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PLAINTIFF WAS STANDING ON AN A-FRAME LADDER WHEN A CEILING TILE DROPPED, THE LADDER WIGGLED, AND PLAINTIFF FELL; PLANTIFF WAS ENTITLED TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON THE LABOR LAW 240(1) CAUSE OF ACTION; THE LADDER WAS NOT AN ADEQUATE SAFETY DEVICE (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff was entitled to summary judgment on the Labor Law 240(1) cause of action in this ladder-fall case. It was enough to demonstrate the A-frame ladder wiggled when a ceiling tile dropped unexpectedly and there was nothing for plaintiff to grab on to:

Plaintiff established prima facie entitlement to summary judgment on the Labor Law § 240(1) claim through his deposition testimony which showed that the A-frame ladder he was using to perform overhead ceiling-wiring work proved inadequate as a safety device … . Furthermore, we have repeatedly held that “‘[i]t is irrelevant that plaintiff inspected the ladder and found it to be in good order before using it, as [a] plaintiff is not required to demonstrate that the ladder was defective in order to make a prima facie showing of entitlement to summary judgment on his Labor Law 240(1) claim'” … . Plaintiff testified that he was using both hands to perform the overhead ceiling work, when he was suddenly “jolted” by an unexpected drop of a ceiling tile that he was handling, resulting in a “wiggle” in the ladder, which preceded his loss of balance and eventual fall, as there was nothing available for plaintiff to grab onto to brace himself against a fall.

Defendants fail to raise an issue of fact. Contrary to their contention, plaintiff’s fall from the ladder was “directly related to the work that he was performing, as opposed to his own misstep” or an unexplained loss of balance … . To the extent defendants argue that the ladder did not fall until plaintiff first lost his balance, such argument does not, based on the facts here, show that the ladder was an adequate safety device for plaintiff’s task (… [It is “no moment whether the ladder shook prior to plaintiff’s fall, or as defendants maintain, after plaintiff lost his balance and grabbed the top of it to steady himself. In either event, the ladder was an inadequate safety device”]). Daniello v J.T. Magen & Co. Inc., 2025 NY Slip Op 03649, First Dept 6-17-25

Practice Point: Here plaintiff was standing on an A-frame ladder when a ceiling tile dropped, the ladder wiggled, and plaintiff fell because there was nothing for him to grab on to. That is enough for summary judgment on the ground the ladder was not an adequate safety device. There is no need to demonstrate the ladder was defective.

 

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