SINGH v. [And a Third-Party Action] (2022)

Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Elizabeth A. Taylor, J.), entered on or about October 20, 2021, which denied plaintiff's motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability on his Labor Law §§ 240(1) and 241(6) claims, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

The motion court correctly concluded that triable issues of fact precluded granting plaintiff summary judgment on the issue of liability on his Labor Law claims.  Plaintiff testified that he was ascending an unsecured ladder to the top of a sidewalk bridge when the ladder slipped from underneath him, causing him to strike his face against the sidewalk bridge and fall to the ground.  Plaintiff also testified that his foreman, who directed him to climb the ladder, witnessed the accident and immediately assisted him.  The foreman, in an affidavit, denied that the events as described by plaintiff transpired.  The conflicting evidence raised questions of fact as to whether the accident occurred, and whether defendants may be held liable under Labor Law § 240(1) or Labor Law § 246(1) insofar as predicated on applicable Industrial Code provisions (see Ellerbe v. Port Auth. of N.Y. & N.J., 91 AD3d 441, 442 [1st Dept 2012]).  Contrary to plaintiff's contention, the foreman's affidavit did not constitute denials of personal knowledge of the facts so as to render them insufficient to rebut plaintiff's prima facie showing (cf.  Marrero v.2075 Holding Co. LLC, 106 AD3d 408, 409 [1st Dept 2013]).

Plaintiff's contention that determinations by the Workers’ Compensation Board collaterally estopped defendants from arguing that the accident did not occur is improperly raised for the first time on appeal (see Sandiford v City of New York Dept. of Educ., 94 AD3d 593, 595 [1st Dept 2012], affd 22 NY3d 914 [2013]).

We have considered plaintiff's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.