The family of Albanian-American Donike Gocaj has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against utility company Con Edison, nearly two months after the 56-year-old lost her life after falling into an uncovered utility manhole in the heart of Manhattan.

Filed in New York Supreme Court, the lawsuit alleges that Con Edison failed to properly secure the manhole cover, did not place warning signs or protective barriers around the opening, and failed to protect pedestrians from a known hazard.

The tragedy occurred on the night of May 18 near East 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue. Gocaj, a resident of Briarcliff Manor, had just parked her vehicle and stepped out when she fell approximately 10 feet into an open Con Edison utility manhole filled with scalding steam.

According to the lawsuit, Gocaj suffered severe scald burns, inhalation thermal injuries, and blunt force trauma. Court documents state that she repeatedly screamed, “I’m dying! I’m dying!” while bystanders desperately searched for a way to rescue her.

Her longtime partner, Jashar “Jack” Kameraj, tried to climb into the manhole to save her but suffered serious burns and thermal injuries himself. Attorneys say he continues to deal with the physical effects of the incident and is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

An autopsy determined that Gocaj died from severe scald burns, thermal inhalation injuries, and blunt force trauma to her torso.

The family’s attorneys argue that Con Edison had known for years that heavy trucks could dislodge manhole covers but failed to install additional safety measures such as locking mechanisms, real-time monitoring systems, or other protective devices that could have prevented the tragedy.

The lawsuit also claims the incident was not isolated. According to the family’s attorneys, more than 3,200 complaints related to manhole hazards were reported in New York City during the first two months of the year, pointing to what they describe as a broader public safety problem.

The family is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, while also asking the court to require Con Edison to implement stronger safety measures to prevent similar tragedies.

Con Edison has expressed condolences to Gocaj’s family but declined to comment on the allegations because of the ongoing litigation. The company previously stated that surveillance footage suggested a multi-axle truck dislodged the manhole cover about 12 minutes before Gocaj’s fatal fall.