Hill v. Acies Group, LLC
Plaintiff Anthony Hill, a worker at a construction site, was struck by a falling brick while cleaning debris, sustaining injuries. He initiated an action, and his motion for partial summary judgment on liability under Labor Law § 240 (1) was denied by the Supreme Court, Bronx County. Upon appeal, the Appellate Division, First Department, unanimously reversed the lower court's order. The appellate court found that Hill had established his entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, citing the absence of overhead protective devices as a proximate cause of his injuries. It also held that comparative negligence is not a defense to a Labor Law § 240 (1) claim and rejected the argument that an employer's instruction to avoid unsafe practices functions as a safety device. Consequently, the motion for partial summary judgment on liability was granted against defendants Acies Group, LLC, CS Melrose Site D, LLC, and Skye Construction, LLC.