Matsch v. Chemung Cnty. Dep't of Pub. Works

• Decision Date: 21 May 2015
• Docket Number: 519819
• Parties: Donna M. MATSCH, Appellant, v. CHEMUNG COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS et al., Respondents.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

128 A.D.3d 1259

9 N.Y.S.3d 724

2015 N.Y. Slip Op. 04374

Donna M. MATSCH, Appellant

v.CHEMUNG COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS et al., Respondents.

519819

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York.

May 21, 2015.

Cellino & Barnes, P.C., Rochester (K. John Wright of counsel), for appellant.

Hiscock & Barclay, LLP, Elmira (Jeremy J. Hourihan of counsel), for respondents.

Before: LAHTINEN, J.P., McCARTHY, GARRY and LYNCH, JJ.

Opinion

LYNCH, J.

Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court (O'Shea, J.), entered February 6, 2014 in Chemung County, which, among other things, granted defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

In October 2010, plaintiff commenced this action to recover for injuries sustained when the car she was driving was hit by a street sweeper. The street sweeper was operated by defendant Ann Morris, who was an employee of defendant County of Chemung Department of Public Works. Following joinder of issue, Supreme Court granted defendants' motion dismissing the complaint after finding that Morris was entitled to immunity pursuant to Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1103(b). This appeal ensued.

With exceptions not applicable here, the safety rules and regulations set forth in the Vehicle and Traffic Law do “not apply to persons ... while actually engaged in work on a highway nor ... to hazard vehicles while actually engaged in hazardous operation on or adjacent to a highway but shall apply to such persons and vehicles when traveling to or from such hazardous operation” (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1103[b] ; see Riley v. County of Broome, 95 N.Y.2d 455, 461–463, 719 N.Y.S.2d 623, 742 N.E.2d 98 [2000] ; Sullivan v. Town of Vestal, 301 A.D.2d 824, 824, 753 N.Y.S.2d 607 [2003] ). If the person is “actually engaged” in work or a hazardous operation, the applicable standard of care is “reckless disregard for the safety of others,” but the exception does not apply where the person is traveling to or from the hazardous operation (Sullivan v. Town of Vestal, 301 A.D.2d at 824, 753 N.Y.S.2d 607 ). Here, Morris was assigned the task of cleaning gravel that had spilled over a two to three-tenth-mile stretch of the eastbound side of Interstate 86 (hereinafter I–86), a four lane highway, with two eastbound and two westbound lanes separated by a concrete barrier. To accomplish the assigned task, Morris drove eastbound on I–86, engaged the sweeper broom as she passed over the affected area, then disengaged the sweeper broom as she continued eastbound, then exited the highway to return to I–86 westbound; she then traveled approximately one-half mile to make another U-turn through a break in the concrete barrier in order to make another pass with the sweeper broom over the affected area. Morris followed this route three times. On the fourth pass, she entered I–86 westbound and, as she moved to the passing lane in anticipation of having to make the U-turn, she struck plaintiff, who was attempting to pass the street sweeper.

The primary issue presented on this appeal is whether Morris was “actually engaged” in protected work while operating the street sweeper westbound on I–86. The exemption is applicable “only when such work is in fact being performed at the time of the accident” (Hofmann v. Town of Ashford, 60 A.D.3d 1498, 1499, 876 N.Y.S.2d 588 [2009] ), and does not apply when the person and vehicle is traveling from one work location to another (see id. ).

Here, Morris was not traveling from one work site to another (compare Davis v. Incorporated Vil. of Babylon, N.Y., 13 A.D.3d 331, 332, 786 N.Y.S.2d 550 [2004] ). Rather, Morris was assigned to clear the gravel on I–86 eastbound and, in order to accomplish this task, it was necessary for her to pass over the affected area a number of times. Given the location and circumstances of the spill, Morris was required to follow the circuitous route to complete the assigned work.

We reject plaintiff's contention that because the sweeper broom was not engaged at the time of the accident, Morris was not “actually engaged” in protected work. Contrary to plaintiff's argument, Trooper Paul J. Campbell testified that, on the day of the accident, he escorted Morris throughout the entire route “to get her in and out of traffic safely.” The street sweeper did not necessarily need to be in the debris area (see Vehicle and Traffic Law § 161 ) in order to be “actually engaged” in protected work (see Riley v. County of Broome, 95...