MOORE v. SHULMAN (1999)

Plaintiff was hired to assist in converting five utility vans into cargo vans.   The vans had been purchased by defendant Owl Surplus, Inc. (Owl Surplus) from Rochester Telephone.   Some of the vans had a hydraulically-operated manlift, which consisted of a 600-pound pedestal bolted to the floor of the van and a boom that projected from the interior of the van up through a hole in the roof.   Defendant Donald Clark, an employee of Owl Surplus, affixed a makeshift sling to the tine of a forklift and positioned it above the hole in the roof of the van.   The sling was then attached to the pedestal inside the van, and plaintiff was directed to stand inside the van and guide the pedestal as it was raised up by the forklift through the hole in the roof.   The sling failed as the pedestal was being raised, and plaintiff's foot was crushed.   Supreme Court denied plaintiff's cross motion for partial summary judgment on the Labor Law § 240(1) claim and granted defendants' motion for partial summary judgment dismissing that claim.   That was error.

 Contrary to the court's conclusion, plaintiff was engaged in a protected activity at the time of the accident.   The van is a structure (see, Gordon v. Eastern Ry. Supply, 181 A.D.2d 990, 991, 581 N.Y.S.2d 498, affd. 82 N.Y.2d 555, 606 N.Y.S.2d 127, 626 N.E.2d 912 [railroad car is a structure];  see also, Smith v. Shell Oil Co., 85 N.Y.2d 1000, 630 N.Y.S.2d 962, 654 N.E.2d 1210 [sign is a structure];  Lewis-Moors v. Contel of N.Y., 78 N.Y.2d 942, 943, 573 N.Y.S.2d 636, 578 N.E.2d 434 [telephone pole is a structure] ).   The work need not be performed at a traditional construction site to fall within the protection of the statute (see, Joblon v. Solow, 91 N.Y.2d 457, 464, 672 N.Y.S.2d 286, 695 N.E.2d 237).

Here, plaintiff was exposed to an elevation-related risk created by a heavy object being hoisted to a height above the level of plaintiff's worksite (see, Rocovich v. Consolidated Edison Co., 78 N.Y.2d 509, 514, 577 N.Y.S.2d 219, 583 N.E.2d 932).   In our view, plaintiff “was faced with the special risks contemplated by [Labor Law § 240(1) ]” (Smith v. Benderson, 225 A.D.2d 1073, 639 N.Y.S.2d 600).

Order unanimously reversed on the law without costs, motion denied, Labor Law § 240(1) claim reinstated and cross motion granted.

MEMORANDUM: