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AFTER THE JURY HAD FOUND DEFENDANT DID NOT VIOLATE LABOR LAW 240 (1), THE APPELLATE COURT DETERMINED PLAINTIFF SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON HIS LABOR LAW 240 (1) CAUSE OF ACTION AT THE OUTSET, PLAINTIFF FELL FROM A LADDER WHEN THE LADDER SHIFTED.

After a full trial the jury found defendant did not violate Labor Law 240 (1) and awarded damages on plaintiff’s Labor Law 241 (6) cause of action. Plaintiff had fallen from a ladder when it shifted. The Second Department determined plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment on the Labor Law 240 (1) cause of action should have been granted at the outset. Because the jury apportioned fault, the damages had to be revamped because comparative fault does not apply to a Labor Law 240 (1) cause of action. The court noted that plaintiff’s undocumented immigrant status and the fact he did not pay taxes and used a coworker’s name, issues raised by the defendant (apparently in opposition to plaintiff’s summary judgment motion), had no relevance to credibility as to any material fact:

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Before the matter proceeded to a trial on the issue of liability, the Supreme Court should have granted the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability on his Labor Law § 240(1) cause of action. The plaintiff established his prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law through his deposition testimony, which indicated that he was working on an unsecured ladder that moved while he was standing on it … . In opposition, Drake, which submitted only an attorney’s affirmation, failed to raise a triable issue of fact … . Contrary to Drake’s contention, the fact that the plaintiff was an undocumented immigrant who failed to pay taxes and had used a coworker’s name to obtain health insurance immediately following the accident does not present an issue relating to the plaintiff’s credibility as to any material fact … .

Further, as “contributory negligence will not exonerate a defendant who has violated [Labor Law § 240(1)] and proximately caused a plaintiff’s injury” … , the jury’s finding of comparative fault, and the corresponding reduction in the damages awarded to the plaintiff, must be vacated. Cano v Mid-Valley Oil Co., Inc., 2017 NY Slip Op 04419, 2nd Dept 6-7-17

 

LABOR LAW-CONSTRUCTION LAW (AFTER THE JURY HAD FOUND DEFENDANT DID NOT VIOLATE LABOR LAW 240 (1), THE APPELLATE COURT DETERMINED PLAINTIFF SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON HIS LABOR LAW 240 (1) CAUSE OF ACTION AT THE OUTSET, PLAINTIFF FELL FROM A LADDER WHEN THE LADDER SHIFTED)/LADDERS (LABOR LAW-CONSTRUCTION LAW, AFTER THE JURY HAD FOUND DEFENDANT DID NOT VIOLATE LABOR LAW 240 (1), THE APPELLATE COURT DETERMINED PLAINTIFF SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON HIS LABOR LAW 240 (1) CAUSE OF ACTION AT THE OUTSET, PLAINTIFF FELL FROM A LADDER WHEN THE LADDER SHIFTED)

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