PLAINTIFF’S ACTION AGAINST DEFENDANT FOR LETTING PLAINTIFF USE A SCISSORS LIFT SURVIVED SUMMARY JUDGMENT; PLAINTIFF ALLEGED DEFENDANT NEGLIGENTLY ENTRUSTED THE LIFT TO HIM, KNOWING HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO OPERATE IT; PLAINTIFF WAS INJURED WHEN THE LIFT TIPPED OVER AND PLAINTIFF FELL 25 FEET (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined there was a question of fact whether defendant building contractor negligently entrusted a scissors lift to plaintiff, who was injured when the lift tipped over:

Given the testimony regarding plaintiff’s alleged lack of experience operating the subject scissor lift, the alleged observations by defendant’s employees of plaintiff’s operation thereof, Reagles’ [defendant’s project superintendent’s] assumption as to plaintiff’s level of training and his subsequent knowledge that an employee of defendant was allegedly made aware, prior to the accident, that plaintiff was not familiar with and/or trained in the use and operation of the scissor lift, we find that defendant failed to meet its prima facie burden of establishing the absence of a triable issue of fact, specifically as to whether defendant knew or should have known that plaintiff lacked the requisite training and experience necessary to safely operate the subject scissor lift at the time it was entrusted to him, rendering his subsequent use thereof unreasonably dangerous … . Moreover, the issue of proximate cause is generally more appropriately resolved by the trier of fact … . Further, although it is undisputed that plaintiff was the sole operator of the scissor lift, we find a question of fact also exists as to whether plaintiff’s injuries were a foreseeable result of defendant’s negligent entrustment of the lift to plaintiff … . Hull v The Pike Co., 2019 NY Slip Op 05611, Third Dept 7-11-19