Court Opinion

ID: 9958720
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-09 20:09:56.042872+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:18:39.293068
License: Public Domain

Navarro v Joy Constr. Corp.
               2024 NY Slip Op 31114(U)
                      April 2, 2024
           Supreme Court, New York County
        Docket Number: Index No. 155606/2018
                  Judge: Arlene P. Bluth
Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip
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                       publication.
                                                                                                                        INDEX NO. 155606/2018
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 180                                                                                             RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/03/2024

                                   SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
                                             NEW YORK COUNTY
            PRESENT:             HON. ARLENE P. BLUTH                                               PART                              14
                                                                                      Justice
            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X      INDEX NO.          155606/2018
             EMILIO MORA NAVARRO,
                                                                                                    MOTION DATE          N/A, N/A
                                                         Plaintiff,
                                                                                                    MOTION SEQ. NO.      005 006
                                                 -v-
             JOY CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, CARE REALTY
                                                                                                      DECISION + ORDER ON
             CORP., YYY WEST 36TH STREET, LLC
                                                                                                            MOTION
                                                         Defendant.
            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X

            The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 005) 130, 131, 132, 133,
            134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 147, 149, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 158, 160,
            174, 176
            were read on this motion to/for                                                      JUDGMENT - SUMMARY                   .

            The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 006) 123, 124, 125, 126,
            127, 128, 129, 146, 148, 150, 151, 157, 159, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172,
            173, 175, 177, 178
            were read on this motion to/for                                                      JUDGMENT - SUMMARY                   .

                      Motion Sequence Numbers 005 and 006 are consolidated for disposition. Plaintiff’s

            motion (MS005) for partial summary judgment on his Labor Law § 240(1) claim is denied.

            Defendants’ motion for summary judgment dismissing all of plaintiff’s claims is granted in part

            and denied in part and plaintiff’s cross-motion to amend his bill of particulars is granted in part.

            Background

                      In this Labor Law case, plaintiff contends that he was erecting a suspended scaffold when

            he fell nearly 8 feet and landed on top of a sidewalk bridge located below. Plaintiff was working

            as a foreman for non-party Colgate and he was in charge of five workers. He testified that he was

             155606/2018 MORA NAVARRO, EMILIO vs. JOY CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION                                          Page 1 of 8
             Motion No. 005 006

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  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 180                                                                         RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/03/2024

            installing the sides of the scaffold, about 8 feet high, when the accident occurred (NYSCEF Doc

            No. 137 at 169). Plaintiff explained that he had both a harness and a lanyard but could not tie off

            in this area because of the presence of a tree (id. at 170). He admitted, however, that it was his

            job as a supervisor to find the tie off points and that he decided to work at that height without

            finding a tie-off point (id.). Plaintiff explained that as he was walking, one of the planks was

            raised 3 inches and he tripped over the raised plank and fell (id. at 183-84). Defendant YYY

            West 36th Street LLC owned the property and defendant Joy Construction Corporation was the

            general contractor. Defendant Care Realty Corp. managed the property.

            Labor Law § 240(1)

                    Both plaintiff (in MS005) and defendants (in MS006) seek summary judgment with

            respect to plaintiff’s Labor Law § 240(1) claim.

                    “Labor Law § 240(1), often called the ‘scaffold law,’ provides that all contractors and

            owners . . . shall furnish or erect, or cause to be furnished or erected . . . scaffolding, hoists, stays,

            ladders, slings, hangers, blocks, pulleys, braces, irons, ropes, and other devices which shall be so

            constructed, placed and operated as to give proper protection to construction workers employed

            on the premises” (Ross v Curtis-Palmer Hydro-Elec. Co., 81 NY2d 494, 499-500, 601 NYS2d

            49 [1993] [internal citations omitted]). “Labor Law § 240(1) was designed to prevent those types

            of accidents in which the scaffold, hoist, stay, ladder or other protective device proved

            inadequate to shield the injured worker from harm directly flowing from the application of the

            force of gravity to an object or person” (id. at 501).

                    “[L]iability [under Labor Law § 240(1)] is contingent on a statutory violation and

            proximate cause . . . violation of the statute alone is not enough” (Blake v Neighborhood Hous.

            Servs. of NY City, 1 NY3d 280, 287, 771 NYS2d 484 [2003]).

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             Motion No. 005 006

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                    Plaintiff seeks summary judgment on this claim on the ground that defendants failed to

            assure that plaintiff was provided with necessary safety equipment for his task in erecting the

            scaffold. He insists that as part of his job, he had to work at an elevated height atop the scaffold

            and he fell.

                    In opposition, defendants insist that plaintiff had all of the protective equipment

            necessary to prevent the accident but that he decided not to tie off. They claim plaintiff ignored

            his own superiors by not tying off and working at a height without taking the proper safety

            precautions.

