Corsetti v. Stone Co. , 396 Mass. 1 ( 1985 )

O’Connor, J.

Domenic Corsetti (Corsetti), a stone mason employed by the R.A. Salvucci Construction Company, Inc. (Salvucci), was seriously injured when a scaffolding side bracket supporting the platform on which he was working failed and he fell approximately forty feet to the ground. He brought this action against The Stone Company (Stone), the general contractor at the construction site where he was injured, and Deal Products, Inc. (Deal), a manufacturer of scaffolding products. His complaint alleged that Stone had negligently failed to require workers on the construction project to use appropriate safety equipment. The complaint also alleged that Deal had negligently designed, manufactured, and marketed a dangerous side bracket; that Deal had negligently failed to warn consumers of the dangerous character of the bracket; and that Deal had breached the implied warranty of merchantability. Margherita Corsetti, Corsetti’s wife, also brought claims against the defendants for loss of consortium.³ The defendants denied liability and cross claimed against each other for contribution.

A jury found that both Stone and Deal had been negligent, but that Deal had not breached the implied warranty of merchantability. They found that no negligence on Corsetti’s part contributed to his injuries, and they assessed damages in his favor in the sum of $840,000 and in Margherita’s favor in the sum of $25,000. Both defendants filed motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, and for a new trial. The trial judge denied Stone’s motions. The judge allowed Deal’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, denied Deal’s motion for a new trial, and granted judgment for Deal on Stone’s cross claim. Stone appeals from the judgments against it on the plaintiffs’ claims and on its cross claim against Deal. The plaintiffs appeal from the judgment against them in favor of Deal, and they appeal from the denial of their motion for sanctions against Stone for its failure to comply with discovery. Deal appeals from the denial of its motion for a new trial. We granted the plaintiffs’ application for direct appellate review.

On appeal, Stone argues that the trial judge erred in denying its motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Stone also argues that the judge erred in excluding evidence of the plaintiffs’ collateral source income, and in failing to give certain requested instructions to the jury. We conclude that there was sufficient evidence to warrant a finding that Stone was liable to the plaintiffs and that the trial judge properly denied Stone’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. We also find no reversible error in the judge’s charge. We conclude, however, that the judge’s exclusion of evidence of collateral source income was error and that Stone is entitled to a new trial limited to the question of the plaintiffs’ damages.

The plaintiffs and Stone argue that the trial judge erred in granting Deal’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Deal argues that the judge should have granted its motion for a new trial because the verdicts on the negligence and breach of warranty counts were inconsistent. We conclude that there was insufficient evidence to warrant a finding that Deal was liable to the plaintiffs and that the trial judge properly granted Deal’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. We therefore do not consider whether it was error to deny Deal’s motion for a new trial. Finally, we affirm the denial of the plaintiffs’ motion for sanctions against Stone.

1. Stone’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. In support of its contention that it is entitled to judgment notwithstanding the verdict, Stone argues that, as the general contractor, it had no duty to the employees of Salvucci other than to provide a reasonably safe place to work, that it cannot be held vicariously liable for any injuries resulting from Sal-vucci’s negligence in failing to instruct Corsetti on proper safety precautions, and that, as a matter of law, the safety regulations introduced in evidence by the plaintiffs did not apply to the facts of this case.

We summarize the evidence relevant to Stone’s liability, viewed in the manner most favorable to the plaintiffs. In 1977, Computervision Corporation contracted with Stone for the construction of two buildings at the Computervision facilities in Bedford. Stone in turn contracted with Salvucci to perform the masonry work called for by the project. Corsetti, an experienced stone mason, was employed by Salvucci to work on the Computervision project. A stone mason’s duties included laying and mortaring cement blocks in the construction of masonry walls. Much of this work was performed on scaffolding erected alongside the wall being constructed. The masons would work on a platform located between the main frame of the scaffolding and the wall being constructed. The platform consisted of boards or planks supported by triangular-shaped pieces of scaffolding called side brackets or outriggers. The side brackets hooked onto the side of the main frame of the scaffolding, and extended to within approximately one inch of the wall being built.

On September 26, 1978, Corsetti was working on the construction of an elevator shaft in one of the buildings. The platform on which he was working was between thirty-six and forty feet above the ground. One of the side brackets supporting the platform gave way, causing him to fall. He sustained serious injuries, including fractures of the right arm, leg, and ankle, facial lacerations, and back and head injuries. Corsetti was not wearing a safety belt when he fell, nor was he provided with such a belt or instructed to use one. There was no safety net beneath the platform to break his fall.

The general contract between Computervision and Stone provided that Stone, as general contractor, was responsible for initiating, maintaining, and supervising job site safety, and was to comply with all applicable safety regulations.* **⁴ The subcontract between Stone and Salvucci provided that Salvucci was to take all reasonable safety precautions with respect to its work, and to comply with safety measures initiated by Stone and with all applicable safety rules and regulations.⁵

