Source: http://vertumnus.courts.state.ny.us/claims/html/2003-009-63.html
Timestamp: 2018-11-16 05:17:44
Document Index: 97729433

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 240', '§ 241', '§ 200', '§ 240', '§ 240', '§ 240', '§ 200', '§ 241']

DUNCAN v. THE STATE OF NEW YORK, #2003-009-63, Claim No. 101552, Motion Nos. M-67188, M-67438
2003-009-63
M-67188, M-67438
Claimant has brought a motion (M-67188) seeking summary judgment on the issue of liability pursuant to Labor Law § 240(1), § 241(6), and § 200. Defendant has opposed the relief sought in said motion, and has also brought a separate motion (M-67438) seeking an order vacating claimant's note of issue. For purposes of judicial economy, both motions will be considered together herein.
Oral argument on these motions was requested, scheduled and heard by the Court. In addition to the oral argument, the following papers were considered by the Court in connection with these motions:
Notice of Motion, Affirmation of Michael P. Kenny, Esq., Affidavit of Richard Duncan, with Exhibits (M-67188)	1,2,3
Memorandum of Law in Support (M-67188)	4
Affidavit of John J. Marchese, Esq., in Opposition, with Exhibits (M-67188)	5
Memorandum of Law (In Opposition) (M-67188)	6
Reply Affirmation of Michael P. Kenny, Esq., with Exhibits (including the Affidavit of Richard Duncan [Exhibit B] and Affidavit of James Urtz [Exhibit C]) (M-67188)	7
Claimant's Reply Memorandum (M-67188)	8
Notice of Motion, Affidavit of John J. Marchese, Esq., with Exhibits (M-67438)	9,10
Memorandum of Law (M-67438)	11
Claimant commenced this action to recover for injuries sustained by him in a fall from scaffolding while he was working on a project for the construction of a New York State prison in Romulus, New York, on September 24, 1999.
According to the papers submitted herein, the State had contracted with Northland Associates, Inc. for this construction project. Northland Associates, Inc. had subcontracted mortar and masonry work to Joseph Baldwin Construction Co., Inc., for whom claimant was an employee. Claimant had worked for Joseph Baldwin Construction Co., Inc. for approximately nine weeks, but had worked as a construction laborer since approximately 1972.
On September 24, 1999, claimant was climbing the outside cross braces of a scaffold, in order to deliver materials to the masons who were constructing the walls. As he was climbing the scaffold, claimant stated that it began to shift, which caused him to fall and hit the ground, causing his injuries. He stated that he was approximately six feet off the ground at the time that he fell.
James Urtz, a co-worker of claimant, was working with claimant on the day of the accident. As set forth in his affidavit (see Exhibit C to Item 7), he had climbed the scaffold, also using the cross braces, immediately before claimant. He stated that he also felt the scaffold move when he was climbing it, but that he did not fall.
Mr. Urtz stated that the scaffolding at this project was several stories tall and extended at least 50 to 60 feet in width, and that it was comprised of multiple smaller scaffolds. He further stated that the scaffolding was temporary, in that it would be moved when the employees were working on different areas of the project.
He further stated that there were no ladders on the end of the scaffold, nor were there any ladders on the lowest portion of the scaffold. The only way to access the upper levels of the scaffolding, according to Mr. Urtz, was to climb the cross braces. He added that prior to the date of this accident, there had been ladders attached to the scaffold, but they had been moved to other locations on the job site prior to the accident.
Finally, Mr. Urtz also stated that certain parts which were used to secure the footings of the scaffold, and to secure the scaffold to the wall, had been previously removed by other workers for use at other locations on the job site.
These statements made under oath by Mr. Urtz were corroborated by claimant (see claimant's affidavit [Item 3] and an additional affidavit by claimant [Exhibit B to Item 7]).
In this matter, there can be no dispute that claimant was involved in the type of work intended to be covered by Labor Law § 240(1), and that he suffered injuries as a result of an elevation-related accident. Claimant therefore asserts that liability has been established due to the failure of defendant to provide appropriate safety devices to prevent his fall. Defendant, however, contends that material facts of question exist which preclude summary judgment. Specifically, defendant asserts that questions have been raised as to whether claimant was provided with proper protection by the scaffold, and whether instead claimant's actions were the sole proximate cause of his accident, rather than any failure of the safety equipment which was provided.
In support of its position, defendant has submitted an affidavit by Robert Farfaglia, a supervisor with Joseph Baldwin Construction Co., Inc. (see, Exhibit E to Item 5)[1]. In this affidavit, Mr. Farfaglia stated that he observed the scaffold shortly after claimant's accident, and that the scaffold from which claimant fell "had a ladder frame incorporated therein". Mr. Farfaglia also stated that claimant had been instructed to climb this ladder frame, and not to climb on the cross braces of the scaffold. Finally, Mr. Farfaglia also stated that weekly safety meetings were held at the construction site by his employer, and that claimant failed to follow proper instructions for climbing the scaffold, which would have been given at these meetings.
