MATTHEWS v. BRIGHT STAR MESSENGER CENTER LLC (2019)

DECISION & ORDER

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

According to the plaintiff, he was hired by the defendant Bright Star Messenger Center, LLC (hereinafter the appellant), and then assigned to work for the defendant Metropolitan Data Corp. (hereinafter Metro Data).  The plaintiff subsequently was injured when he fell at the offices of the defendant Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was a client of Metro Data. The plaintiff commenced this action to recover damages for personal injuries.  Prior to the completion of discovery, the appellant moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it based on the exclusivity provisions of the Workers' Compensation Law (see Workers' Compensation Law §§ 11, 29[6] ).  The Supreme Court denied the motion.

Section 11 of the Workers' Compensation Law provides that “[t]he liability of an employer prescribed by [Workers' Compensation Law § 10] shall be exclusive and in place of any other liability whatsoever” to the injured employee, except in those cases in which the employer has failed to secure workers' compensation coverage (see also Workers' Compensation Law § 29[6] ).

Here, contrary to the appellant's contention, it failed to make a prima facie showing that it was the plaintiff's general employer.  The appellant submitted the affidavit of a representative of the appellant, who stated that the plaintiff was employed by the appellant on the date of the accident, and that the appellant had procured workers' compensation insurance for the plaintiff.  However, the appellant also submitted Workers' Compensation Board records showing that the plaintiff had filed a claim for benefits that listed the plaintiff's employer as “Bright Star Courier.”  Under these circumstances, the appellant failed to demonstrate, prima facie, that it was the plaintiff's general employer (see Vita v. New York Waste Servs., LLC, 34 A.D.3d 559, 559–560, 824 N.Y.S.2d 177;  Rivera v. Mary Immaculate Hosp. Assn., 306 A.D.2d 265, 760 N.Y.S.2d 341).  While the appellant submitted a reply affidavit from its representative averring that Bright Star Courier had changed its name to Bright Star Messenger Center, LLC, prior to the accident, a party cannot sustain its prima facie burden by relying on evidence submitted for the first time in its reply papers (see Refuse v. Wehbeh, 167 A.D.3d 956, 959, 89 N.Y.S.3d 302;  Troia v. City of New York, 162 A.D.3d 1089, 1093, 80 N.Y.S.3d 117;  Lorde v. Margaret Tietz Nursing & Rehabilitation Ctr., 162 A.D.3d 878, 879, 79 N.Y.S.3d 89).  The appellant's failure to make a prima facie showing of its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law required the denial of its motion, regardless of the sufficiency of the plaintiff's opposition papers (see Winegrad v. New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 N.Y.2d 851, 853, 487 N.Y.S.2d 316, 476 N.E.2d 642).

The appellant's remaining contention is not properly before this Court.

SCHEINKMAN, P.J., BALKIN, MILLER and HINDS–RADIX, JJ., concur.