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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America, Ltd. v. Gamez

This case involves an appeal by Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America, Ltd. challenging a trial court's award of approximately $400,000 in guardian ad litem fees and an additional $30,000 in appellate fees. The underlying litigation was a products liability case involving multiple minor plaintiffs, for whom the guardians ad litem were appointed. Goodyear contested the fees, arguing they were excessive, covered work outside the guardians' scope of duties, included work performed after the case settlement, and featured inappropriate billing practices. The appellate court found insufficient evidence to support the reasonableness of the ad litem fees, noting issues like billing for non-essential tasks, duplicate work, and unreasonable time entries (e.g., billing for sleeping or over 24 hours a day). Consequently, the court reversed the award of appellate fees, finding the trial court lacked plenary jurisdiction to modify the judgment. The aggregate ad litem fees portion of the judgment was reversed and remanded for recalculation consistent with the appellate court's opinion.

Guardian Ad LitemAttorney FeesAppellate FeesProducts LiabilityMinor PlaintiffsFee CalculationScope of DutiesExcessive BillingPlenary JurisdictionAbuse of Discretion
References
35
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 23, 2005

CARTIER, DIV. OF RICHEMONT v. Bertone Group

In a trademark infringement case, defendants moved to disqualify plaintiffs' litigation counsel, Tal Benschar, Esq., from serving as a 30(b)(6) deposition witness, citing New York Disciplinary Rule 5-102 which addresses the advocate-witness rule. The Court denied the defendants' motion, allowing Mr. Benschar to testify. The Court acknowledged the potential for confusion and conflicting loyalties when a lawyer acts as both a witness and an advocate, but found these dangers less likely in the pre-trial context. It also considered that Mr. Benschar was in the best position to provide the requested information, having supervised the investigation. However, the Court deferred its ruling on whether Mr. Benschar’s testimony would disqualify him from subsequently serving as trial counsel, noting that another attorney would be primary trial counsel.

Trademark InfringementDiscoveryFed.R.Civ.P. 30(b)(6)Attorney DisqualificationAdvocate-Witness RuleEthical RulesDeposition TestimonyPre-Trial ProcedureNew York LawCounsel Representation
References
2
Case No. NO. 14-13-00421-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 24, 2014

Sheila Adams v. Golden Rule Service, Inc.

Sheila Adams, a nursing aide, sued her employer, Golden Rule Service, Inc., for injuries allegedly sustained while assisting a patient at Golden Rule's health care facility. The trial court dismissed the case because Adams failed to serve an expert report as required by the Texas Medical Liability Act (TMLA). Adams appealed, arguing her claims were not governed by the TMLA. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision, concluding that Adams's claims were health care liability claims subject to the TMLA's expert report requirement, consistent with prior court precedents.

Health care liabilityTMLAExpert reportNegligenceEmployer liabilityMedical injuryWorkplace injuryTexas lawAppellate reviewDismissal
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Abraham & Straus, Inc. v. International Union of Operating Engineers, Local Union No. 30

Abraham & Straus (A&S) sought a preliminary injunction against defendant Local 30 to stop picketing and job actions concerning engineer and mechanic staffing at a new Roosevelt Field store. A&S argued these actions violated their collective bargaining agreement's no-strike and arbitration clauses. Local 30 contended the dispute was purely representational, not arbitrable, and that Boys Markets relief did not apply to picketing alone. The court found the dispute arbitrable due to the broad arbitration clause and the union's previous intent to arbitrate. It also determined that Boys Markets injunctions could cover picketing, especially when it caused work stoppages, ultimately granting A&S's request and ordering arbitration.

Labor DisputePreliminary InjunctionCollective Bargaining AgreementArbitration ClauseNo-Strike ClausePicketingWork StoppageBoys Markets ExceptionLabor Management Relations ActFederal Court Jurisdiction
References
14
Case No. 03-21-00074-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 28, 2023

Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation// Accident Fund Insurance Company of America and Texas Cotton Ginners' Trust v. Accident Fund Insurance Company of America and Texas Cotton Ginners' Trust// Cross-Appellee, Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation

This declaratory-judgment action involves a dispute between the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (the Division) and insurance carriers, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America and Texas Cotton Ginners’ Trust, regarding rules for workers’ compensation supplemental income benefits (SIB). The carriers challenged the validity of a Division rule, 28 Texas Administrative Code Section 130.102, which governs eligibility for SIB, specifically concerning the "work search efforts" requirement for injured employees. The district court had ruled a section of the rule (d)(1)(D) invalid and another section (f) inapplicable to independent job seekers. On appeal, the Court of Appeals reversed the district court's finding that Section (d)(1)(D) was invalid, concluding it was facially valid. However, the appellate court affirmed the district court's ruling that Section (f)'s "work search contacts" language does not qualitatively apply to independent job seekers, but only for setting a numerical standard. Additionally, the court found certain parts of the Division's preamble to the rule and its Appeals Panel Decision Manual to contain invalid ad hoc rules, reversing the district court on this point, while affirming that an Appeals Panel Decision and the SIB application form were not ad hoc rules. The court also found the exclusion of an expert witness to be harmless.

