Owner Liability for Contractor's Negligent Excavation

A building owner who, during the construction of a basement, hired an independent contractor to perform excavation work, leading to a collapse of an adjacent building due to the lack of necessary shoring and retaining walls, was held liable for the resulting damages. The court reasoned that the owner, despite delegating the physical work, retained a non-delegable duty under civil law to ensure that the construction activities, including the necessary protective measures against damage to neighboring properties, were carried out safely, thus affirming the owner's responsibility for the contractor's failure to secure the excavation site properly.