked on removing the old ductwork from the ceiling. In order to do so, he had to reach up above his head for the air duct with both hands. As Cochran was bringing down the air duct, the ladder \u201cwalked\u201d and he fell. Cochran stated that he did not know who owned or placed the plywood and the milk crates. Prior to the incident, he had not spoken to any Sollitt employees; Sollitt had not instructed him as to how, when or where to do his work; and Sollitt had not provided him with any equipment.\nHoward Strong, president of Sollitt, testified in his deposition that Sollitt and Loyola Hospital had entered into a construction contract. The parties used a standard American Institute of Architects\u2019 contract form. The contract, which was incorporated by reference in Sollitt\u2019s motion for summary judgment, provided, in pertinent part:\n\u201c8.2 SUPERVISION AND CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURES 8.2.1 The Contractor [Sollitt] shall supervise and direct the Work, using the Contractor\u2019s best skill and attention. The Contractor shall be solely responsible for and have control over the construction means, methods, techniques, sequences and procedures, and for coordinating all portions of the Work under the Contract, unless the Contract Documents give other specific instructions concerning these matters. If the Contract Documents give specific instructions concerning construction means, methods, techniques, sequences or procedures, the Contractor shall be fully and solely responsible for the jobsite safety thereof unless the Contractor gives timely written notice to the Owner and Architect that such means, methods, techniques, sequences or procedures may not be safe.\n8.2.2 The Contractor shall be responsible to the Owner for acts and omissions of the Contractor\u2019s employees, Subcontractors and their agents and employees, and other persons or entities performing portions of the Work for or on behalf of the Contractor or any of its Subcontractors.\n* * #\n15.1 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND PROGRAMS The Contractor shall be responsible for initiating, maintaining and supervising all safety precautions and programs in connection with the performance of the Contract. The Contractor shall take reasonable precautions for the safety of, and shall provide reasonable protection to prevent damage, injury or loss to:\n.1 employees on the Work and other persons who may be affected thereby.\u201d\nStrong admitted that Sollitt had \u201cgeneral control\u201d over its subcontractors\u2019 work, but denied that Sollitt had \u201cspecific control\u201d over the subcontractors, including Anderson. Sollitt\u2019s job was primarily to coordinate the work of various subcontractors. Sollitt did not require its construction superintendent to do a daily \u201cwalk-through\u201d; however, in the course of his daily duties, the superintendent would observe the progress of the work and the conditions of the site. Should he observe people work in an unsafe manner, he had the authority to stop the work. The primary responsibility for the safety of the subcontractors\u2019 personnel and for compliance with all applicable standards and requirements was with the subcontractors. Although the subcontractors were required to conduct safety \u201ctoolbox meetings,\u201d the topics covered were left to the subcontractors\u2019 discretion. The subcontractors controlled their own work and had their own means and methods of doing it.\nPaul Ryan, Sollitt\u2019s field superintendent, testified in his deposition that although he coordinated the work of various subcontractors, he did not tell the subcontractors, including Anderson, how to perform their work and did not get involved in the specific details of the subcontractors\u2019 safety means in the areas of ladder safety and fall protection. The subcontractors provided their own equipment. Sollitt required that every subcontractor have a safety protocol. Ryan made sure that every subcontractor had a copy of its own safety manual on site. At various times throughout the day, Ryan would be walking through the jobsite. While doing so, he was looking for hazards, among other things. In the event he encountered a hazard, Ryan would instruct that it be corrected. Based on his daily observations of the Anderson crew, he stated that they performed their work in a safe and suitable manner. The day before the incident, Ryan observed the conditions in the \u201cold fan room.\u201d The room was adequately lit, and he did not observe any unsafe conditions. Ryan was aware of the existence of the drainage pit, which was approximately 12 inches deep, in compartment 1. He next visited the \u201cold fan room\u201d shortly after the incident and observed a piece of plywood teetering on milk crates. Ryan stated that he knew that Anderson brought some of its supplies to the site in milk crates, and no other subcontractor used those types of crates.