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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
Nov 06, 2012

Claim of Smith v. Oneida Ltd.

The claimant appealed a Workers' Compensation Board decision concerning her husband's death benefits. In 1991, the decedent sustained a compensable lung injury, leading to permanent partial disability and continuous workers' compensation benefits until his death in September 2010. The Workers' Compensation Law Judge and the Board affirmed that the death was causally related to his work-related illness, awarding death benefits to the claimant. The self-insured employer and its claims administrator appealed this decision. The court affirmed the Board's decision, citing that a compensable illness need not be the sole cause of death, only a contributing factor. Evidence included the death certificate listing sepsis and respiratory failure, and a C-64 medical report from the decedent's long-term physician stating the death was directly or indirectly caused by the work-related illness.

death benefitscausal relationshipoccupational illnessrespiratory failuresepsispermanent partial disabilityWorkers' Compensation Board appealmedical report evidencecontributing factor
References
4
Case No. 525240
Regular Panel Decision
May 24, 2018

Matter of Pickerd v. Paragon Envtl. Constr., Inc.

The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed a Workers' Compensation Board decision which found that the decedent's death was causally related to his employment and awarded workers' compensation death benefits to claimant Barbara Pickerd. Decedent suffered a fatal myocardial infarction while assisting a coworker with the removal of a gasoline tank. The employer and its carrier appealed, arguing against the causal connection. The court found that substantial evidence, including medical testimony, supported the Board's determination that decedent's work activities were significant precipitating factors, despite pre-existing cardiac risk factors. The Board was within its province to resolve conflicting medical evidence in favor of the claimant.

myocardial infarctionworkers' compensationdeath benefitscausal relationemployment injurypre-existing conditionmedical testimonyconflicting evidenceappellate reviewheart attack
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Hercules v. United Artists Communications, Inc.

The claimant appealed a decision by the Workers’ Compensation Board, filed June 20, 1988, which ruled that the claimant did not sustain a causally related disability. The Board had found the claimant's initial claim for a right knee injury, sustained in September 1982, barred by Workers’ Compensation Law § 28 due to late filing in November 1984. Regarding a second claim for injuries sustained on October 11, 1983, the Board determined only the right shoulder injury was causally related to the work accident, denying a causally related disability for other injuries. The appellate court affirmed the Board’s decision, rejecting the claimant's arguments that the Board's findings lacked substantial evidence, failed to consider all relevant evidence, or erred in denying requests for reopening and reconsideration. The court concluded that the Board's factual findings were supported by substantial evidence and its discretionary denials were not arbitrary or capricious.

Workers' CompensationAppealDisabilityCausal RelationshipStatute of LimitationsEvidenceCredibilityJudicial DiscretionKnee InjuryShoulder Injury
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 07, 2000

Claim of Moreines v. Lawrence Nursing Care Center

Claimant, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) by 1988, ceased employment in March 1995 due to her work environment exacerbating her condition. She filed a workers' compensation claim, but the Workers’ Compensation Board initially ruled against a causal relationship between her work and MS exacerbation. Following an appeal, the Board amended its decision, affirming the carrier's consultant found no causal link, whose credibility was maintained under cross-examination. The claimant appealed both decisions, arguing the consultant's report was equivocal and the Board should have accepted her expert's unequivocal testimony. The court affirmed the Board's decisions, finding the conflict in medical opinion was within the Board's province to resolve, and the carrier's consultant provided substantial evidence for the Board's finding of no causal link.

Workers' CompensationMultiple SclerosisCausalityMedical OpinionExpert TestimonyBoard DecisionAppellate ReviewDisease ExacerbationWork EnvironmentCredibility
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Panagiotatos v. Eastman Kodak Co.

This is an appeal from a Workers’ Compensation Board decision filed December 1, 1994, which ruled that the claimant had no further causally related disability subsequent to October 23, 1989. The claimant was injured in 1986 and received benefits until 1989, but sought additional compensation for persistent back pain. The Board dismissed the claim, finding insufficient credible evidence of causality. Conflicting medical testimonies from physicians Richard Dellaporta, Sewall Miller, and Harry Cole were presented. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, stating that resolving conflicts in medical testimony is within the Board's province and that substantial evidence supported the Board's conclusion. The claimant's contention regarding the presumption of causal relationship under Workers’ Compensation Law § 21 (5) was also rejected, as countervailing substantial evidence was presented.

