Lewis v. Summit Office Supply, Inc.
The plaintiff, an employee of Manhattan Transfer, Inc., was injured by a forklift operated by defendant Vincent Carbone, an employee of Summit Office Supply, Inc. The plaintiff filed a negligence action against the defendants. The defendants asserted an affirmative defense, arguing that workers' compensation was the plaintiff's sole remedy. The Supreme Court granted the defendants' cross-motion for summary judgment, finding that Vincent Carbone was a special employee of Manhattan Transfer, Inc. The appellate court affirmed the Supreme Court's order, concluding that Vincent Carbone was a coemployee of the plaintiff, making workers' compensation the exclusive remedy under Workers’ Compensation Law § 29 [6].