\nBradley Gaski, Sollitt\u2019s labor foreman for the project, testified in his deposition that his job included giving his fellow Sollitt employees their job assignments for the day, making sure \u201ceverything is going smooth[ly]\u201d and \u201cinspecting for safety issues.\u201d As far as he knew, no employees or agents of Sollitt instructed Anderson\u2019s employees on how to do their work or provided them with any tools or equipment. With respect to the safety of the subcontractors\u2019 personnel, Gaski stated that if he saw a safety violation, he would be responsible for stopping the work and correcting the problem. Prior to Cochran\u2019s fall, he was unaware of the unsafe ladder setup in the \u201cold fan room.\u201d\nDavid Hermsdorfer, Sollitt\u2019s carpenter foreman on the project, testified in his deposition that his primary responsibility was for Sollitt\u2019s carpenters. In regard to the safety of the subcontractors\u2019 employees, his responsibility was to stop the work he observed being done in an unsafe manner and tell the subcontractor to correct the problem. However, Hermsdorfer did not have a responsibility to inspect the subcontractors\u2019 ladders or scaffold supports.\nSollitt\u2019s subcontractor safety handbook, which is part of the record on appeal, was incorporated into the subcontract agreements. The handbook stated that subcontractors had the primary responsibility for the safety of their personnel and compliance with all local, state and federal standards and requirements. The handbook required each subcontractor to have a competent project safety representative assigned to the project, conduct weekly safety \u201ctoolbox\u201d talks, and report all accidents and incidents to Sollitt.\nSollitt\u2019s safety manual, which was patterned after and mirrored the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, provided that Sollitt\u2019s superintendent and foremen were \u201ccompetent persons\u201d with the attendant duty to maintain safe work conditions for their crews and safe working practices by all personnel. More specifically, \u201ccompetent persons\u201d were responsible for enforcing the rules and regulations set forth by the construction contracts, recognizing safety issues or violations, and arranging for periodic safety inspections. \u201cCompetent persons\u201d also had the authority to stop the work being done in an unsafe manner.\nSollitt moved for summary judgment, arguing that the language of the construction contract between it and Loyola Hospital was not controlling; rather, the existence of a duty on the part of a general contractor such as itself was governed by the \u201cretained control\u201d theory articulated in section 414 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts (the Restatement). Section 414, which has been adopted in Illinois, provides:\n\u201cOne 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.\u201d Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 414, at 387 (1965).\nThe \u201cretained control\u201d concept is further explained in comment c to section 414:\n\u201cIn 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.\u201d (Emphasis added.) Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 414, Comment c, at 388 (1965).\nSollitt thus argued that it owed no duty of care to Anderson\u2019s employees because it did not exercise such control over the operative details of Anderson\u2019s work that Anderson\u2019s employees were not entirely free to perform the work in their own way. In the alternative, Sollitt argued that it could not be held liable under the retained control theory because it did not have actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition.\nCochran, in opposition to Sollitt\u2019s motion for summary judgment, stated that \u201c[t]he controlling issue of this case is whether [Sollitt] retained such control over [the subcontractors\u2019] work so as to be reasonably held liable for injuries caused due to the failure to exercise that control with sufficient care.\u201d Cochran argued that the case, at the very least, presented a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Sollitt, pursuant to the contract and/or section 414, owed him a duty to provide a safe workplace. Cochran did not raise an issue that Sollitt owed him a duty of care under the theory of premises liability articulated in section 343 of the Restatement (Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 343, at 215-16 (1965)), which has also been adopted in Illinois and applied in cases where a construction worker was injured on the jobsite. Nor was section 343 raised in Sollitt\u2019s reply.