Workers’ CompensationSupplemental Income BenefitsAgency Rule ValidityAdministrative LawDeclaratory Judgment ActionStatutory InterpretationWork Search RequirementsAd Hoc RulesAppellate ProcedureTexas Government Code
References
22
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Emspak v. Conroy

The defendants moved for a further bill of particulars regarding item 30 and requested the entire bill be verified by a union officer. The plaintiff's attorney acknowledged the omission for item 30 was an oversight and agreed to provide it. He argued his self-verification was proper under subdivision 3 of rule 99 of the Rules of Civil Practice, citing the plaintiff's absence from the county, and claimed defendants waived objection by not returning the bill within 24 hours. The court clarified that Rules 10 and 11 do not apply to verification. While an attorney can verify a bill of particulars under rule 117, the court ruled that merely stating the party is out of county is insufficient; the attorney must also detail the basis of their knowledge, especially given a prior order requiring an oath for inability to furnish particulars. The motion for a further bill was granted.

Bill of particularsVerificationAttorney verificationRules of Civil PracticeWaiverMotionCourt procedurePleadingSufficiency of verification
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 26, 1998

In Re Bagel Bros. Bakery & Deli, Inc.

This order addresses whether Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 1014(b) imposes an automatic stay on proceedings in a subsequently-filed bankruptcy case. The case involves three Chapter 11 cases of Bagel Bros. Maple, Inc. and Bagel Bros. Deli & Bakery, Inc. in the Western District of New York, which are related to earlier Chapter 11 cases of MBC in the District of New Jersey. MBC filed a motion in New Jersey seeking to transfer venue and requested that the New York court automatically stay its proceedings based on Rule 1014(b). Bankruptcy Judge Michael J. Kaplan ruled that Rule 1014(b) does not constitute an automatic or self-executing stay upon the mere filing of a motion. Instead, a judicial determination and order from the first-filed court (District of New Jersey) are required to impose such a stay, ensuring that substantive rights are not abridged and allowing for judicial discretion in emergency matters. Therefore, the proceedings in the Western District of New York are not automatically stayed.

Bankruptcy ProcedureAutomatic StayFederal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 1014(b)Venue TransferChapter 11 ReorganizationInter-district BankruptcyJudicial InterventionSubstantive RightsFranchise AgreementsCash Collateral Disputes
References
12
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Varela v. Flintlock Construction, Inc.

The plaintiff, Norma Varela, filed a complaint in New York Supreme Court, Bronx County, against Flintlock Construction, Inc. and Gregory Steck, alleging sexual harassment, unlawful discharge, and discrimination. An amended complaint filed seven years later added Andrew Weiss as a defendant, who subsequently filed a notice of removal to the District Court. Varela moved to remand the case to state court, arguing Weiss's removal petition was untimely. The District Court, presided over by Judge COTE, analyzed whether the 30-day removal period runs from the first-served defendant or the last-served defendant. The court adopted the 'last-served defendant rule,' consistent with the Supreme Court's Murphy Brothers decision, concluding that Weiss's removal petition was timely as it was filed within 30 days of him being served with the amended complaint.

Removal jurisdictionTimeliness of removalFirst-served defendant ruleLast-served defendant ruleFederal question jurisdictionService of processAmended complaintSubject matter jurisdictionFederal Rules of Civil ProcedureNew York Civil Practice Law and Rules
References
22
Case No. 01-A-01-9606-CV-00282
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 15, 1997

Seffernick v. St. Thomas Hospital

The appellees, St. Thomas Hospital and Barry Yarbrough, M.D., filed a petition to rehear on four grounds. They argued that the Court's opinion conflicted with an unpublished Workers Compensation Panel opinion, misapprehended T.R.C.P. Rules 30.03 and 56.05 regarding unauthenticated evidence, that the Court acted on its own motion, and that the opinion was at odds with Rule 6. The Court found the cited opinion did not state if the deposition was authenticated or filed, and that the unauthenticated excerpt was not filed. The Court also stated that T.R.C.P. Rules 30.03 and 56.05 do not authorize unauthenticated evidence, and cited no authority requiring the Court to consider inappropriate evidence. Finally, the Court clarified that Rule 6 deals with procedural errors of a trial court, not the competence of evidence. Therefore, the petition to rehear was respectfully denied.

Petition to RehearAppellate ReviewEvidence AdmissibilityCourt RulesProcedural LawDeposition EvidenceUnauthenticated DocumentsJudicial DiscretionTennessee Appeals Court
References
4
Case No. ADJ8608456 MF\nADJ8608504\nADJ8523009\nADJ8551858\nADJ8609068
Regular
Oct 07, 2015

HORACIO CABRERA, Deceased MARIBEL BARAJAS, Widow, Guardian Ad\nLitem for LITZY CABRERA, LESLY\nCABRERA, MARIA CABRERA AND\nKASSANDRA CABRERA; BRIANNA\nCABRERA, for herself and Guardian Ad Litem for STEFANI ARIAS, ANTONIO SOLARES, MODESTO DOMINGUEZ, JOHNATHAN ALONSO vs. MV CONTRACTING, STAR INSURANCE COMPANY

In this workers' compensation case, the employer sought reconsideration of a ruling finding a fatal motor vehicle accident and related injuries industrial. The employer argued the administrative law judge erred in admitting evidence and presuming compensability due to a failure to issue timely denial notices. The employer also contended the "going and coming rule" barred the claims as the accident occurred during a standard commute. The Board denied reconsideration, affirming the judge's findings that the injuries were industrial and not barred by the going and coming rule, largely adopting the judge's reasoning.

WCABPetition for ReconsiderationDenying PetitionRulings and Order Admitting EvidenceFindings of FactMotor Vehicle AccidentIndustrial InjuriesFatal Industrial InjuryDependentsNotice of Denial
References
0
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