Summary
In Vukovich v 1345 Fee, LLC (61 AD3d 533 [1st Dept 2009]), we awarded summary judgment as to liability to a pipe fitter who fell from a ladder after receiving an electric shock, reasoning that "[t]he ladder provided to plaintiff was inadequate to prevent him from falling... and was a proximate cause of his injuries" (id. at 534).
Summary of this case from Nazario v. 222 Broadway, LLCOpinion
No. 4982.
April 21, 2009.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Edward H. Lehner, J.), entered May 1, 2008, which, insofar as appealed from as limited by the briefs, denied plaintiffs motion for partial summary judgment on the issue of liability on his Labor Law § 240 (1) cause of action, and denied the cross motion of defendant Plaza Construction Corp. (Plaza) for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff's Labor Law § 200 and common-law negligence claims and on its claim for contractual indemnification against defendant ADCO Electrical Corp. (ADCO), unanimously modified, on the law, plaintiffs motion granted, and otherwise affirmed, without costs.
Traub Lieberman Straus Shrewsberry LLP, Hawthorne (Denis Farrell of counsel), for appellant-respondent.
James J. McCrorie, P.C., Jericho, for respondent-appellant.
French Rafter, LLP, New York (Lance E. Benowitz of counsel), for respondent.
Before: Mazzarelli, J.P., Sweeny, DeGrasse and Freedman, JJ.
Plaintiff was injured when, while working as a pipe fitter at the premises being renovated, he received an electric shock and fell from the third or fourth rung of an unsecured A-frame ladder. There were no witnesses to the accident.
The evidence demonstrates that plaintiff was entitled to partial summary judgment on the issue of liability on his Labor Law § 240 (1) claim. The ladder provided to plaintiff was inadequate to prevent him from falling five to seven feet to the floor after being shocked, and was a proximate cause of his injuries ( see Williams v 520 Madison Partnership, 38 AD3d 464; Orellano v 29 E. 37th St. Realty Corp., 292 AD2d 289). That plaintiff had no recollection of falling to the floor does not alter this result ( see Felker v Corning Inc., 90 NY2d 219).
Since there are questions of fact concerning Plaza's authority to control the activity in question, summary judgment was properly denied with respect to the Labor Law § 200 and common-law negligence causes of action ( Ross v Curtis-Palmer Hydro-Elec. Co., 81 NY2d 494, 505-506). Those same issues of fact preclude an award of contractual indemnification in favor of Plaza at this time ( see Pardo v Bialystoker Ctr. Bikur Cholim, Inc., 10 AD3d 298, 301).
Reargument granted and, upon reargument, the decision and order of this Court entered on January 6, 2009 ( 58 AD3d 410) recalled and vacated and a new decision and order substituted therefor. Leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals denied. Reargument denied.