Opinion
1148
May 21, 2002.
Amended order and judgment (one paper), Supreme Court, New York County (Ira Gammerman, J.), entered March 9, 2001, which, in an action brought pursuant to Labor Law § 240(1), awarded damages upon a jury verdict apportioning liability as against, inter alia, defendant Aurora Contractors, Inc. and third-party defendant Environmental Systems of New York (Environmental), unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Thomas Michael Laquercia, for defendant-appellant-respondent.
Michael J. Sweeney, for defendant-respondent third-party plaintiff-respondent.
Steven I. Brizel, for third-party defendant-respondent-appellant.
Before: Mazzarelli, J.P., Sullivan, Ellerin, Wallach, Gonzalez, JJ.
Plaintiff, a construction worker employed by third-party defendant Environmental, fell to his death through an unguarded skylight at the subject construction site. Since the jury's apportionment of liability turned upon its finding as to which of the defending parties controlled the area surrounding the skylight, evidence concerning the implementation of post-accident safety measures was properly admitted (see, Fernandez v. Higdon Elevator Co., 220 A.D.2d 293).
Environmental's contention that the court erred in permitting the action against it to stand on the ground that defendant Aurora had a pending "cross claim" against it is raised for the first time on appeal. We note, however, that Environmental answered Aurora's "cross claim" against it as if it were a proper pleading, and thereby waived the claim of error it now makes. Had a timely objection been made, the court could have simply extended the time in which to serve the third-party complaint on Environmental nunc pro tunc to the time that the cross claim was originally served on it, the cross claim having fully apprised Environmental of the nature of Aurora's claim against it.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.