There was evidence from which the jury could have found that the custom in the trade was that subcontractors would be responsible for their own equipment and needs, but that they would take direction from the general superintendent on the job. Thomas Burke, a Stone employee, was the general superintendent on the Computervision project. Burke, together with William O’Neill, Stone’s project manager, was responsible for initiating, maintaining and supervising all safety precautions and progress on the project. The only safety program in place on the Computervision project was a requirement of compliance with OSHA rules and regulations. Burke testified that it was his responsibility to enforce those rules with regard to employees of subcontractors as well as employees of Stone. He had the authority and responsibility to require subcontractors to correct any unsafe practices or violations of the safety regulations. He also testified that he had inspected the scaffolding to see that it was set properly and to look for obvious deficiencies, although he never inspected the side brackets supporting the masons’ platform. If he saw any safety violations, he would instruct the subcontractor to correct them. Burke conducted informal meetings with the subcontractor’s foremen, at which safety requirements were discussed. Neither Burke nor O’Neill ever instructed Salvucci to require masons working on scaffolding to wear safety belts or to install safety nets below the scaffolding. There was evidence that safety belts and lines were commonly used by masons, but that they were not commonly used under the conditions in which Corsetti was working because he was protected by the masonry wall on one side and the main frame of the scaffold on the other. However, the plaintiffs’ expert witness, a safety consultant, testified that in his opinion good safety management and administration dictated the use of safety belts under those conditions. He testified that the use of a safety net would not have been feasible because there was no place to put one, but the use of a safety belt and line was both feasible and practical under those conditions. He further testified that the belt could be tied in such a way as to pose no danger to the mason of tripping, and that the cost of providing such a belt would be approximately thirty-five dollars.

Stone’s expert, an engineer, testified that a safety belt was not appropriate for masons under the circumstances of the case because there was no hazard of falling, and because a belt and line would pose a hazard of tripping. He further testified that the classic situation in which a safety belt would be used is when there is a hanging scaffold; in other words, a scaffold platform suspended against a building by two cables. He said that a safety belt was required on such a scaffold because if one of the cables broke, everyone and everything on the platform would fall.

The plaintiffs introduced in evidence a copy of Industrial Bulletin No. 12, Rules and Regulations for the Prevention of Accidents in Construction Operations, Department of Labor and Industries, Division of Industrial Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (hereinafter Industrial Bulletin No. 12).⁶ That bulletin contained the following provisions:

“4.6 Falling Hazards.

“4.6.1 Prevention — Every hole or opening in floors, roofs, walls, elevated platforms and similar operating surfaces into or through which a person may fall shall have all exposed sides guarded by a barrier sufficient to prevent falls.

“4.6.2 Temporary Floors — Where free access is required by work actually in progress, floor openings shall be covered by solid temporary construction conforming to the requirements of Section 11.5.

“4.6.3 Floor Security ■— When covering floor openings by means of solid temporary construction such cover shall be properly anchored to prevent accidental displacement.

“4.16 Use of Protective Equipment.

“4.16.1 Required Use — A life line and safety belt or life net, as appropriate, shall be provided for and used by workmen engaged in the following operations:

1. Securing or shifting thrustouts.

2. Inspection or working on overhead machines, supporting scaffolds or other high riggings.

3. Steeply pitched roofs.

4. Employees exposed to the hazard of falling more than twenty-five (25) feet above land, or temporary or permanent floor.

5. Employees exposed to the hazard of falling more than fifty (50) feet above water.

6. Working in confined space as defined in Section 20.

7. As directed by his employer or his employer’s authorized agent.”

The plaintiffs also introduced a booklet entitled “Construction Industry, OSHA Safety and Health Standards Digest, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (Revised) June 1975.” The booklet is a digest of selected OSHA standards, expressed in simple terms, to aid employers, supervisors, and safety personnel in achieving voluntary compliance with OSHA standards.

We agree with Stone’s contention that the relationship of Stone and Salvucci was not that of master and servant and that therefore Stone cannot be held vicariously liable for the negligence of Salvucci or its employees. Whalen v. Shivek, 326 Mass. 142, 149-150 (1950); Herrick v. Springfield, 288 Mass. 212, 216 (1934). However, we do not agree with Stone’s further argument that as the general contractor on the job, it owed no duty to employees of subcontractors other than a general duty to provide a reasonably safe worksite and to warn of defects which it reasonably could have discovered on the worksite or in appliances already in place there. We do not agree that as a matter of law Stone owed no duty to Corsetti to require that he use safety equipment.

Stone was the employer of Salvucci, an independent contractor. “[A]part from any question of vicarious responsibility, [an] employer [of an independent contractor] may be liable for any negligence of his own in connection with the work to be done .... So far as he in fact gives directions for the work, furnishes equipment for it, or retains control over any part of it, he is required to exercise reasonable care for the protection of others” (emphasis added). W. Prosser, Torts § 71, at 469 (4th ed. 1971). If the employer retains no control over the manner in which the work is to be done, “it is to be regarded as the contractor’s own enterprise, and he, rather than the employer, is the proper party to be charged with the responsibility of preventing the risk, and bearing and distributing it.” Restatement (Second) of Torts § 409 comment b (1965).⁷ However, if the employer retains the right to control the work in any of its aspects, including the right to initiate and maintain safety measures and programs, he must exercise that control with reasonable care for the safety of others, and he is liable for damages caused by his failure to do so. This principle is set forth in Restatement (Second) of Torts § 414 (1965), which provides: “One who entrusts work to an independent contractor, but who retains the control of any part of the work, is subject to liability for physical harm to others for whose safety the employer owes a duty to exercise reasonable care, which is caused by his failure to exercise his control with reasonable care.”

One, such as Stone, who employs an independent contractor, “may retain only the power to direct the order in which the work shall be done, or to forbid its being done in a manner likely to be dangerous to himself or others. Such a supervisory control may not subject him to liability ünder the principles of Agency, but he may be liable under the rule stated in [§ 414] unless he exercises his supervisory control with reasonable care so as to prevent the work which he has ordered to be done from causing injury to others.” Id. comment a. “The rule stated in [§ 414] is usually, though not exclusively, applicable when a principal contractor entrusts a part of the work to subcontractors, but himself or through a foreman superintends the entire job. In such a situation, the principal contractor is subject to liability if he fails to prevent the subcontractors from doing even the details of the work in a way unreasonably dangerous to others, if he knows or by the exercise of reasonable care should know that the subcontractors’ work is being so done, and has the opportunity to prevent it by exercising the power of control which he has retained in himself. ” Id. comment b.

