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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. 2025 NY Slip Op 00411 [234 AD3d 623]
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 28, 2025

Rodriguez v. Riverside Ctr. Site 5 Owner LLC

Richard Rodriguez, a delivery truck driver, sustained injuries after falling into a hole at a construction site. The Supreme Court initially granted summary judgment to defendants Riverside Center Site 5 Owner LLC, Tishman Construction Corporation, and Five Star Electric Corp., dismissing Rodriguez's Labor Law claims. Upon appeal, the Appellate Division, First Department, modified the lower court's decision. The court reinstated Rodriguez's Labor Law § 240 (1) claim, granting him partial summary judgment on liability, reasoning that his tile delivery work was "necessary and incidental" to a protected activity under the statute. However, the dismissal of the Labor Law § 200 claim against Five Star Electric Corp. was affirmed, as Five Star, an electrical contractor, was deemed not a proper Labor Law defendant with supervisory control over the injury site.

Labor LawConstruction AccidentSummary JudgmentAppellate ReviewStatutory InterpretationPersonal InjuryDuty of CareWorker SafetyProtected ActivityThird-Party Action
References
9
Case No. AD J8835024 AD J8996815
Regular
Jun 14, 2016

TRACIE KEILLOR vs. COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinded a prior award, and found that the applicant, a deputy sheriff, did not sustain industrial injury from a stroke. While Labor Code section 3212.5 creates a presumption of industrial causation for heart trouble in peace officers, the applicant failed to establish, based on a qualified medical evaluator's opinions, that her stroke was caused by heart trouble or that she suffered from any heart trouble. The expert consistently found no evidence of heart trouble contributing to the stroke and opined that an intracranial thrombosis was the probable cause. Therefore, the presumption under section 3212.5 was not applicable as the applicant did not meet the threshold requirement of showing heart trouble.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardDeputy SheriffStrokeHeart PresumptionLabor Code Section 3212.5Occupational CausationMedical ProbabilityPanel Qualified Medical EvaluatorCardiologistIn Situ Thrombosis
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 29, 1977

McCallin v. Walsh

The dissenting opinion, penned by Murphy, P. J., challenges specific provisions of Local Law No. 5, particularly those concerning smoke venting and stairway pressurization, deeming them unconstitutional and unenforceable due to economic unfeasibility and lack of clear performance standards. The dissent clarifies that Local Law No. 5 does not mandate sprinklerization, interpreting the word "exempt" in its plain meaning. While agreeing with the majority on the Fire Commissioner's authority to create fire warden positions and denying class action status in the McCallin suit, the opinion criticizes Local Law No. 5 as hastily conceived and carelessly formulated, advocating for redrafted provisions to ensure effective fire safety programs.

Local Law No. 5Fire Safety RegulationsBuilding Code ChallengesUnconstitutional ProvisionsStairway PressurizationSmoke VentingStatutory InterpretationLegislative IntentClass Action LitigationFire Warden Appointment
References
11
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

City of New York v. State

This case addresses the constitutionality of Chapter 5 of the Laws of 1999, which attempted to rescind New York City's commuter tax for New York State residents while retaining it for out-of-State commuters. The City of New York challenged the statute on home rule grounds, while residents of New Jersey and Connecticut, along with the State of Connecticut, argued it violated the Federal Constitution's Privileges and Immunities and Commerce Clauses. The Court held that Chapter 5 did not violate state home rule provisions. However, it found the statute unconstitutional under the Federal Privileges and Immunities and Commerce Clauses due to its discriminatory treatment of out-of-State commuters. Consequently, the 'poison pill' provision of Chapter 5 took effect, leading to the repeal of the entire New York City commuter tax as of July 1, 1999.

Commuter TaxHome Rule ProvisionsPrivileges and Immunities ClauseCommerce ClauseConstitutional ChallengeState TaxationTax DiscriminationNew York CityLegislative PowerStatutory Repeal
References
40
Case No. ADJ10553459
Regular
Feb 23, 2018

JAMES CRAIG SILLERS vs. CITY OF PLEASANT HILL, MUNICIPAL POOLING AUTHORITY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration, affirming the administrative law judge's award of 47% permanent disability benefits to applicant James Sillers. The central dispute concerned whether Sillers was entitled to the maximum disability indemnity rate under Labor Code section 4458.5. The Board majority held that Sillers, a retired police officer with orthopedic injuries, qualified for the maximum rate, interpreting section 4458.5 to apply to any public safety member injured within the timeframes specified in listed presumption statutes, not solely to injuries covered by those specific presumptions. A dissenting opinion argued that only injuries falling under the explicitly enumerated presumptions in section 4458.5 qualified for the maximum rate, citing precedent that non-listed presumptions, like cancer under section 3212.1, did not grant this benefit.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardCity of Pleasant HillMunicipal Pooling AuthorityCumulative Trauma InjuryCervical SpineLumbar SpineBilateral Cubital TunnelsPolice OfficerStatute of LimitationsLabor Code Section 4458.5
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Desser v. Ashton

This opinion addresses the sufficiency of an oral contract to satisfy the "purchaser-seller" requirement in a private action under Section 10(b) of the 1934 Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5, where no actual purchase or sale of securities occurred. The court considers whether such an oral agreement, even if potentially unenforceable under the statute of frauds, can support a federal securities claim. Reviewing existing jurisprudence, the court emphasizes a liberal and flexible construction of anti-fraud provisions to protect investors. It concludes that an action under Rule 10b-5 is not deficient merely because the contract relied upon is oral rather than written. Consequently, the defendants' motions for summary judgment are denied, and the case is set to proceed to trial, affirming the court's jurisdiction over the matter.

Securities fraudOral contractsRule 10b-5Purchaser-seller requirementStatute of fraudsPendent jurisdictionSummary judgmentFederal court jurisdictionExchange Act of 1934Investor protection
References
18
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Local No. 5 v. Hudson Valley District Council Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Joint Benefit Funds

This case concerns the authority of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen to appoint trustees to employee benefit (ERISA) funds, displacing previously appointed trustees from superseded local union entities. The International Union merged local entities into a new Local 5 and appointed Emil Parietti, Jr. as its President, granting him authority to appoint trustees. A previously appointed trustee declined to be replaced, causing a dispute where the new Local 5 has fewer than its authorized number of trustees on the ERISA funds. The court found that the International Union has the ultimate authority in such matters and that the continued service of trustees against the appointing authority's wishes causes irreparable injury. While the plaintiffs' specific request for an injunction was deemed too broad, the court determined that the requirements for a preliminary injunction placing Mr. Parietti's designee were met. The court directed the parties to seek settlement and ordered the defendants to show cause why such a preliminary injunction should not be entered.

International Trade UnionsLabor Management Relations ActERISAEmployee Benefit FundsTrustee AppointmentUnion Internal StructureLocal Union MergerPreliminary InjunctionIrreparable InjuryDuty of Fair Representation
References
17
Case No. ADJ8508948
Regular
Apr 04, 2014

JOHN GIESE vs. COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, SEDGWICK CMS

The applicant sought reconsideration for additional benefits related to his hypertension, claiming it was a work-related heart injury under Labor Code sections 3212 and 3212.5. The Board denied reconsideration, affirming the judge's finding that hypertension alone, without end-organ damage, is not considered "heart trouble" for the purposes of these presumptions. Medical evidence indicated the applicant had no loss of cardiac function due to coronary artery disease and that the cause of his hypertension was complex and not demonstrably work-related. Therefore, his petition was denied.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationCumulative Industrial InjuryCardiovascular SystemSheriff's DepartmentTemporary DisabilityPermanent DisabilityHypertensionPresumption of CompensabilityLabor Code Sections 3212
References
3
Case No. 2019 NY Slip Op 05741
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 18, 2019

Matter of Petesic v. Fox 5 N.Y.

Claimant Julie Petesic, a makeup artist, appealed a Workers' Compensation Board decision denying her claim for benefits related to contracting Bartonella bacteria at work. She alleged exposure to dead rodents and their droppings, but the Workers' Compensation Law Judge initially denied the claim, which the Board upheld, finding no causal link between employment and the disease. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, noting that the claimant failed to fully disclose her travel history to Croatia, which impacted the reliability of the physician's causation opinion. Consequently, the Board's determination, supported by substantial evidence, that the claimant failed to establish her Bartonella claim was upheld.

Workers' CompensationBartonellaCausal RelationshipMedical EvidenceTravel HistoryCredibilityAppellate ReviewOccupational DiseaseToxicologyExposure
References
11
Case No. 5
Regular Panel Decision

Walsh v. WOR RADIO

The case concerns Edward Walsh's breach of contract claim against WOR Radio a/k/a Buckley Broadcasting Company (BBC) for wrongful termination of employment in violation of an oral contract. BBC moved to dismiss the action or stay proceedings pending arbitration, citing the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) and the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA). The court determined that if an oral contract existed, it likely incorporated an arbitration clause from a prior written agreement. Furthermore, the court found that the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) applied to Walsh as a program host and mandated arbitration. Emphasizing federal policy favoring arbitration, the court granted BBC's motion to dismiss.

ArbitrationEmployment ContractWrongful TerminationBreach of ContractFederal Arbitration ActLabor Management Relations ActCollective Bargaining AgreementOral ContractRadio Program HostMotion to Dismiss
References
16
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