Longo v. Metro-North Commuter RailRoad
A plaintiff, a Metro-North employee with flagging duties on a construction site managed by Yonkers Contracting Company, sustained injuries after falling through a hole. The Supreme Court initially denied the plaintiff's summary judgment motion on Labor Law claims and granted Yonkers' cross-motion to dismiss these claims. On appeal, the order was modified; the appellate court reinstated the Labor Law claims against Yonkers, ruling the plaintiff was an integral part of the construction crew entitled to statutory protection. However, the court granted summary judgment to Metro-North, dismissing the plaintiff's Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) claim due to federal preemption. The decision emphasized that Labor Law violations cannot form part of a FELA action.