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PLAINTIFF FELL FROM A SCAFFOLD WHICH DID NOT HAVE GUARDRAILS AND WAS ENTITLED TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON HIS LABOR LAW 240(1) CAUSE OF ACTION DESPITE DEFENDANTS’ ARGUMENTS THAT PLAINTIFF DID NOT LOCK THE WHEELS ON THE SCAFFOLD AND PLAINTIFF MAY HAVE FAINTED OR STEPPED BACKWARDS OFF THE SCAFFOLD (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff was entitled to summary judgment on his Labor Law 240(1)cause of action. Plaintiff apparently fell from a scaffold which did not have guardrails. Defendants unsuccessfully argued plaintiff did not lock the wheels of the scaffold and therefore was the sole proximate cause of the accident:

… [D]efendants failed to raise an issue of fact as to whether plaintiff was the sole proximate cause of his accident. Given the scaffold’s inadequacy to protect him from falling, plaintiff’s alleged failure to lock the wheels of the scaffold could not be the sole proximate cause of his accident … . It would be at most comparative negligence, which is not a defense to a Labor Law § 240(1) claim … . Defendants’ argument, raised for the first time on appeal, that plaintiff was the sole proximate cause because he was not wearing a safety harness is also unavailing … , as is their suggestion that plaintiff may have fainted and/or stepped backwards off the scaffold … . Ordonez v One City Block, LLC, 2021 NY Slip Op 00529, First Dept 2-2-21

 

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THE ALLEGATIONS IN THE VERIFIED COMPLAINT IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE WERE SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR A DEFAULT JUDGMENT; THE DEFENDANT’S FAILURE TO ANSWER IS DEEMED TO BE AN ADMISSION TO THE ALLEGATIONS (FIRST DEPT).
DEFENDANT MANUFACTURED VALVES CONTAINING ASBESTOS; ALTHOUGH DEFENDANT HAD A SMALL OFFICE IN NYC THE VALVES WERE MANUFACTURED AND SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, WHERE PLAINTIFF LIVED AND WORKED; THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NEW YORK AND PLAINTIFF’S CLAIMS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR NEW YORK JURISDICTION (FIRST DEPT). ​
DEFENDANTS DID NOT DEMONSTRATE LACK OF NOTICE OF DANGEROUS CONDITION, SUMMARY JUDGMENT PROPERLY DENIED.
ALTHOUGH THE APPELLANT WAS IN JAPAN, THE 1ST DEPARTMENT REFUSED TO DISMISS THE APPEAL PURSUANT TO THE FUGITIVE DISENTITLEMENT DOCTRINE IN THIS FAMILY COURT CIVIL-CONTEMPT MATTER; APPELLANT HAD APPEARED VIRTUALLY IN COURT PROCEEDINGS AND STATED HE WOULD RETURN TO NEW YORK TO COMPLY WITH ANY COURT ORDER (FIRST DEPT).
PLAINTIFF FELL FROM AN A-FRAME LADDER OWNED BY A CONTRACTOR, DAL, HE DID NOT WORK FOR; BASED ON DISPUTED EVIDENCE THE LADDER WAS DEFECTIVE, DAL’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON THE LABOR LAW 200 AND COMMON LAW NEGLIGENCE CAUSES OF ACTION WAS DENIED BY SUPREME COURT; THE FIRST DEPARTMENT, OVER A DISSENT, REVERSED, FINDING DAL DID NOT OWE PLAINTIFF A DUTY OF CARE (FIRST DEPT). ​
IN A COMPREHENSIVE DECISION ANALYZING THE ELEMENTS OF PROOF IN A SLIP AND FALL CASE, INCLUDING EXPERT OPINION EVIDENCE, THE 1ST DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE DEFENDANT STORE DEMONSTRATED IT DID NOT HAVE CONSTRUCTIVE OR ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF A PUDDLE OF WATER IN FRONT OF AN ICE MACHINE (FIRST DEPT).
“AT ISSUE” WAIVER OF THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE EXPLAINED; AS LONG AS THE PRIVILEGED MATERIAL IS NOT USED AS PROOF, IT IS NOT “AT ISSUE.” (FIRST DEPT).
Documentary Evidence Can Be Considered In CPLR 3211(a)(7) Motion to Dismiss/Disclaimer Not Specific Enough to Preclude Fraud Cause of Action

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ALTHOUGH PLAINTIFF FELL FROM A LADDER, HIS LABOR LAW 240(1) CAUSE OF ACTION... EVICTION WAS TOO SEVERE A PENALTY FOR PETITIONER’S MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL...