Mom Cannot Proceed With Tort Suit for Death of 14-Year-Old Son at Farm

A New York appellate court upheld the dismissal of a mother’s tort claim for the death of her 14-year-old son who was illegally employed at a farm. Case: Smith v. Park, No. 529585, 06/25/2020, published. Facts and procedural history: In July 2015, 14-year-old Alex Smith died in an unwitnessed incident while operating a skid steer owned by the Park Family Farm. His mother filed a workers’ compensation claim. The Workers’ Compensation Board found the farm had illegally employed Alex. It ordered that increased death benefits be paid to his mother. Though the farm h...