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Case Law Database

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

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

May 22, 1992

Fedorczak v. Dolce

This case involves an appeal from a Supreme Court judgment that annulled determinations by the City of White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety regarding firefighter benefits. The petitioners, firefighters injured in the line of duty, were initially denied benefits under General Municipal Law § 207-a, with their time lost allocated to sick leave. The Supreme Court found that prior Workers' Compensation Board awards had already established that the injuries occurred in the performance of their duties, thus entitling them to benefits. The appellate court affirmed this decision, drawing parallels between General Municipal Law § 207-a and § 207-c, and deeming the respondents' initial determinations arbitrary and capricious. Consequently, the judgment directed the City of White Plains to provide the petitioners with the appropriate benefits under General Municipal Law § 207-a.

FirefightersGeneral Municipal Law § 207-aWorkers' Compensation BoardSick LeaveInjury in Line of DutyCPLR Article 78Appellate DivisionWestchester CountyMunicipal EmployeesPublic Safety

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Memorial Hermann Health System v. Coastal Drilling Co., LLC Employee Benefit Trust

Plaintiff Memorial Hermann Health System (MHHS) sued Coastal Drilling for breach of contract and recovery of benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). MHHS claimed Coastal Drilling breached a contract to pay for healthcare services at PPOplus Contracted Rates. The Court determined that MHHS's breach of contract claim was not preempted by ERISA but could not be enforced because MHHS was a non-party to the Network Access Agreement and Coastal Drilling, also a non-party, had no direct obligation under it. Regarding the ERISA claim, the Court found that Coastal Drilling, as the plan administrator, had discretionary authority to determine benefits based on the Plan's Applicable Plan Limits (APL). The Court found substantial evidence supporting Coastal Drilling's benefits determination and no evidence of bias affecting the decision, despite a structural conflict of interest. Consequently, the Court granted Coastal Drilling's motion for summary judgment and dismissed MHHS's claims with prejudice.

ERISASummary JudgmentBreach of ContractPlan AdministratorBenefits DenialHealthcare ProviderThird-Party BeneficiaryERISA PreemptionTexas LawFiduciary Duty

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Cook v. Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp.

The Trustees of the Local 852 General Warehouseman’s Union Pension Fund sued the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) seeking reimbursement for pension benefits paid to retirees of two closed warehouses. The Fund argued for recovery based on equitable estoppel, asserting detrimental reliance on an initial PBGC determination that it would guarantee these benefits. The PBGC moved for summary judgment, contending that estoppel against a federal agency requires a showing of affirmative misconduct or manifest injustice. The Court found no evidence of affirmative misconduct by the PBGC and concluded that its change in determination, made to conform with Congressional intent, did not constitute manifest injustice. Consequently, the Court granted the PBGC's motion for summary judgment, ruling that equitable estoppel was inapplicable.

Equitable EstoppelFederal Agency EstoppelSummary JudgmentERISAPension BenefitsMulti-employer PlanPension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC)Affirmative MisconductManifest InjusticeDetrimental Reliance

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Miele v. Town of Clarkstown

A police officer, after an initial back injury in 1998 for which he received General Municipal Law § 207-c benefits, later ceased working again in 2000 due to continued back pain. The Chief of Police of the Town of Clarkstown denied his request for GML § 207-c benefits for this subsequent absence, determining it was unrelated to the original injury based on a doctor's report. The officer initiated a CPLR article 78 proceeding, challenging the denial as arbitrary and capricious and seeking to compel the Town to award benefits. The Supreme Court denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding. The appellate court affirmed, concluding that the Chief of Police's determination had a rational basis in the record, thus not arbitrary and capricious.

Workers' CompensationPolice OfficerLine of Duty InjuryBenefits DenialCPLR Article 78Arbitrary and CapriciousRational BasisAppellate ReviewBack InjuryGeneral Municipal Law 207-c

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Fernandez v. New York State & Local Retirement Systems

The petitioner, a physician, sought a recalculation of his retirement benefits, specifically challenging the Comptroller's decision to exclude compensation from 1996 to 1999. The Comptroller had determined that the petitioner was an independent contractor during this period, making his earnings ineligible for inclusion in his final average salary. The court reviewed this determination in a CPLR article 78 proceeding. Finding substantial evidence to support the Comptroller's findings, which included the county issuing 1099 tax forms, requiring specific contracts, and the absence of employee benefits, the court confirmed the determination and dismissed the petition.

retirement benefitsindependent contractorfinal average salaryComptroller determinationCPLR article 78 proceedingOrleans County1099 tax formsW-2 wage statementsemployer-employee relationshippension recalculation

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Di Guida v. McCall

Petitioner, a food service worker, sought accidental and ordinary disability retirement benefits after being injured in a fall on milk crates while leaving work. Respondent denied the application for accidental disability benefits, finding the petitioner was not "in service" at the time of the injury, a determination upheld by the court based on substantial evidence and the resolution of a credibility issue. The denial of ordinary disability benefits was also affirmed, supported by a physician's report that found no significant neck or shoulder injury or functional disability. Consequently, the determination was confirmed, and the petition dismissed.

