#United States #New York #Wrongful Death #Consolidated Edison #Manhole Incident

Tragic Incident Leads to Lawsuit Against Consolidated Edison

In a shocking and preventable incident, a wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf against Consolidated Edison Company of New York. The lawsuit stems from the tragic death of Donike Gocaj, a 56-year-old woman who fell into an uncovered manhole in Manhattan, resulting in severe injuries that ultimately claimed her life.

On May 19, 2026, at approximately 12:12 AM, Gocaj exited her vehicle near the intersection of West 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue. Within moments, she fell into an open manhole that was owned and maintained by Consolidated Edison. Despite desperate efforts by her partner, Jashar Kameraj, and responding emergency teams, Gocaj suffered fatal thermal burns from the steam and water that filled the underground vault.

The representative legal team for the Gocaj family detailed that CCTV footage showed a heavy truck had displaced the manhole cover just 12 minutes prior to the incident. This raises serious concerns about Con Edison’s alleged longstanding negligence.

According to Howard Hershenhorn, a senior partner at the law firm, this tragedy was not an isolated incident. “This was not merely a tragic accident. It was a predictable and preventable outcome resulting from years of recklessness by a major utility company that chose profit over public safety,” he stated.

The Scope of the Hazard

Consolidated Edison manages around 246,000 manhole covers across New York City, with thousands of vehicles traversing over them daily. Recent data highlights a troubling rise in incidents, with the New York City Fire Department recording over 45,000 emergency incidents related to manholes. Alarmingly, in just the first two months of 2026, residents made over 3,200 complaints to the city regarding unsafe manhole conditions.

According to Diana Carnemolla, counsel for the Gocaj family, “This is indicative of a systemic failure by Con Edison. They have been aware of the risks associated with heavy vehicles dislodging manholes for decades yet have failed to take adequate preventative measures.”

Con Edison’s Acknowledgment and Inaction

The lawsuit claims that Consolidated Edison was aware of the hazard posed by manhole cover displacements, with the utility having publicly acknowledged the possibility of such events. Their past maintenance records, alongside numerous incidents, reflect a pattern of neglect concerning the safety of New Yorkers.

The complaint highlights a number of industry-standard safety measures that Con Edison has allegedly overlooked:

• - Locking Mechanisms: These systems are designed to secure manhole covers against vehicles.
• - Real-Time Monitoring: Utilizing IoT technology to detect and alert maintenance teams when covers are misplaced.
• - Secondary Safety Devices: Such as internal mesh netting to prevent falls.
• - Regular Inspections: Best practices dictate inspections of high-traffic areas at a minimum of twice a year.

Under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, these covers must withstand at least double the load of the largest vehicles expected to cross them, given the well-understood risks. Hershenhorn pointed out that other cities and utilities have successfully implemented such safety protocols, highlighting that Con Edison had both the knowledge and resources to do the same.

The Impact on Families

This lawsuit is brought forth not only to seek justice for Donike Gocaj but also for her surviving family members, including her children, Armando and Esterina Gocaj, and her partner, Jashar Kameraj. Kameraj was reportedly present during the tragic event, attempting to save Gocaj as she fell. “Jashar witnessed this horrific accident unfold,” Carnemolla stated, “No one should endure such trauma, nor should anyone lose their loved one to a hazard that could have been prevented by a major utility.”

The legal action includes claims for negligence, wrongful death, and emotional distress, demanding accountability for the pain and suffering caused by this foreseeable tragedy. Having represented victims of negligence for decades, the firm aims to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

As this case unfolds, the implications for public safety and utility accountability could lead to significant changes in industry practices, ultimately benefiting the lives of residents in New York and beyond.