\nThe circuit court granted Sollitt\u2019s motion for summary judgment. The court found that the evidence tendered did not show that Sollitt controlled \u201cthe operative details, the incidental aspects or the means and methods of [Cochran\u2019s] work\u201d and, consequently, did not owe Cochran a duty of care predicated on the retained control theory of section 414 of the Restatement. The circuit court, in the alternative, found that there was no evidence that Sollitt had actual or constructive notice of the condition complained of. This appeal followed.\nANALYSIS\nSummary judgment is appropriate where the pleadings, depositions, admissions and affidavits on file, viewed in light most favorable to the nonmovant, show that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. 735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 1005(c) (West 2002); Sollami v. Eaton, 201 Ill. 2d 1, 6-7, 772 N.E.2d 215, 218 (2002). We review a grant of summary judgment de novo. Golden Rule Insurance Co. v. Schwartz, 203 Ill. 2d 456, 462, 786 N.E.2d 1010, 1014 (2003).\nOn appeal, Cochran contends that Sollitt owed him a duty of care under two alternative theories: (1) the retained control theory with the reference to section 414 of the Restatement and the contract between Sollitt and Loyola Hospital; and (2) the premises liability theory of section 343 of the Restatement.\nThe Premises Liability Theory\nSollitt argues that Cochran waived the premises liability theory for review because he did not raise it in his response to Sollitt\u2019s motion for summary judgment. \u201cIt is well settled that issues not raised in the trial court are deemed waived and may not be raised for the first time on appeal.\u201d Haudrich v. Howmedica, Inc., 169 Ill. 2d 525, 536, 662 N.E.2d 1248, 1253 (1996). Cochran, however, argues that it is sufficient that he raised the premises liability theory in his complaint by alleging that Sollitt was negligent in managing, maintaining and controlling the premises and in providing him with a safe place to work. We disagree with Cochran. See E&E Hauling, Inc. v. Ryan, 306 Ill. App. 3d 131, 140, 713 N.E.2d 178, 185 (1999) (issues not raised during summary judgment proceedings are waived); Sasser v. Alfred Benesch & Co., 216 Ill. App. 3d 445, 452, 576 N.E.2d 303, 308 (1991) (theories not argued during summary judgment proceedings are waived). Waiver aside, Cochran\u2019s premises liability argument would, in any event, fail because no evidence was presented that Sollitt knew or should have known of the unsafe ladder setup in the \u201cold fan room.\u201d See Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 343, at 215-16 (1965) (no liability may he imposed in the absence of actual or constructive knowledge of the unsafe condition). As shall be further discussed below, by Cochran\u2019s own admission, the unsafe ladder setup existed for an hour at the most (for less than half an hour while Cochran was working in compartment 2 and Wesselhoff was setting up the ladder in compartment 1, and then for approximately half an hour during which Cochran received instructions and performed work in compartment 1). No one disputes that the unsafe setup was in a relatively remote location in the sub-basement of the hospital. No evidence was presented that any of Sollitt\u2019s \u201ccompetent persons\u201d had observed the unsafe setup. Accordingly, no genuine issue of material fact as to Sollitt\u2019s lack of knowledge exists here.\nThe Retained Control Theory\nSollitt\u2019s lack of knowledge of the unsafe ladder setup is also dispositive of Cochran\u2019s remaining theories of recovery. As noted, each of Cochran\u2019s theories of recovery is grounded in common-law negligence. The essential elements of a cause of action based on common-law negligence are the existence of a duty owed by the defendant to the plaintiff, the breach of that duty, and the injury proximately caused by that breach. Ward v. K mart Corp., 136 Ill. 2d 132, 140, 554 N.E.2d 223, 226 (1990). Generally, a duty of care arises where the parties stand in such a relationship to one another that the law imposes upon the defendant an obligation of reasonable conduct for the benefit of the plaintiff. Ward, 136 Ill. 2d at 140, 554 N.E.2d at 226. Section 414, which has long been recognized as an expression of law in Illinois (see Larson v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 33 Ill. 2d 316, 325, 211 N.E.2d 247, 252-53 (1965)), articulates the duty of those who employ independent contractors. It provides a \u201cretained control\u201d exception to the general rule that an employer of an independent contractor is not liable for the independent contractor\u2019s acts or omissions. Gomien v. Wear-Ever Aluminum, Inc., 50 Ill. 2d 19, 21, 276 N.E.2d 336, 338 (1971).\nAs comment a to section 414 explains, this section imposes the degree of duty which corresponds to the level of control retained by the employer of the independent contractor:\n\u201cIf 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.