Covey v. Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.

678 N.E.2d 466, 89 N.Y.2d 952, 655 N.Y.S.2d 854, 1997 N.Y. LEXIS 85

• Court: New York Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 6, 1997
• Status: Published

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs, and the certified question answered in the negative.

Plaintiff commenced this action pursuant to Labor Law § 240 (1) to recover damages for personal injuries he sustained when he fell approximately 20 feet from a backhoe into a trench during the course of his employment with a contractor engaged by defendants to construct a pipeline. At the time of the accident, plaintiff was attempting to replace hydraulic fluid in the backhoe, which was adjacent to the pipeline trench. The Appellate Division correctly determined that plaintiff was engaged in an activity protected under Labor Law § 240 (1), inasmuch as the work performed by plaintiff was part of the construction of the pipeline (see, Lombardi v Stout, 80 NY2d 290, 296). In addition, under the circumstances of this case, plaintiffs fall from the backhoe into the 15-foot deep excavation after attempting to-steady himself by grabbing an improperly secured handrail was the type of elevation-related risk for which Labor Law § 240 (1) provides protection (see, Gordon v Eastern Ry. Supply, 82 NY2d 555, 560-562).

Chief Judge Kaye and Judges Bellacosa, Smith, Levine, Ciparick and Wesley concur in memorandum; Judge Titone taking no part.

Order affirmed, etc.