                    Plaintiff explains in reply that the scaffold his team was constructing was obstructed by a

            tree and the only way to finish the job was to raise the height of the scaffold over the sidewalk

            bridge below. To do this work, plaintiff had to install planks on top of the frames. He insists that

            he tripped and fell in between a gap where the planks had not been installed. Plaintiff claims that

            he fell in the middle of the scaffold and that guardrails along the side would not have done

            anything to prevent his fall. Plaintiff mentions, however, that there is another safety device called

            a roof line.

                    Plaintiff includes an expert affidavit (Dr. Pugh), who claims that roof lines “are pieces of

            rope that are tied to a sturdy beam on the roof that are hung down for workers to attach their

            harnesses to” (NYSCEF Doc. No. 170, ¶ 28). Dr. Pugh insisted that plaintiff was not provided

            with a roof line and that one could have prevented the accident and permitted plaintiff to still

            complete his task of constructing the scaffold (id. at 6) Plaintiff testified at his deposition and

            claimed that he was not provided with roof line equipment that day (NYSCEF Doc. No. 137 at

            173-74). ). He insisted that having the roof line would have made the job “safe” (id. at 174).

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             Motion No. 005 006

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            However, on the other hand, he also swore that having the roof line that day would not have

            helped him that day (id. at 176).

                   In this Court’s view, it is unable to grant summary judgment to either plaintiff or

            defendants on this cause of action. Although plaintiff clearly met his prima facie burden to show

            that he is entitled to summary judgment on his Labor Law § 240(1) claim, defendants raised

            issues of fact concerning whether plaintiff was the sole proximate cause of his accident. “Once

            the plaintiff makes a prima facie showing the burden then shifts to the defendant, who may

            defeat plaintiff's motion for summary judgment only if there is a plausible view of the

            evidence—enough to raise a fact question—that there was no statutory violation and that

            plaintiff's own acts or omissions were the sole cause of the accident” (Blake v Neighborhood

            Hous. Services of New York City, Inc., 1 NY3d 280, 289 n8 [2003])

                   Here, plaintiff admitted at his deposition that it was his job as a supervisor to find “tie-off

            points” while working at a height and that he decided to do the work without finding a place to

            tie off (NYSCEF Doc. No. 137 at 170). Plaintiff agreed that it was his job to teach his team how

            to work in a safe manner (id. at 49). And he admits that he had both a safety harness and a

            lanyard (id. at 169-70). Moreover, while plaintiff admitted that he was not provided with the roof

            lines, he also observed that because there were multiple people with him that day, the roof lines

            would not have helped him (id. at 176). He did not testify that he asked for roof lines and that

            request was denied even though the deposition testimony makes clear that it was his job as

            supervisor to find the tie-off points for his workers.

                   Although plaintiff attempts to explain what he meant when he suggested that the roof

            lines would not have helped that day in his reply papers (NYSCEF Doc. No. 166 at 8), this Court

            cannot simply adopt plaintiff’s interpretation of this deposition testimony as a matter of law.

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             Motion No. 005 006

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            This testimony is unclear—one interpretation suggests that the presence of a roof line may not

            have prevented the accident while plaintiff claims he was simply asserting that two people could

            not tie up to the roof line at the same time. Moreover, it potentially conflicts with plaintiff’s

            expert, who opines that the roof lines would have prevented this fall.

                   The Court observes that a plaintiff has to meet two elements for a Labor Law § 240(1)

            claim—first, there must be a violation of the Labor Law and, second, this violation has to

            proximately cause the plaintiff’s injuries (Cahill v Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Auth., 4 NY3d

            35, 39, 790 NYS2d 74 [2004]). Here, there are issues of fact surrounding whether there was a

            violation of the Labor Law as plaintiff admitted he had protective equipment: both a lanyard and

            a harness. Plaintiff, as the supervisor who was tasked with identifying tie-off points, decided to

            perform the work without ensuring that his lanyard was secured. At the deposition of plaintiff’s

            employer, the Colgate witness insisted that workers are told that they have to use their personal

            protective equipment at every job site (NYSCEF Doc. No. 128 at 54).

                   And the Court cannot reach a conclusion as a matter of law that the absence of a roof line

            was a statutory violation that proximately caused plaintiff’s damages because the testimony on

            that issue is not definitive. A jury could conclude that plaintiff’s injuries were solely caused by

            his decision to work at height without using safety equipment (harness and lanyard) at his

            disposal that would have prevented his fall. Or the jury might agree with plaintiff’s expert (and

            possibly with plaintiff’s explanation about his roofline testimony) that the accident happened

            because he was not provided with a lifeline/roofline. But this Court cannot reach a conclusion

            on these papers.

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             Motion No. 005 006

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            Labor Law § 241(6)

                   “The duty to comply with the Commissioner’s safety rules, which are set out in the

            Industrial Code (12 NYCRR), is nondelegable. In order to support a claim under section 241(6). .

            . the particular provision relied upon by a plaintiff must mandate compliance with concrete

            specifications and not simply declare general safety standards or reiterate common-law

            principles” (Misicki v Caradonna, 12 NY3d 511, 515, 882 NYS2d 375 [2009]). “The regulation

            must also be applicable to the facts and be the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury” (Buckley

            v Columbia Grammar and Preparatory, 44 AD3d 263, 271, 841 NYS2d 249 [1st Dept 2007]).