\u201d Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 414, Comment a, at 387 (1965).\nAs noted, Cochran complains of Sollitt\u2019s failure to correct the unsafe ladder setup in the \u201cold fan room\u201d or to cause Anderson to do so. In essence, as shall be discussed, this theory of recovery is twofold. As comment a to section 414 clarifies, the general contractor, by retaining control over the operative details of its subcontractor\u2019s work, may become vicariously liable for the subcontractor\u2019s negligence; alternatively, even in the absence of such control, the general contractor may be directly liable for not exercising his supervisory control with reasonable care.\nCochran relies on the Fourth District\u2019s decision in Moss v. Rowe Construction, 344 Ill. App. 3d 772, 801 N.E.2d 612 (2003), which is on point. The contract in Moss between the Illinois Department of Transportation and the general contractor provided, in pertinent part:\n\u201c \u2018Article VIII. Safety: Accident Prevention:\n1. In the performance of this contract the contractor shall comply with all applicable [flederal, [s]tate, and local laws governing safety, health, and sanitation (23 CFR [\u00a7] 635). The contractor shall provide all safeguards, safety devices[,] and protective equipment and take any other needed actions as it determines, or as the SHA [State Highway Agency] contracting officer may determine to be reasonably necessary to protect the life and health of employees on the job and the safety of the public and to protect properly in connection with the performance of the work covered by the contract.\n2. It is a condition of this contract, and shall be made a condition of each subcontract, which the contractor enters into pursuant to this contract, that the contractor and any subcontractor shall not permit any employee, in performance of the contract, to work in surroundings or under conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous!!,] or dangerous to his/her health or safety, as determined under construction safety and health standards (29 CFR [\u00a7] 1926) promulgated by the Secretary of Labor, in accordance with section 107 of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. [\u00a7] 333).\u2019\n\u2018The contractor shall furnish (a) a competent superintendent or supervisor who is employed by the firm, has full authority to direct performance of the work in accordance with the contract requirements, and is in charge of all construction operations (regardless of who performs the work) ***.\u2019 \u201d Moss, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 774, 801 N.E.2d at 613.\nThese provisions were incorporated into the subcontract agreement between the general contractor and the employer of the plaintiff\u2019s decedent. Moss, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 774, 801 N.E.2d at 613. The court in Moss, although acknowledging that section 414 of the Restatement applied, held that \u201c[i]n this case, the retention of the duty to control safety is answered directly by the contracts.\u201d Moss, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 776, 801 N.E.2d at 614-15. The court began by framing the central issue of retained control not in terms of who had \u201ccontrol of the \u2018means and methods\u2019 of performing the task, but rather who contractually and/or physically [had] the duty to control [the] safety of the project.\u201d Moss, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 777, 801 N.E.2d at 615. The court reasoned that it could not ignore the language of the contract \u2014 \u201c[t]o do so, *** would make the contractual obligations for safety a meaningless nullity.\u201d Moss, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 777, 801 N.E.2d at 615. The court further stated that \u201c[r]egardless of whether language of a contract originates from governmental regulations or is specifically written for an individualized transaction, it may create a duty that is owed to a third party. Restatement (Second) of Contracts \u00a7 304, Comment 6, at 448 (1981).\u201d Moss, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 780, 801 N.E.2d at 617. The court, thus, articulated the following test:\n\u201cFirst, the contractual language must be reviewed to determine what terms address the duty to control safety. The facts must then be reviewed to determine whether the duty was physically fulfilled under the contract.\u201d Moss, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 777, 801 N.E.2d at 615.\nUltimately, the court, relying on the language of the contract, decided that summary judgment for the general contractor was inappropriate because genuine issues of material fact remained \u201cas to whether the contract placed a duty to control safety on defendant and whether defendant physically exercised or failed to exercise that duty.