Based on this affidavit, defendant contends that a question of material fact has been raised as to whether a ladder was available for use by claimant, and if so, whether such ladder provided adequate protection. Defendant argues that such issue also precludes summary judgment, since claimant's failure to use the ladder, which was built into the scaffold, can be viewed as the sole proximate cause of his accident.
As previously mentioned herein, claimant, however, submitted his own affidavit, together with the affidavit of his co-worker, James Urtz, both of which directly contradict the affidavit of Mr. Farfaglia. The affidavit by Mr. Urtz affirmatively states that there was no ladder built into the scaffold available for claimant's use in the vicinity in his work area, and that there were no ladders whatsoever on the lowest portion of the scaffold, leaving claimant no alternative to access the upper levels of the scaffold except by climbing the cross braces. Furthermore, Mr. Urtz states that on the day of the accident, not only did he and claimant climb the scaffold by the cross braces, but that all workers, including State inspectors, climbed the scaffold in that manner, since there were no other ladders available.
The Court finds that the vague and ambiguous affidavit of Mr. Farfaglia, submitted by defendant, is insufficient to raise a material question of fact as to whether a ladder was suitably placed for claimant's use on the day of the accident. The Court finds that claimant was not supplied with a ladder which would have provided him access to the upper levels of the scaffold, and based upon this failure to provide him with an appropriate safety device, defendant must be held absolutely liable under § 240(1). The availability of a safety device, such as a ladder incorporated into the scaffolding frame, located somewhere on the project is insufficient to relieve defendant from liability, without proof that such safety devices were readily available for use (see, Howe v Syracuse University, 306 AD2d 891). In this case, the fact that all workers, including State inspectors, utilized cross braces to climb the scaffold at the site of the accident rebuts any inference that an incorporated ladder frame was available for claimant's use at this location.
Furthermore, due to the failure to provide claimant with an adequate safety device, there is no evidence whatsoever indicating that claimant's actions can be considered the sole proximate cause of this accident, and any negligence on his part will therefore not relieve the defendant of its absolute liability (see, Rocovich v Consolidated Edison Co., 78 NY2d 509). Furthermore, there was no evidence presented that claimant specifically refused to use safety equipment which was provided (see, Gordon v Eastern Railway Supply, Inc, 82 NY2d 555). Warnings or instructions, even if provided to claimant in safety meetings, are insufficient to establish a recalcitrant worker defense (Stolt v General Foods Corp., 81 NY2d 918; Gordon v Eastern Railway Supply, Inc., supra).
Accordingly, since the Court has found that adequate safety devices were not made available to claimant, and since it cannot be found that claimant's actions were the sole proximate cause of his injuries, he is entitled to the protection of Labor Law § 240(1) and is entitled to summary judgment on the issue of liability. Based on this finding, it is not necessary for the Court to consider claimant's alternative requests for relief under Labor Law § 200 and § 241(6).
As previously noted, defendant, in Motion No. M-67438, seeks to vacate claimant's note of issue and certificate of readiness. Defendant argues that the note of issue makes reference that defendant has waived a physical examination of claimant, when it in fact has not done so. On March 19, 2003, this Court had issued an amended scheduling order which specifically permitted defendant to conduct a physical examination of claimant within 90 days after the date on a final decision on liability, while also requiring the service and filing of a note of issue and certificate of readiness by September 15, 2003. In other words, the Court anticipated that defendant might not conduct a physical examination of claimant until the issue of liability had been resolved, and is well aware that such examination has not been waived, despite the service and filing of the note of issue. In any event, since liability has now been determined in the accompanying summary judgment motion, the note of issue has been effectively rendered moot, as well as defendant's motion to vacate said note of issue. As previously ordered, defendant has 90 days from the date of filing of this decision and order to conduct its physical examination of claimant, who shall make himself available for such examination.
ORDERED, that Motion No. M-67188 is hereby GRANTED; and it is further
ORDERED, that Motion No. M-67438 is hereby DENIED; and it is further
ORDERED, that the Clerk of the Court is directed to enter an interlocutory judgment on the issue of liability in favor of the claimant in accordance with this decision and order. The Court will set this matter down for a trial limited solely to the issue of damages as soon as reasonably practicable, following a physical examination of the claimant by defendant.
[1] The Court notes that this affidavit was prepared and submitted in connection with a Supreme Court action in Onondaga County related to the same incident.