Since the COVID-19 crisis began, New York’s legal community has been closely following developments regarding a series of Executive Orders issued by Governor Cuomo involving the suspension and/or tolling of legal deadlines during the 228-day period from March 20 to November 3, 2020. In particular, uncertainty had lingered as to whether these orders would effectively “toll” statutes of limitations and other legal deadlines, or alternatively, merely “suspend” them.

By statute, owners of “one- or two-family dwellings” are exempt from liability under the express language of Labor Law §§ 240(1) and 241(6), unless they directed or controlled the work being performed. The exemption does not apply to general contractors or subcontractors, even if they worked on single-family homes.