                   “Section 241(6) subjects owners and contractors to liability for failing to adhere to

            required safety standards whether or not they themselves are negligent. Supervision of the work,

            control of the worksite, or actual or constructive notice of a violation of the Industrial Code are

            not necessary to impose vicarious liability against owners and general contractors, so long as

            some actor in the construction chain was negligent” (Leonard v City of New York, 216 AD3d 51,

            55-56, 188 NYS3d 471 [1st Dept 2023]).

                   Defendants seek to dismiss the Industrial Code sections cited by plaintiff. These include

            Industrial Code sections 23-1.5, 23-1.7, 23-1.16, 23-1.18, 23-5.1, 23-5.2, 23-5.3, 23-5.4, 23-5.5,

            23- 5.6, 23-5.7, 23-5.8, 23-5.9, 23-5.10, 23-5.11, 23-5.12, 23-5.13, 23-5.14, 23-5.15, 23-5.16, 23-

            5.17, 23-5.18, 23-5.19, 23-5.20, 23-5.21, and 23-5.22. They detail that no specific subsections

            were highlighted in the bill of particulars and claim that these are all inapplicable.

                   Plaintiff only mentions 23-1.7(b)(1)(iii) and 23-1.16(b) in his opposition papers but did

            not bother to mention any of the many, many other sections. Curiously, he argues that “the

            evidence establishes that Defendants violated multiple provisions of the Industrial Code.” He

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             Motion No. 005 006

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            also, as will be described below, seeks leave to amend his bill of particulars to add 23-1.7(b)(iii)

            and 23-1.16(b).

                   The Court therefore dismisses plaintiff’s Labor Law § 241(6) claim for all of the

            Industrial Code sections except for the two he cites in his cross-motion to amend. Both of these

            sections deal with the roofline/lifeline issue and so defendants cannot claim any prejudice or

            surprise as this issue was discussed at plaintiff’s deposition. However, the Court grants this

            amendment for only 23-1.7(b)(iii)(c) as this is the only subsection highlighted (it is in bold) in

            plaintiff’s papers. This subsection requires that there be “An approved safety belt with attached

            lifeline which is properly secured to a substantial fixed anchorage.” The other two subsections,

            (a) and (b) appear to be inapplicable and plaintiff did not meet his burden to state a cognizable

            claim for either of these sections, which deal with a net and planking below an opening.

            Certainly, as discussed at length above, the parties explored the absence of a lifeline/roofline.

            But there was no discussion about a net or the need for planking below an opening in plaintiff’s

            cross-motion papers.

                   The Court recognizes that plaintiff did not identify specific subsections in his bill of

            particulars and that defendants claim that adding these subsections is prejudicial given that a note

            of issue was already filed. However, the fact is that plaintiff identified these sections, at least at

            a general level, and now seeks to pursue two specific subsections. And defendants did not make

            a motion demanding that plaintiff clarify which subsections he intended to pursue. Certainly,

            defendants were in a position, prior to plaintiff’s deposition, to demand that he name specific

            subsections; defendants did not seek to compel plaintiff to specify the specific subsections. Or

            defendants could have questioned plaintiff about every single one of the aforementioned

            Industrial Code sections, including all of the (unspecified) subsections at his deposition. Having

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             Motion No. 005 006

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            not attempted to narrow plaintiff’s claims, and because these specific subsections are no surprise,

            plaintiff’s cross-motion to amend is granted as described above.

            Labor Law § 200 and Negligence

                    Plaintiff did not oppose the branches of defendants’ motion that seek to dismiss the first

            and second causes of action based on Labor Law § 200 and negligence.

                    Accordingly, it is hereby

                    ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is denied; and it is further

                    ORDERED that defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted only to the extent

            that plaintiff’s Labor Law § 200 claim, the claim based on negligence, and plaintiff’s Labor Law

            §241(6) claim with respect to all Industrial Code sections except for 12 NYCRR 23-1.7(b)(iii)(c)

            and 23-1.16(b) are severed and dismissed and denied with respect to the remaining requested

            relief; and it is further

                    ORDERED that plaintiff’s cross-motion to amend his bill of particulars is granted only to

            the extent that he may add 12 NYCRR 23-1.7(b)(iii)(c) and 23-1.16(b).

                     4/2/2024                                                            $SIG$
                      DATE                                                       ARLENE P. BLUTH, J.S.C.
             CHECK ONE:                 CASE DISPOSED                X   NON-FINAL DISPOSITION

                                                                                                     □
                                        GRANTED             DENIED       GRANTED IN PART              X     OTHER

             APPLICATION:               SETTLE ORDER                     SUBMIT ORDER

                                                                                                     □
             CHECK IF APPROPRIATE:      INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN       FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT              REFERENCE

             155606/2018 MORA NAVARRO, EMILIO vs. JOY CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION                            Page 8 of 8
             Motion No. 005 006

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