Claim of Plew-Jourdanais v. Adirondack Heating & Frost Insulators, Inc.
This case concerns an appeal from a Workers' Compensation Board decision granting death benefits to James Jourdanais Jr., the disabled son of the deceased James Jourdanais Sr. The decedent's wife, the claimant, appealed the finding that James Jr. was a dependent, eligible for benefits under Workers' Compensation Law § 16 (2-a). The appellate court reviewed the factual question of dependency, emphasizing the need for evidence of adverse financial effect from the loss of the decedent's contributions. Finding no substantial evidence that James Jr. or his guardians were adversely affected by the loss of the decedent's contributions, the court reversed the Board's decision and remitted the matter for further proceedings.