\u201d Moss, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 784, 801 N.E.2d at 621.\nSollitt argues that the Moss analysis is legally flawed and asserts that the First District has already rejected it in our recent decision in Martens v. MCL Construction Corp., 347 Ill. App. 3d 303, 807 N.E.2d 480 (2004). In Martens, this court disagreed with Moss that the central issue is whether the defendant had undertaken the task of controlling the safety of the project. Rather, Martens stated:\n\u201cThe central issue is retained control of the independent contractor\u2019s work, whether contractual, supervisory, operational, or some mix thereof. The party who retains control is the logical party upon whom to impose a duty to ensure worker safety. Penalizing a general contractor\u2019s efforts to promote safety and coordinate a general safety program among various independent contractors at a large jobsite hardly serves to advance the goal of work site safety. A party who retains some control over the safety of the work has a duty to exercise that control with ordinary care. Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Civil, No. 55.02 (Supp. 2003). Nevertheless, the existence of a safety program, safety manual or safety director does not constitute retained control per se; the court must still conduct an analysis pursuant to the section 414 retained control exception. See Moss, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 784 (Cook, J., specially concurring). We recognize, of course, that if a defendant\u2019s safety program sufficiently affected a contractor\u2019s means and methods of doing its work, then such program could bring the defendant within the ambit of the retained control exception. See Moss, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 775-76 (defendant was subject to section 414 liability where improperly placed equipment contributed to the worker\u2019s injury, contract terms limited the independent contractor\u2019s options regarding the placement of equipment, and defendant retained substantial contractual control of safety).\u201d Martens, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 318-19, 807 N.E.2d at 492.\nIn our view, Martens and Moss focus on different facets of section 414. As noted, comment a to section 414 explains that the general contractor, by retaining control over the operative details of its subcontractor\u2019s work, may become vicariously liable for the subcontractor\u2019s negligence; alternatively, even in the absence of such control, the general contractor may be directly liable for not exercising his supervisory control with reasonable care. Martens spoke in terms of \u201cretained control of the independent contractor\u2019s work\u201d and whether \u201c[the] defendant\u2019s safety program sufficiently affected a [subcontractor\u2019s means and methods of doing its work.\u201d Martens, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 318, 807 N.E.2d at 492. Moss, however, was decided on the theory of direct liability for failing to exercise what the court termed a \u201cspecific mandate for safety contained in the contracts.\u201d Moss, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 783, 801 N.E.2d at 620 (\u201cIn the face of this contractual duty to control safety, the trial court erred in considering only whether the general contractor retained control over the means and methods over the performance of the [subcontractor\u2019s] job ***. The law requires the trial court to review the contractual language regarding the general contractor\u2019s duty to maintain safety of workers\u201d). Taken together, the two cases illustrate the full reach of section 414.\nCochran relies on the First District\u2019s decisions in Bokodi v. Foster Wheeler Robbins, Inc., 312 Ill. App. 3d 1051, 728 N.E.2d 726 (2000), Claudy v. City of Sycamore, 170 Ill. App. 3d 990, 524 N.E.2d 994 (1988), and the early decisions in Pasko v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 14 Ill. App. 3d 481, 302 N.E.2d 642 (1973), and Weber v. Northern Illinois Gas Co., 10 Ill. App. 3d 625, 295 N.E.2d 41 (1973), for the proposition that Sollitt owed him a duty of care by virtue of its retained control. Sollitt argues that all of these cases are factually distinguishable from the instant case. We agree with Sollitt.