Whether an employer has sufficient control over part of the work of an independent contractor to render him liable under § 414 is a question of fact for the jury. Hammond v. Bechtel Inc., 606 P.2d 1269,1275 (Alaska 1980);Rabar v. E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co., 415 A.2d 499, 507-508 (Del. Super. 1980). If there was sufficient evidence to support a finding that Stone retained control over the safety aspects of the Computervision project, Stone was not entitled to judgment notwithstanding the verdict on the theory that it owed Corsetti no duty of reasonable care. See Byrd v. Merwin, 456 Pa. 516, 520 (1974); Pasko v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 14 Ill. App. 3d 481, 489 (1973).

Based on the evidence presented at trial, the jury could have found that under the terms of Stone’s contract with Computer-vision, one of Stone’s responsibilities was to initiate, maintain, and supervise “all safety precautions and programs in connection with the Work,” and that under the terms of its subcontract with Salvucci, Stone retained the authority and control necessary to carry out that responsibility.⁸ The jury further could have found that Burke, Stone’s supervisor at the job site, had the authority to direct subcontractors to remedy violations of safety rules and regulations and to stop work if they failed to comply; that Burke in fact exercised his authority in checking to see whether scaffolding was properly set; that Burke had discussed safety requirements and procedures with Salvucci’s foreman; and that Burke was aware that Salvucci’s masons were not using safety belts while working on the scaffolding. From those findings, the jury could have concluded that Stone had the ability and opportunity to prevent the work from being performed in a dangerous manner by the exercise of the power of control it retained. There was sufficient evidence to support a finding that Stone owed Corsetti a duty to exercise reasonable care for his safety.

We turn to the question whether the evidence warranted a finding that Stone failed to exercise reasonable care for Corset-ti’s safety. Earlier in this opinion, we set forth paragraph 4.16.1 of Industrial Bulletin No. 12, which was in evidence. Rule 4.16.1.4 requires that a “life line and safety belt or life net, as appropriate, shall be provided for and used by workmen engaged in the following operations: . . . Employees exposed to the hazard of falling more than twenty-five (25) feet above land, or temporary or permanent floor.” Stone argues that Corsetti was not exposed to a “hazard of falling” within the meaning of paragraph 4.16.1.4; that paragraph 4.6.1 of Industrial Bulletin No. 12, also set forth above, defines “falling hazard” as a hole or opening in floors, roofs, walls, elevated platforms, and similar surfaces into or through which a person may fall. Stone says that there was no evidence that Corsetti was exposed to such a hole or opening, and that therefore the jury would not have been warranted in finding Stone negligent on the basis of a violation of paragraph 4.16.1.4. We disagree.

Stone correctly argues that the interpretation of an administrative regulation is a question of law which must be decided by the court. See, e.g., Woodcock v. Trailways of New England, Inc., 340 Mass. 36, 42-43 (1959); Niles v. Boston Rent Control Adm’r, 6 Mass. App. Ct. 135, 149 (1978). In that respect, an administrative regulation which has the force of law is no different than a statute.⁹ 1A C. Sands, Sutherland Statutory Construction § 31.06 (4th ed. 1972). But nothing in the regulations limits a “falling hazard” or a “hazard of falling” to a situation in which there is a hole or opening in an operating surface. Paragraph 4.6.1 merely sets forth the precautions required to protect workers from one type of falling hazard. Moreover, that paragraph requires that all such holes or openings be “guarded by a barrier sufficient to prevent falls.” Thus, Stone’s interpretation of the regulations would require that safety belts be provided only where there is already sufficient fall protection. Such an interpretation is contrary to common sense.

The terms “falling hazard” and “hazard of falling” are not defined in the regulations. There is no reason to conclude that they have other than their common and ordinary meaning. Therefore, the jury could have found that by standing on a platform thirty-six to forty feet above the ground, which. was supported only by side brackets, Corsetti was as much exposed to a hazard of falling as he would have been had the platform been suspended by cables. As we have stated, Stone’s expert testified that in the latter situation a safety belt would be required. Also, from the testimony of the plaintiffs’ expert that the use of a safety belt and line were feasible, practical, and dictated by good safety management, the jury could have found that the use of that equipment was appropriate, and, therefore, that Stone violated the regulation by not providing and requiring its use. We also observe that, totally apart from the regulation, the experts’ testimony, together with the evidence of the circumstances of Corsetti’s fall, was sufficient to warrant the finding of Stone’s negligence.¹⁰ The judge properly denied Stone’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict.¹¹

2. The judge’s charge. Stone argues that the judge erred in failing to give instructions to the jury relative to (a) the significance of evidence of the custom and practice in the industry, (b) Corsetti’s duty to mitigate damages; and (c) the jury’s right to draw inferences from Corsetti’s failure to call his treating physician.

After the judge gave his initial instructions to the jury, Stone objected to the judge’s failure to give Stone’s requested instruction number 18, which is set forth in the margin,¹² dealing with evidence of the custom and practice in the industry. The judge properly could have given the requested instruction. However, he did not do so and, instead, he charged the jury as follows: “It is only proper for you to consider on the issue of negligence or lack thereof what the custom and practice was in the construction industry, if you find that on the evidence, inasmuch as that may bear on the ultimate question of whether or not Stone was or was not negligent, or whether that negligence, if there was negligence, was causally related to the result that occurred.”

