PLAINTIFF WAS INJURED WHEN A WHEEL ON THE CONTAINER HE WAS PUSHING GOT STUCK IN A GAP IN THE FLOOR AFTER THE PLYWOOD COVERING THE GAP BROKE; PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO AMEND THE COMPLAINT TO ADD THE RELEVANT INDUSTRIAL CODE PROVISION SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED; THE LABOR LAW 241(6), LABOR LAW 200 AND NEGLIGENCE CAUSES OF ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff’s Labor Law 241(6), Labor Law 200 and Negligence causes of action should not have been dismissed. Plaintiff was pushing a container of cinderblocks when plywood covering a gap in the floor broke and a wheel got stuck, causing plaintiff to be propelled head over heels and land on his back. The Second Department further held plaintiff should have been allowed to amend the complaint by adding the relevant Industrial Code provision, despite the 3 1/2 delay in bringing the motion to amend. Defendant was not prejudiced by the amendment:

As Industrial Code (12 NYCRR) § 23-1.7(e)(1) is applicable to these facts and defendant failed to show that it would be prejudiced by an amendment of the bill of particulars to assert a violation of this provision as a predicate to the Labor Law § 241(6) claim, plaintiff’s motion to amend should be granted (see CPLR 3025[b] …). In view of the absence of prejudice to defendant, plaintiff was not required to explain his 3½-year delay in bringing this motion … . …

… [A]n inadequately protected gap in the floor of a passageway at a construction site that causes a container, dumpster, or the like to become stuck or otherwise lose its balance and trip, slip, or fall violates Industrial Code (12 NYCRR) § 23-1.7(e)(1) and can serve as a predicate for a Labor Law § 241(6) claim. …

Defendant failed to establish prima facie that it neither created nor had notice of the dangerous condition of the hallway floor … . Trinidad v Turner Constr. Co., 2020 NY Slip Op 07519, First Dept 12-15-20