\nHere, the record shows that, unlike the general contractor in Bokodi, Sollitt did not employ a full-time safety manager, did not conduct safety meetings for its subcontractors, did not require its superintendent to do a daily \u201cwalk-through,\u201d did not get involved in the specific details of the subcontractors\u2019 safety means, did not actively inspect for safety violations, and only empowered its \u201ccompetent persons,\u201d as opposed to all of its employees, to halt the subcontractors\u2019 work upon observing safety violations. In Claudy, unlike here, the trial judge noted that the matter was not \u201c \u2018one hundred percent free from doubt,\u2019 \u201d and there was testimony that the defendant exercised control over the plaintiffs employer. Claudy, 170 Ill. App. 3d at 998, 524 N.E.2d at 999.\nIn Pasko and Weber, however, there is some analytical language that, if taken literally, would seem to broadly construe what it means to have retained control over the subcontractor\u2019s work. In both cases, the defendant\u2019s inspector was present daily at the construction site and there was strong evidence that he knew of the unsafe condition. Pasko, 14 Ill. App. 3d at 489, 302 N.E.2d at 649; Weber, 10 Ill. App. 3d at 634, 295 N.E.2d at 46. Weber had stated:\n\u201cWe conclude that a factfinder could determine that [the employer of the subcontractor] met the standards of control expressed in the comments [to section 414]. It did retain the power to forbid the work being done in a manner dangerous to others. It did fail to prevent the subcontractor from doing the details of the work in a dangerous manner when it knew it was so being done. It had more power than to make only suggestions or recommendations, and it did retain such a right of supervision that the subcontractor was not entirely free to do the work in his own way.\u201d Weber, 10 Ill. App. 3d at 639, 295 N.E.2d at 50.\nPasko had similarly stated:\n\u201cBefore an employer can be subjected to liability under this rule there must be such a retention of a right to supervise that the contractor is not entirely free to do the work in his own way. The power to forbid work from being done in a manner likely to be dangerous to himself or others is given as an illustration of the type of power retained by an employer which could subject him to liability.\u201d Pasko, 14 Ill. App. 3d at 488, 302 N.E.2d at 648.\nNeither Pasko nor Weber draws a clear distinction between direct liability and vicarious liability. As such, they do not delineate in sharp focus the distinction between the two drawn by comment a to section 414. To the extent that Pasko and Weber may suggest a liberal standard as to the degree of control sufficient to impose derivative liability, they have been superceded by our more recent decisions. See Shaughnessy v. Skender Construction Co., 342 Ill. App. 3d 730, 794 N.E.2d 937 (2003) (the general contractor\u2019s contractual undertaking to supervise and direct the work; he responsible for and control the construction means, methods, techniques, sequences and procedures for coordinating all portions of the work; be responsible for initiating, maintaining and supervising all safety precautions and programs; and to employ a superintendent whose duties included prevention of accidents \u2014 did not indicate control over the manner in which the employee of the subcontractor performed his work); Kotecki v. Walsh Construction Co., 333 Ill. App. 3d 583, 776 N.E.2d 774 (2002) (the general contractor\u2019s reservation of a general right over the work \u2014 the right to start, stop and inspect the progress \u2014 was not sufficient to impose vicarious liability where the control over the manner of the work of the subcontractor\u2019s employees was exercised only by the subcontractor); Rangel v. Brookhaven Constructors, Inc., 307 Ill. App. 3d 835, 719 N.E.2d 174 (1999) (the general contractor\u2019s retention of the right to inspect the work done, order changes to the specifications and plans, and ensure that safety precautions were observed and the work was done in a safe manner did not show that the general contractor retained control over the means of the independent contractor\u2019s work).\nIn the instant case, like in Shaughnessy, Kotecki and Rangel, there is no basis for vicarious liability because no evidence was presented that Sollitt so controlled the operative details of Anderson\u2019s work that Anderson\u2019s employees were not entirely free to perform the work in their own way.\nHowever, while in light of Shaughnessy, Kotecki and Rangel the holdings in Pasko and Weber are not sustainable under the theory of derivative liability, these holdings are sustainable under the theory of direct liability under comments a and b to section 414. In both Pasko and Weber there was strong evidence that the defendant\u2019s inspector knew of the unsafe conditions or the inadequate equipment, respectively, and took no steps to stop the work or otherwise remedy the situation. See Pasko, 14 Ill. App. 3d at 489, 302 N.E.2d at 649; Weber, 10 Ill. App. 3d at 634, 295 N.E.2d at 46. As shall be more fully discussed below, such knowledge would provide a sufficient basis for the imposition of direct liability for failure to exercise the general supervisory control with reasonable care.