Stone did not object to that instruction, nor did it request additional or clarifying instructions. “A judge is under no obligation to charge the jury in the specific language requested by a party.” Cooke v. Walter Kidde & Co., 8 Mass. App. Ct. 902, 904 (1979). See Fialkow v. DeVoe Motors, Inc., 359 Mass. 569, 575 (1971).

Stone also requested an instruction relative to Corsetti’s obligation to mitigate his damages by returning to work as soon as he was able. The requested instruction is set forth in the margin.¹³ There was no error in the judge’s refusal to give the specific instruction requested by Stone. The request erroneously focused on lost earnings as a measure of damages. The judge correctly instructed the jury that Corsetti was entitled to recover for lost earning capacity. Because of our conclusion that the exclusion of collateral source evidence was error necessitating a new trial on the issue of damages, we need not consider whether Stone was entitled to a fuller instruction on loss of earning capacity than the judge gave.

Finally, Stone objects to the judge’s refusal to instruct the jury that they could draw an adverse inference from the plaintiffs’ failure to call Corsetti’s treating physician, Dr. Thrasher. The plaintiffs called two other physicians who had examined Corsetti and who testified as to his disabilities. Stone then called Dr. Thrasher, who gave testimony largely, though not entirely, favorable to the defendants. In his closing argument, counsel for Stone commented on the plaintiffs’ failure to call Dr. Thrasher. In addition, Stone requested the following instruction: “You may draw any inferences which you find appropriate from the plaintiff’s failure to call his treating physician, Dr. Thrasher, to the witness stand, in view of his physical availability to testify and his physician-patient relationship with the plaintiff. Berry v. Stone, 345 Mass. 752, 755-756 (1963); Grady v. Collins Transportation Company, Inc., 341 Mass. 502, 504-505 (1960); Horowitz v. Bokron, 337 Mass. 739, 743-744 (1958).” Instead, the judge instructed the jury as follows: “The general rule in Massachusetts is that if a witness is available for a party and the party doesn’t call that witness, an inference may be drawn adversely to that party. If, on the other hand, a witness is equally available to both parties the general rule is that there is no adverse inference to draw against either party because he has been called. Furthermore, the witness has been on the stand and been examined by both parties. You may or may not make anything of that circumstance. I simply tell you what the rule is in the existing Massachusetts law.”

When the circumstances of a case are such that a party would be expected to call a witness who is available to testify but the witness is not called, the jury may be permitted to infer that the witness’s testimony would have been adverse to that party. Commonwealth v. Franklin, 366 Mass. 284, 292-293 (1974); Berry v. Stone, supra at 756; Grady v. Collins Transp. Co., supra at 509. In this case, however, because Dr. Thrasher did testify, the principle enunciated in those cases does not apply. There was no error.

3. Evidence of collateral source income. The trial took place in June, 1983. Stone attempted to introduce evidence that since 1981 Corsetti had been receiving income from various sources, including social security and worker’s compensation benefits, in excess of his pre-accident income. On two occasions during the trial, the judge conducted a voir dire in which the plaintiffs testified that Corsetti had received benefits in excess of $15,000 a year since 1981. Corsetti had an income of approximately $9,000 and $10,000 in the two years prior to his accident. Although the judge agreed that the evidence was “imminently relevant,” he ruled that it was too confusing to be presented to the jury. He suggested that the parties stipulate to the amount of Corsetti’s income from collateral sources for transmission to the jury with appropriate limiting instructions. The plaintiffs, however, refused to stipulate to the amounts received, and the judge refused to allow the information to be presented to the jury.

Ordinarily, “a defendant may not show that the plaintiff has received other compensation for his injury, whether from an accident insurance policy, . . . from workmen’s compensa-tian, . . . from an employer, ... or from other sources (citations omitted).” Goldstein v. Gontarz, 364 Mass. 800, 808-809 (1974). The rationale behind this so-called “collateral-source rule” is that the receipt of such income does not lawfully reduce the plaintiffs’ damages, “yet jurors might be led by the irrelevancy to consider plaintiffs’ claims unimportant or trivial or to refuse plaintiffs’ verdicts or reduce them, believing that otherwise there would be unjust double recovery.” Id. at 809. However, there is an exception to that rule. Our cases have long recognized that in some circumstances, evidence of collateral source income may be admissible, in the discretion of the trial judge, “as probative of a relevant proposition, say ‘control’ or credibility of a particular witness’'’ (emphasis added). Id. at 812. Thus, in McElwain v. Capotosto, 332 Mass. 1,2-3 (1954), we held that it was within the trial judge’s discretion to admit evidence that the plaintiff was being paid while he was out of work because, even though the sums paid to the plaintiff would not properly reduce the recoverable damages for actual loss of earning capacity due to the accident, the evidence nevertheless was relevant to the plaintiff’s motive for staying out of work. Relying on that decision, in Centola v. Driscoll, 4 Mass. App. Ct. 817 (1976), the Appeals Court affirmed the admission of evidence of collateral source income where there was other evidence that suggested that the plaintiff was malingering,¹⁴ and where the trial judge instructed the jury that the evidence was limited to the question whether the plaintiff’s absence from work had been prolonged by reason of his receipt of insurance payments. See also Nassif v. Smith, 4 Mass. App. Ct. 814 (1976) (“Whether [the collateral source income] evidence was admissible for the limited purpose of affecting the weight of the plaintiff’s testimony that he was unable to work on account of the accident was within the discretion of the judge (McElwain v. Capotosto, supra at 3) as an exception to the ‘collateral-source’ rule”).