Workers' CompensationCausally Related DisabilityMedical TestimonyConflicting EvidenceAppellate ReviewPresumption of CausalityWorkers' Compensation Law § 21(5)Back Pain InjuryBoard Decision AffirmationExpert Witnesses
References
3
Case No. 532023
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 06, 2022

Matter of Murphy v. New York State Cts.

Theresa Murphy filed a claim for workers' compensation death benefits for her deceased husband, a court officer who participated in World Trade Center rescue operations and later died from metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. The Workers' Compensation Board denied the claim, ruling that his death was not causally related to his employment, despite an initial finding by a Workers' Compensation Law Judge establishing a causal link under Workers' Compensation Law article 8-A. The Appellate Division, Third Department, reversed the Board's decision, determining that the Board improperly rejected uncontroverted medical testimony from an independent medical examiner regarding the causal connection between the decedent's WTC exposure and his death. The court found the medical opinion sufficiently credible and not speculative, concluding that the exposure was a significant contributing factor. The matter was remitted to the Workers' Compensation Board for further proceedings consistent with the Appellate Division's decision.

World Trade CenterWorkers' CompensationCausationSquamous Cell CarcinomaDeath BenefitsIndependent Medical ExaminationAppellate ReviewToxic ExposureLung CancerRemittal
References
15
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Price v. KGM Plastic Industries

Claimant, a sales president for Caprice and KGM Plastic Industries, experienced severe emotional distress due to ongoing conflicts with his superior, Toshimasa Asai, regarding business decisions and job security. This culminated in a heated argument on January 6, 1983, after which the claimant became ill, developed nosebleeds, and suffered a stroke on January 11, 1983, leading to permanent disability. His physician testified that the stroke was causally related to job-induced emotional stress exacerbating pre-existing hypertension. The Workers' Compensation Board found a causally related disability, and this decision was affirmed on appeal, supported by substantial medical evidence despite controverting opinions.

Work-related disabilityEmotional distressCerebral vascular accidentStrokeHypertension exacerbationCausationWorkers' Compensation LawAppellate reviewSubstantial evidenceEmployer-employee conflict
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of McIver v. Mobil Oil Corp.

A claimant, employed by Mobil Oil Corporation, suffered a foot injury in 1975 that led to the development of a synovial sarcoma and subsequent amputation. The claimant filed for workers' compensation, but Mobil denied a causal connection between the injury and the cancer. After conflicting expert medical testimony and procedural disputes regarding expert witnesses and evidence, the Workers' Compensation Board concluded that a causal relationship existed. Mobil appealed this decision, raising concerns about due process and the removal of evidence. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, finding no merit in Mobil's contentions.

Workers' CompensationCausal ConnectionSynovial SarcomaAmputationExpert Medical TestimonyDue ProcessImpartial SpecialistEvidentiary RulesCross-examinationBoard Decision
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of La Fave v. St. Lawrence County

Claimant sustained a work-related back injury in October 1992. Years later, in November 1996, he was diagnosed with sciatica and a herniated disc, leading to surgery in March 1997. The Workers’ Compensation Board concluded that his back condition was causally related to the 1992 injury. The employer appealed this decision. The court affirmed the Board's finding, noting medical evidence supporting the causal relationship from the treating orthopedist and an independent medical examiner, despite the employer's consultant expressing doubts. The court also found no abuse of discretion by the Board in rejecting the employer's request for further record development due to untimeliness.

Workers' CompensationBack InjuryCausal RelationshipMedical EvidenceIndependent Medical ExaminationBoard DecisionAppealAffirmationTimelinessRecord Development
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Stevenson v. Yellow Roadway Corp.

A tractor trailer operator employed by Yellow Roadway Corporation crashed and suffered a massive stroke, dying two days later. His widow filed a claim for workers’ compensation death benefits, which the employer attempted to controvert. The Workers’ Compensation Board determined the employer failed to timely controvert the claim, thereby barring their defenses regarding causation. Relying on the presumption of compensability under Workers’ Compensation Law § 21 (1), the Board established a causally related death. The employer appealed, challenging the application of the presumption and the finding of a causally related death. The appellate court affirmed the Board’s decision, upholding that the employer was precluded from raising defenses due to the untimely filing of the notice of controversy.

Workers' CompensationDeath BenefitsCausal RelationPresumption of CompensabilityWorkers’ Compensation Law § 21Workers’ Compensation Law § 25Untimely ControversionStrokeAppellate ReviewEmployer Liability
References
9
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