Opinion
File No. 168784
Since a forklift truck is by statute (§ 14-1) a motor vehicle and since the statute (§ 31-293a of the Workmen's Compensation Act) prohibiting suits against fellow employees contains an exception for injuries arising out of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle, the plaintiff could properly maintain his action to recover for injuries allegedly caused by the negligent operation of a forklift by his defendant fellow employee.
Memorandum filed November 20, 1979
Memorandum on defendant's motion to dismiss. Motion denied.
James O. Shea, for the named plaintiff.
Mihaly Mihaly, for the intervening plaintiff.
Cotter, Cotter Sohon, for the defendant.
The plaintiff and the defendant were fellow employees of the intervening plaintiff, the Eastern Woodwork Company. The plaintiff was injured while working with the defendant, who was operating a forklift truck, said injuries allegedly resulting from the defendant's negligent operation of the forklift.
The defendant moves to dismiss the complaint and intervening complaint on the ground that the court lacks jurisdiction over the subject matter. He claims that the plaintiff's exclusive remedy is under the Workmen's Compensation Act.
The plaintiff claims that, by virtue of § 31-293a of the General Statutes, he is permitted to sue a fellow employee because his injuries arose out of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle by the defendant. Section 31-293a does in fact contain such an exception to its general prohibition of suits between fellow employees.
The defendant claims that a forklift truck is not a "motor vehicle" within the meaning of § 14-1 of the General Statutes, and that therefore the exception in General Statutes § 31-293a does not apply. Section 31-293a requires that the vehicle involved be a "motor vehicle" as defined in § 14-1 of the General Statutes.
Under General Statutes § 14-1 (26) "motor vehicle" means "any vehicle which is propelled or drawn by any power other than muscular, except . . . ." The section goes on to specify thirteen motor powered machines which it excludes from the category of "motor vehicle." The term "forklift truck" is not among the named exclusions. The section closes with the catch-all phrase "and any other vehicle not suitable for operation on a highway."
Moreover, the department of motor vehicles since December 10, 1969 has had a definite agency policy setting forth the methods of registration of forklifts and outlining the extent of their use on the highways of this state. That agency policy is still in effect.
In the view of this court, such a policy clearly indicates that the department of motor vehicles has found that a forklift truck is "suitable for operation on a highway" within the meaning of General Statutes § 14-1 (26) and that it is a motor vehicle within the meaning of that section. That conclusion having been reached, it follows that the plaintiff's action comes within an exception expressed in General Statutes § 31-293a.