Whether Corsetti continued to be totally disabled was a vigorously contested issue at trial. Corsetti testified that he had not worked since the accident and that because of his injuries he was unable to hold any kind of job. This testimony was corroborated by two medical doctors and a vocational counselor who testified on his behalf. However, Dr. Thrasher, Corsetti’s treating physician at the time of the accident, testified that when he last saw Corsetti in November, 1981, the physical findings did not support Corsetti’s most recent complaints, and that he felt that those complaints might be related to Corsetti’s desire to make a better case. Corsetti testified that his injuries had substantially improved by the time of the trial. Thus, evidence that Corsetti’s income after the accident was higher than his income while he was working would have given substantial support to Stone’s contention that he had a motive other than physical disability to remain out of work.

Nevertheless, our holding that Stone was entitled as a matter of right to the admission of that evidence is not, as Justice Liacos says it is, grounded on its relevance to the issue of malingering. See Pemberton v. Boas, 13 Mass. App. Ct. 1015, 1018 (1982). The proffered evidence did not bear solely on the question of malingering. It also directly contradicted Corsetti’s testimony, elicited by Corsetti’s counsel on direct examination, that, as a result of Corsetti’s injuries, his wife was required to work full time up to the time of trial (inferentially because of Corsetti’s lack of resources as a result of his injuries), thus aggravating him,¹⁵ and that he and his wife fought about money (again, inferentially, because Corsetti had less money after the accident than he had before it), and it contradicted Margherita Corsetti’s testimony that Corsetti and she had a bleak Christmas, partially because of lack of money.¹⁶ In addition, on cross-examination, defense counsel asked Cor-setti whether he ever went to the movies. That question was entirely appropriate in light of Corsetti’s earlier testimony on direct examination that his practice was to stay in the house all day and that he was unable to watch television very much because sounds bothered him.¹⁷ Although the question called for a “yes” or “no” answer, Corsetti volunteered that he did not go to the movies because he could not afford to do so,¹⁸ again focusing on his lack of money as a result of his injuries.

As Justice Abrams says in her dissenting opinion, citing numerous cases as examples (31 n.2), several courts have held that evidence of collateral source income is admissible “where a plaintiff in a personal injury action has volunteered testimony as to penurious circumstances allegedly resulting from his injury.” That is precisely the case here. Contrary to Justice Abrams’s assertion (at 34), Stone did not solicit any statement from Corsetti regarding his financial straits. The plaintiff volunteered those statements on both direct and cross-examination. As Justice Abrams recognizes (at 35), a plaintiff who affirmatively pleads poverty, “should be forced to confront the consequences of that choice on cross-examination.”

The exclusion of evidence contradicting Corsetti’s testimony clearly was prejudicial to Stone. Elementary principles of fairness required that Stone be permitted to challenge the seriously damaging testimony volunteered by Corsetti by demonstrating that after Corsetti’s accident he had more money than he had before it. Elementary fairness also required that Corsetti not be shielded from a cross-examination that strongly tended to impeach all of Corsetti’s testimony by exposing the falsehood of some of it.

In the absence of a stipulation of the relevant information, which would have been the preferable course, see Goldstein v. Gontarz, at 814, the evidence in question should have been admitted and appropriate limiting instructions should have been given. A new trial on the question of the plaintiffs’ damages is necessary.

4. Deal’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The plaintiffs and Stone argue that the decision of the trial judge granting Deal’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict was erroneous. When reviewing a decision granting a defendant’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, we consider whether, when viewed most favorably to the plaintiff, “the evidence is such that, without weighing the credibility of the witnesses or otherwise considering the weight of the evidence, there can be but one conclusion as to the verdict that reasonable men could have reached” (citations omitted). O’Shaughnessy v. Besse, 7 Mass. App. Ct. 727, 728 (1979), quoting Simblest v. Maynard, 427 F.2d 1, 4 (2d Cir. 1970). We set forth the evidence relevant to the defendant Deal.

In 1950, A. Gene Febbo began manufacturing scaffolding through a company known as Deal Products (Deal I). In 1968, Febbo sold the business to Aydin Corporation, which continued to manufacture scaffolding through its Deal Products Division (Deal II). On December 23, 1971, Aydin agreed to sell all of the assets of its Deal Products Division to Edward Cantor. Cantor in turn assigned the agreement of sale to the then newly formed defendant, Deal Products, Inc. (Deal). The design and manufacturing process for Deal side brackets remained essentially the same under each company.

The R.A. Salvucci Construction Company owned the scaffolding that was used by the masons on the Computervision project. Salvucci owned several types of scaffolding, including side-brackets made by Deal. Salvucci had acquired some of this scaffolding from another company that had purchased it second-hand in 1971 or 1972 from a company in Maine. Sal-vucci had also purchased some scaffolding directly from Deal between 1977 and 1979.

Immediately after Corsetti’s accident, John Calnan, Com-putervision’s project manager, saw a side bracket at the scene of the accident. He could not identify the manufacturer of the bracket, but he stated that the bracket looked “abused.” Thomas Burke, the superintendent, also observed a broken side bracket at the scene. Burke testified that the hook that attached the bracket to the main frame of the scaffolding was separated from the triangular portion of the bracket about one-half inch from the weld that joined the two pieces. Burke could not identify the manufacturer of the bracket. He put both pieces of the broken side bracket into his trailer. Bill Powers, Sal-vucci’s foreman, testified that he took both pieces of a broken side bracket from the trailer and brought it to Salvucci’s office. He stated that the bracket was broken at the weld between the hook and the triangular portion of the bracket. He identified this bracket as a Deal bracket. Salvucci testified that he was shown part of a side bracket that was broken at the weld. He also identified this bracket as a Deal bracket. The broken side bracket was apparently lost within days of the accident and was not put in evidence. There was no evidence to establish when the broken side bracket was manufactured.

