Opinion
December 22, 1995
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Erie County, Howe, J.
Present — Green, J.P., Pine, Wesley, Balio and Boehm, JJ.
Order unanimously affirmed with costs. Memorandum: Supreme Court properly granted plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment on the Labor Law § 240 (1) cause of action. Plaintiff alleges that he was injured when he lost his balance while standing on a diagonal brace and fell some 12 feet to a concrete floor, striking his chest or ribs on a scaffolding plank as he fell. Defendant failed to come forward with evidence controverting plaintiff's version of the accident and did not conduct an investigation of the accident. Plaintiff's version is supported by the affidavit of a co-worker stating that he heard plaintiff fall and observed plaintiff's injury within minutes of the fall. Under those circumstances, the fact that plaintiff's fall was unwitnessed does not preclude summary judgment (see, Niles v Shue Roofing Co., 219 A.D.2d 785; Desouter v HRH Constr. Corp., 216 A.D.2d 249; McLean v Vahue Son Bldrs., 210 A.D.2d 999; Madigan v United Parcel Serv., 193 A.D.2d 1102).