\nHere, there can be no genuine issue of material fact that Sollitt\u2019s state of knowledge and degree of control were insufficient to support a finding of liability under the theory of direct liability; so too, as discussed, there was no such basis from which to infer any derivative liability. In this regard, we again turn to the Restatement. Comment b to section 414 provides:\n\u201cThe rule stated in this Section is usually, though not exclusively, applicable when a principal contractor entrusts a part of the work to subcontractors, but himself or through a foreman superintends the entire job. In such a situation, the principal contractor is subject to liability if he fails to prevent the subcontractors from doing even the details of the work in a way unreasonably dangerous to others, if he knows or by the exercise of reasonable care should know that the subcontractors\u2019 work is being so done, and has the opportunity to prevent it by exercising the power of control which he has retained in himself. So too, he is subject to liability if he knows or should know that the subcontractors have carelessly done their work in such a way as to create a dangerous condition, and fails to exercise reasonable care either to remedy it himself or by the exercise of his control cause the subcontractor to do so.\u201d (Emphasis added.) Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 414, Comment b, at 387-88 (1965).\nAccording to comment b to section 414, the general contractor\u2019s knowledge, actual or constructive, of the unsafe work methods or a dangerous condition is a precondition to direct liability. Here, as noted, Cochran admitted that the unsafe ladder setup created by Anderson\u2019s foreman Wesselhoff was in existence for an hour at the most before his injury, which occurred in a relatively remote location in the subbasement of the hospital. None of Sollitt\u2019s \u201ccompetent persons\u201d had observed the unsafe setup during that short a time period. As we stated in Rangel, no liability lies on such facts:\n\u201cThis unsafe method of performing the work, which led to [the plaintiff\u2019s] injury, was proposed by [his] employer just hours before the accident. Here, *** there is nothing to suggest that the general contractor \u2018knew or had notice of the hazardous method employed within this restrictive time period.\u2019 \u201d Rangel, 307 Ill. App. 3d at 839, 719 N.E.2d at 177, quoting Bezan v. Chrysler Motors Corp., 263 Ill. App. 3d 858, 864, 636 N.E.2d 1079, 1083 (1994).\nFor the reasons set forth above, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court.\nAffirmed.\nCAHILL, RJ., and O\u2019MALLEY, J., concur.\nffioyola Hospital was dismissed as defendant in this action and is not party to this appeal.\nCochran stated that he did not know whether anyone else was present in compartment 1 while Wesselhoff was setting up ladders.\nSection 343 provides:\n\u201cA possessor of land is subject to liability for physical harm caused to his invitees by a condition on the land if, but only if, he\n(a) knows or by the exercise of reasonable care would discover the condition, and should realize that it involves an unreasonable risk of harm to such invitees, and\n(b) should expect that they will not discover or realize the danger, or will fail to protect themselves against it, and\n(c) fails to exercise reasonable care to protect them against the danger.\u201d Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 343, at 215-16 (1965).\nA similar position, albeit not as articulately stated, was expressed in Shaughnessy v. Skender Construction Co., 342 Ill. App. 3d 730, 794 N.E.2d 937 (2003), Kotecki v. Walsh Construction Co., 333 Ill. App. 3d 583, 776 N.E.2d 774 (2002), and Rangel v. Brookhaven Constructors, Inc., 307 Ill. App. 3d 835, 719 N.E.2d 174 (1999).", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE JOSEPH GORDON" } ], "attorneys": [ "David J. Kupets and Jason M. Kleinman, both of Law Offices of Kupets & DeCaro, P.C., of Chicago, for appellants.", "Philip W. Domagalski and William E. Spizzirri, both of Kralovec & Marquard, Chtrd., of Chicago, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "GEORGE COCHRAN et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. GEORGE SOLLITT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee (Loyola University Medical Center, Defendant).\nFirst District (1st Division)\nNo. 1\u201404\u20142616\nOpinion filed June 30, 2005.\nDavid J. Kupets and Jason M. Kleinman, both of Law Offices of Kupets & DeCaro, P.C., of Chicago, for appellants.\nPhilip W. Domagalski and William E. Spizzirri, both of Kralovec & Marquard, Chtrd., of Chicago, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0865-01", "first_page_order": 883, "last_page_order": 898 }