An expert witness for the plaintiffs testified that Deal brackets were not adequately tested or inspected, and that the brackets should have been date-stamped and should have carried warnings or instructions for periodic testing to discover fatigue cracks in the weld area. He also testified that the circumstances surrounding Corsetti’s accident were “consistent with a gradual fatigue failure of the weld area.” Stone’s expert testified that Deal side brackets were not properly designed. He stated that the design created unacceptable stress at two critical points on the bracket which would inevitably lead to fatigue failure. He testified that the brackets were not adequately tested or inspected and that users of the bracket should have been instructed to periodically test it.

The judge granted Deal’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict on the grounds that there was no evidence to support a finding that the side bracket which caused Corsetti’s injuries was manufactured and sold by Deal rather than by its predecessors and that Deal could not be held liable for the negligent acts or omissions of a predecessor corporation. On appeal, Stone and the plaintiffs argue that the judge erred in granting Deal’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict because the case falls within three exceptions to the general rule against successor corporate liability. First, they argue that Deal contractually assumed the liabilities of its predecessor, Aydin Corp. Second, they argue that the case falls within the continuity of enterprise exception to the rule against successor liability. See Cyr v. B. Offen & Co., 501 F.2d 1145 (1st Cir. 1974). Third, they argue that Deal should be held liable for the torts of its predecessor under the “product line” theory. See Ray v. Alad Corp., 19 Cal. 3d 22 (1977). The plaintiffs also argue that there was evidence from which the jury could have found that Deal breached a duty to warn users of design weaknesses in the side bracket and that, on that basis, Deal could have been found liable for its own negligence.

Deal argues that the judge correctly held that the exceptions to the rule against successor corporate liability do not apply to this case. In addition, Deal argues that the judge properly granted judgment notwithstanding the verdict because (a) the court lacked personal jurisdiction over Deal; (b) there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that the bracket that caused Corsetti’s accident was a Deal bracket; (c) there was insufficient evidence that the negligence of Deal or its predecessors caused the accident; and (d) Deal had no duty to warn remote purchasers of defects in its products. We conclude that the judge properly granted Deal’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. We base our holding on the insufficiency of the evidence to support a finding that the negligence of either Deal or its predecessors caused Corsetti’s accident. Therefore, we need not confront the parties ’ other arguments.

In an action based on negligence, the plaintiffs “[have] the burden of proving that a defect attributable to the manufacturer’s negligence caused the injury.” Carney v. Bereault, 348 Mass. 502, 506 (1965). The plaintiffs must show “that there was greater likelihood or probability that the harm complained of was due to causes for which the defendant was responsible than from any other cause.” Mullins v. Pine Manor College, 389 Mass. 47, 58 (1983), quoting Carey v. General Motors Corp., 377 Mass. 736, 740 (1979). “Where, as here, the accident occurs after the defendant has surrendered control of the instrumentality involved, it is incumbent upon the plaintiff to show that the instrumentality had not been improperly handled by himself or by intermediate handlers.” Coyne v. John S. Tilley Co., 368 Mass. 230, 237 (1975), quoting Evangelio v. Metropolitan Bottling Co., 339 Mass. 177, 183 (1959). If “on all the evidence, it is just as reasonable to suppose that the cause is one for which no liability would attach to the defendant as one for which the defendant is liable,” then judgment must be entered for the defendant. O’Shaughnessy v. Besse, supra at 729, quoting Bigwood v. Boston & No. St. Ry., 209 Mass. 345, 348 (1911).

From the evidence presented at trial the jury reasonably could have found that Deal or one of its predecessors was negligent in designing and manufacturing a side bracket that would inevitably fail due to fatigue in the weld area. Even if the negligence of a predecessor were to be attributed to Deal, however, there was no evidence from which the jury reasonably could have inferred that the negligence of Deal or its predecessor was the cause of Corsetti’s injuries. There was no evidence that the break in the side bracket probably resulted from fatigue failure, or that a warning concerning the bracket’s proneness to fatigue failure and the wisdom of testing for it would have prevented Corsetti’s accident.

The only evidence as to the condition of the side bracket at the time it broke was that the bracket looked “abused.” There was also evidence that it was Salvucci’s practice to send broken pieces of scaffolding to be repaired, which sometimes involved re welding hooks onto the triangular pieces of side brackets. There was no contrary evidence from which the jury could properly have inferred that the particular side bracket at issue was in the same condition at the time of the accident as when it was sold by Deal or its predecessors. Compare Coyne v. John S. Tilley Co., supra at 237-238 (evidence that broken ladder appeared bright, new, and defect free prior to accident sufficient to warrant inference that it was not mishandled by intermediaries).

Neither of the expert witnesses who testified on behalf of the plaintiffs and Stone had examined the side bracket involved in the accident. Stone’s expert expressed no opinion as to the cause of the accident. The plaintiffs’ expert testified that the circumstances surrounding the accident were “consistent with” a break resulting from fatigue failure. That testimony warranted a finding that it was possible that fatigue failure at the weld was the cause of the plaintiff’s accident, but it was not sufficient to support a finding of probability in that regard. See Shrewsbury Retirement Bd. v. Contributory Retirement Appeal Bd., 5 Mass. App. Ct. 379, 381 (1977). On the evidence, it was no less likely that the break in the side bracket was caused by intermediate mishandling or faulty repairs. Therefore, the jury were not warranted in finding that Corsetti’s injury probably resulted from defective design, manufacture, or warning.

