When shareholders perform work in their apartments, the concept is that the shareholder assumes all risk and liability in connection with that work. In other words, the cooperative corporation is not responsible for any damage or injury. Those principles are embedded in alteration agreements.  However, there are certain statutes, such as Labor Law Section 240, commonly known as the “Scaffold Law,” that make building owners liable for certain construction injuries, regardless of the owner’s actual involvement in the work. And even though a cooperative corporation is not a traditional building owner, these laws do apply and a cooperative will be held liable. Importantly, contributory negligence doesn’t count. So, if a worker is partly at fault, it cannot be used to defend the claim.    Read the article……………