accidental disabilityordinary disabilityretirement benefitsfood service workerfall injuryin servicecredibilitymedical examinationfunctional disabilityCPLR article 78

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Jan 26, 1982

Hodge v. D'Elia

This case involves a proceeding under CPLR article 78 to review a determination by the State Commissioner of Social Services. The determination affirmed a local agency's decision to reduce the petitioner's public assistance grant. This reduction was for the recoupment of income tax refunds and workers' compensation benefits received by the petitioner. Although the court agreed that the petitioner willfully withheld information, it found that the respondents failed to evaluate if the recoupment rate would cause undue hardship. Consequently, the court annulled the determination and remitted the matter for further proceedings to assess undue hardship.

Public AssistanceRecoupmentIncome Tax RefundsWorkers' Compensation BenefitsUndue HardshipCPLR Article 78Administrative ReviewFair HearingAnnulmentRemittal

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Staley v. New York State & Local Retirement Systems

Petitioner applied for accidental and ordinary disability retirement benefits due to a back injury sustained during employment as a developmental aide. The Comptroller denied the applications, finding the injury was not an "accident" and the petitioner was not permanently incapacitated. Petitioner challenged this determination via a CPLR article 78 proceeding, raising procedural issues and disputing the findings. The court found that the petitioner received a fair hearing and that substantial evidence supported the Comptroller's determination, ultimately confirming the denial of benefits and dismissing the petition.

Disability Retirement BenefitsAccidental DisabilityOrdinary DisabilityAdministrative ReviewGovernment Employee BenefitsBack InjuryHerniated DiscMedical EvidenceSubstantial Evidence ReviewCourt Procedure

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Thompson v. Regan

The petitioner, a maintenance assistant at Downstate Medical Center in Westchester County, sought accidental disability retirement benefits after sustaining a back and abdominal injury on December 11, 1989, while removing an air conditioner with an inexperienced helper. His application was denied, as the respondent determined that the injury was not due to an 'accident' within the meaning of Retirement and Social Security Law § 63. An administrative hearing concluded that the injury resulted from an 'exertional' activity in the ordinary course of his duties, with risks inherent in the job. The court confirmed this determination in a CPLR article 78 proceeding, dismissing the petition and upholding the denial of benefits.

Accidental Disability RetirementMaintenance AssistantBack InjuryAir ConditionerInherent RiskExertional ActivityWorkers' Compensation DenialAdministrative ReviewAppellate Division DecisionCPLR Article 78

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Talerico v. McCall

A custodial worker, referred to as the petitioner, filed for accidental disability retirement benefits after sustaining injuries from a slip and fall while performing her duties for the County of Onondaga. The respondent denied the application, determining that the incident did not constitute an "accident" under Retirement and Social Security Law § 605, as it occurred during the performance of ordinary employment duties. The petitioner initiated a CPLR article 78 proceeding, arguing that the administrative determination lacked substantial evidence. However, the court found substantial evidence to support the respondent's decision, confirming the denial of benefits and dismissing the petition.

Accidental Disability RetirementCPLR Article 78Slip and FallCustodial WorkerOrdinary Employment DutiesSubstantial Evidence ReviewBenefit DenialPublic Employee BenefitsRetirement and Social Security LawAdministrative Law

References

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Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

May 22, 1992

Fedorczak v. Dolce

FirefightersGeneral Municipal Law § 207-aWorkers' Compensation BoardSick LeaveInjury in Line of DutyCPLR Article 78Appellate DivisionWestchester CountyMunicipal EmployeesPublic Safety

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Memorial Hermann Health System v. Coastal Drilling Co., LLC Employee Benefit Trust

ERISASummary JudgmentBreach of ContractPlan AdministratorBenefits DenialHealthcare ProviderThird-Party BeneficiaryERISA PreemptionTexas LawFiduciary Duty

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Cook v. Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp.

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Miele v. Town of Clarkstown

Workers' CompensationPolice OfficerLine of Duty InjuryBenefits DenialCPLR Article 78Arbitrary and CapriciousRational BasisAppellate ReviewBack InjuryGeneral Municipal Law 207-c

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Fernandez v. New York State & Local Retirement Systems

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Di Guida v. McCall

accidental disabilityordinary disabilityretirement benefitsfood service workerfall injuryin servicecredibilitymedical examinationfunctional disabilityCPLR article 78

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Jan 26, 1982

Hodge v. D'Elia

Public AssistanceRecoupmentIncome Tax RefundsWorkers' Compensation BenefitsUndue HardshipCPLR Article 78Administrative ReviewFair HearingAnnulmentRemittal

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Staley v. New York State & Local Retirement Systems

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Thompson v. Regan

References

Case No. MISSING

Regular Panel Decision

Talerico v. McCall

References

Showing 1-10 of 19,164 results

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