5. The plaintiffs’ motion for sanctions against Stone. On June 29, 1979, in the course of pretrial discovery, the plaintiffs filed a request for production of documents under Mass. R. Civ. P. 34. Among other things, the plaintiffs requested copies of Stone’s primary and excess insurance agreements. On July 11, 1979, Stone, by its attorney,¹⁹ responded that it had general liability insurance with a policy limit of $500,000. On April 7, 1983, during a deposition of Stone’s president, the plaintiffs learned that Stone also had additional coverage under an excess liability policy with a limit of $1,000,000.

On April 15, 1983, the plaintiffs filed a motion pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P. 37 (b), (c), & (d), seeking sanctions in the form of a $10,000 fine for Stone’s failure to respond to its request for production. On April 19, 1983, Stone filed a supplemental response to the plaintiffs’ request for production of documents, indicating that it had excess liability coverage of $1,000,000. Also on April 19, a judge of the Superior Court held a hearing on the plaintiffs’ motion for sanctions. The judge then denied the motion, endorsing it as follows: “After hearing, the Court concludes that the matter is moot (the information having already been supplied to plaintiff); it thus appears that the Court lacks discretionary power to proceed further. If I believed myself to possess the authority to do so, I would consider the matter and would entertain affidavits and oral testimony under oath. If the failure to disclose was wilful, a heavy sanction would be an appropriate means of ensuring the integrity of [Mass. R. Civ. P.] 26 (b) (2). Motion Denied.” The plaintiffs appeal from the denial of the motion.

Massachusetts Rule of Civil Procedure 37 (d), 365 Mass. 800 (1974), provides in part: “If a party . . . wilfully fails . . . (3) to serve a written response to a request for inspection submitted under Rule 34, after proper service of the request, the court in which the action is pending on motion may make such orders in regard to the failure as are just, and among others it may take any action authorized under paragraphs (A), (B), and (C) of subdivision (b) (2) of this rule.” The rule affords a judge broad discretion to impose whatever sanctions a^e just in order to ensure that the discovery process operates efficiently. The motion judge apparently reasoned, however, that because the information sought had already been provided to the plaintiffs, the matter was moot and he had no discretion to impose sanctions under the rule. We do not agree.

The sanctions provided by rule 37 are designed not only to compel compliance with discovery requests; they also act as a deterrent to unwarranted evasions of discovery. A party will almost always, in the absence of a complete failure to respond, be unable to seek sanctions for a failure to comply with discovery requests unless and until the party learns that the response it received was incorrect or incomplete. If possession of that information were to render the matter moot, then rule 37 would be an ineffective tool for deterring wilful violations of the discovery rules. See C.A. Wright & A.R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2291 (1981) (interpreting Fed. R. Civ. P. 37 [d]) (“the rule does not become inapplicable because a response is made in the interim between the filing of the motion for sanctions and the hearing on the motion”).

Here, however, the only sanction sought by the plaintiffs, was a fine in the amount of $10,000 to be paid to the court. It is not at all clear that a fine may be assessed under rule 37 (d) or under the analogous Federal rule. The parties have not addressed this issue in their briefs. We therefore decline to consider the issue. See Mass. R. A. P. 16 (a) (4), as amended, 367 Mass. 919 (1975). The plaintiffs having failed to meet their burden of demonstrating error, we affirm the denial of the motion for sanctions.

6. Conclusion. The judgment for Deal Products, Inc., is affirmed. The order denying the plaintiffs’ motion for sanctions is also affirmed. The judgment against The Stone Company is reversed, and the case is remanded to the Superior Court for a new trial confined to the issue of damages.

So ordered.

3 Claims for loss of society brought by Margherita Corsetti’s three children were apparently dropped prior to trial.

4 Article 10 of the general contract provided in part:

“10.1 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND PROGRAMS

“10.1.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for initiating, maintaining and supervising all safety precautions and programs in connection with the Work.

“10.2 SAFETY OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY

“10.2.1 The Contractor shall take all reasonable precautions for the safety of, and shall provide all reasonable protection to prevent damage, injury or loss to:

“. 1 all employees on the Work and all other persons who may be affected thereby;

“10.2.2 The Contractor shall give all notices and comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and lawful orders of any public authority bearing on the safety of persons or property or their protection from damage, injury or loss.”

5 Article 11 of the subcontract provided in part:

“11.7 The Subcontractor shall take all reasonable safety precautions with respect to his Work, shall comply with all safety measures initiated by the Contractor and with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and orders of any public authority for the safety of persons or property in accordance with the requirements of the Contract Documents. The Subcontractor shall report within three days to the Contractor any injury to any of the Subcontractor’s employees at the site.”

6 The regulations contained in Industrial Bulletin No. 12 were formally promulgated on January 1, 1978, 441 Code Mass. Regs. 10.00 et seq. The provisions set forth above are found at 441 Code Mass. Regs. 10.04(6) and 441 Code Mass. Regs. 10.04(16), respectively.

7 A stricter standard may apply in cases involving inherently dangerous work. See Herrick v. Springfield, supra at 216-217. Restatement (Second) of Torts §§ 414A, 416, 417, 423 (1965).

