Ormsby v. Capital Welding, Inc

We granted leave to appeal in this case to consider the relationship between the “common work area doctrine” and the “retained control doctrine,” and to address the scope of each doctrine. At common law, property owners and general contractors generally could not be held liable for the negligence of independent subcontractors and their employees. In Funk v Gen Motors Corp, 392 Mich 91, 104-105; 220 NW2d 641 (1974),1 however, this Court set forth a new exception to this general rule of nonliability, holding that, under certain circumstances, a general contractor could be held liable under the…