Matter of Pestlin v. Haxton Canning Co.

From the time of its original enactment (see L. 1913, ch. 816) the New York Workmen’s Compensation Law has expressly excluded from its coverage: “ farm laborers ” (present § 2, subd. 4). None of the hundreds of amendments passed by the Legislature to extend the coverage and increase the benefits of the act, have in any way affected that exclusion. It is, therefore, beyond the power of the board or the court to grant or affirm an award to one injured when working as a farm laborer.

This injured claimant lived across the street from the farm where he was hurt. He had previously worked as a farm…