8 Stone correctly argues that the terms of its contract with Computervision cannot vary or heighten any duty Stone may have owed to Corsetti. Kushner v. Dravo Corp., 339 Mass. 273, 276-277 (1959); Hampson v. Larkin, 318 Mass. 716, 718 (1945). However, the contract is relevant as evidence of control over the safety aspects of the work. In addition, the contract specified that Stone was to comply with Federal and State safety regulations. As such, it provides evidence of the standards the parties considered to be material to due care under the circumstances. Kushner v. Dravo Corp., supra at 277. Hampson v. Larkin, supra.

9 The plaintiffs, relying on doCanto v. Ametek, Inc., 367 Mass. 776 (1975), argue that the interpretation of the regulations is a question of fact to be decided by the jury. In doCanto v. Ametek, Inc., supra at 784, we stated: “[Tjhe judge did not err in refusing to instruct the jury concerning the written standards of the American Standard Safety Code for Laundry Machinery and Operations [footnote omitted]. The meaning of the safety code was a contested question of fact. Ametek asserted the code required merely a safety bar that would stop the ironer, and all parties agreed that the safety mechanism stopped the machine. The plaintiffs contended that to comply with the code, the safety bar or other guard must be capable of stopping the machine within a reasonable time. This dispute presented a factual question for the jury.” That case, however, involved safety standards that were apparently adopted by a trade organization, rather than administrative regulations having the force of law.

10 Because we have concluded that without reliance on OSHA regulations the evidence was sufficient to warrant a finding of Stone’s negligence, we do not consider the effect of those regulations in this case.

11 We acknowledge the brief filed on behalf of amicus curiae, Scaffold Industry Association. Amicus curiae argues that the State regulations contained in Industrial Bulletin No. 12 are preempted by the Federal OSH A regulations. The issue was not raised below, nor is it argued by Stone on appeal. We decline to consider the issue on appeal. In any event, there was evidence, apart from the safety regulations, which would have warranted a finding that Stone was negligent.

12 “If you find that prior to September 26, 1978, it was the custom and practice in the construction industry not to require masons to wear safety belts when on scaffolds and if you further find that The Stone Company complied with and conformed to that practice and custom, then I instruct you that Stone’s conformance to said practice and custom in the construction industry prior to September 26, 1978, is some evidence that Stone was not negligent. Breault v. Ford Motor Co., 364 Mass. 352 (1973); Stuart v. Roy Bros. Inc., 358 Mass. 446 (1970); Kushner v. Dravo Corp., 339 Mass. 273.”

13 “If you find that the plaintiff could have returned to work earlier than he in fact did, then I instruct you to find that his damages for- lost earnings may only be found for that period of time where you find he could not have worked. Brian v. B. Sopkin & Sons, 314 Mass. 180 (1943); Quaranto v. Silverman, 345 Mass. 423 (1963).”

14 Where there is no other evidence to suggest that a plaintiff’s prolonged absence from work is a result of anything other than his disability, the fact that he was receiving collateral source income has little, if any, probative value. Where, however, other evidence of malingering makes the plaintiff’s motive for staying out of work a genuine issue at trial, evidence of collateral source income may be persuasive confirmation of malingering.

Justice Abrams incorrectly asserts (at 31-32) that the existence of evidence of malingering other than evidence of collateral source income argues in favor of excluding the evidence of collateral source income. The opposite is true.

15 Nothing in the record either requires or justifies the inference, expressed by Justice Abrams (at 32), that Corsetti’s wife increased her work schedule from half time to full time “not . . . because of financial need, but rather in order that she might get out of the house to escape her husband’s irritability.”

16 The following are excerpts from Corsetti’s testimony in response to his counsel’s questions during the presentation of the plaintiffs’ case:

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Before you got hurt was it your regular practice to turn your paycheck over to her? Then she would dole out the money? Run the household?”

Corsetti: “Yes. I give to her for the whole house.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Has she done any more work now? Has she begun working more frequently since you have been out?”

Corsetti: “Before she went to work parttime. Now she works full-time.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Has she ever worked full-time, outside of the house? Since your being in the house all the time, has this affected your relationship at all?”

Corsetti: “Yes.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “How?”

Corsetti: “Well, sometimes we fight, we do a lot of argument. Everything.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Do you end up fighting about money?”

Corsetti: “Yeah.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Has it affected you at all that you have been working since you were 16 and are no longer working?”

Corsetti: “Yes.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Does it bother you now?”

Corsetti: “Yes. It drives me crazy.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Why?”

Corsetti: “Because I used to go to work. I used to love to go to work.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Why?”

Corsetti: “Because I like to, you know, earn money, support the family. Now because my wife is working I get aggravated.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Does she give you any money for lunch, or anything like that?”

Corsetti: “Yes. Sometimes.”

Margherita Corsetti testified to the following on direct examination:

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “How was Christmas in 1978?”

Margherita Corsetti: “How was it? Sort of bleak, not to — financially and otherwise.”

17 Plaintiffs’ counsel: “What do you do with yourself all day?”

Corsetti: “Stay in the house.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Doing what?”

Corsetti: “Nothing.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Watch TV?”

Corsetti: “I can’t watch TV too much.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Why not?”

Corsetti: “Bothers me.”

Plaintiffs’ counsel: “Why does it bother you?”

Corsetti: “Because every little noise bothers me. Sounds, noises bother me.”

18 Defense counsel: “Have you ever been to the movies?”

Corsetti: “No.”

Defense counsel: “Never been to the movies?”

Corsetti: “No. I can’t afford to go to the movies.”

19 We note that Stone’s counsel at trial and on appeal was not the same as Stone’s counsel during the relevant discovery period.