Meet Joe Black

(1998)   Tags: Universal

Bart v. Universal Pictures

On May 22, 1997, plaintiff Eric Bart, a scene painter, was assigned the task of painting one of the sets, a grand staircase, in connection with the filming of the movie “Meet Joe Black.” The set construction and the filming were to take place at the Park Slope Armory in Brooklyn.

In the course of this work, plaintiff fell off the back of the set, falling almost 20 feet to the ground, and was seriously injured. He sued Universal Studios under Labor Law §§ 200, 240 (1) and § 241 (6).

Judgment: The IAS Court denied plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment, granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment and dismissed the complaint.  Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Department reversed the decision.