CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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

Case No. 03-08-00059-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 16, 2010

Pacific Employers Insurance Company v. Twelve Oaks Medical Center

This document presents a concurring and dissenting opinion in an appeal before the Texas Court of Appeals, Third District, at Austin. The case involves Pacific Employers Insurance Company as the appellant and Twelve Oaks Medical Center as the appellee, appealing a district court decision regarding judicial review of a workers' compensation medical dispute resolution. The dissenting justice agrees with the majority that Twelve Oaks Medical Center failed to exercise due diligence in serving the appellant. However, the dissent argues that the majority erred in dismissing the appeal for want of jurisdiction, contending that limitations is an affirmative defense rather than a jurisdictional defect in this context. The dissenting justice would have reversed the district court's order granting remand and instead rendered judgment in favor of Pacific Employers Insurance Company, asserting that the suit was barred by limitations.

Limitations DefenseDue DiligenceAppellate ProcedureJurisdictional DefectsAffirmative DefenseWorkers' CompensationMedical Dispute ResolutionAdministrative LawService of ProcessSummary Judgment Review
References
15
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Healthsouth Medical Center v. Employers Insurance Co.

HealthSouth Medical Center appealed a trial court's decision that granted Employers Insurance Company of Wausau's plea to the jurisdiction, dismissing HealthSouth's breach of contract claim related to workers' compensation insurance payments. HealthSouth argued the trial court erred in concluding it lacked jurisdiction and in refusing to compel Wausau to produce contracts. The court determined that the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission (now the Division of Workers' Compensation) has exclusive jurisdiction over medical fee disputes between healthcare providers and insurers. Because HealthSouth did not exhaust its administrative remedies after the Division dismissed its claims, the trial court correctly lacked subject matter jurisdiction. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's order, concluding that the Division has the sole authority to determine the amount to be paid in such disputes.

Workers' CompensationJurisdictionBreach of ContractAdministrative RemediesMedical Fee DisputePlea to the JurisdictionAppellate ReviewInsurance BenefitsHealthcare ProviderPreferred Provider Organization
References
8
Case No. 03-97-00567-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 30, 1998

Memorial Medical Center of East Texas v. James A. Howard, Special Deputy Receiver of Texas Employers' Insurance Association and Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association

Memorial Medical Center of East Texas appealed a summary judgment granted in favor of James A. Howard, Special Deputy Receiver of Texas Employers' Insurance Association, and Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association. Memorial sought a declaration that the appellees were obligated to reimburse defense costs incurred in a separate suit brought by its employees. The trial court granted the appellees' motions for summary judgment without specifying the grounds. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, holding that both the Receiver and the Association were statutorily precluded from defending Memorial or reimbursing its defense costs under relevant provisions of the Texas Insurance Code.

Summary judgmentInsurance CodeDuty to defendReimbursementImpaired insurerReceivershipGuaranty AssociationAppellate reviewStatutory interpretationWorkers' compensation insurance
References
11
Case No. 13-17-00346-CV
Regular Panel Decision
May 09, 2019

Audrey Nickerson v. Julio Pineda and Unique Employment, LLC, Unique Employment Services, Unique Employment I, LTD, D/B/A Unique Employment Services

Audrey Nickerson, an employee of the City of Corpus Christi, sued Julio Pineda, a temporary worker, and Unique Employment Services for negligence after Pineda, operating a City-owned backhoe, caused an injury. Appellees filed a plea to the jurisdiction, which the trial court granted. The appellate court affirmed the dismissal of claims against Pineda, determining he qualified as a government employee under the Texas Tort Claims Act and was therefore immune from suit. However, the court reversed the dismissal of claims against Unique Employment Services, concluding that the borrowed-employee doctrine, on which Unique relied, is an affirmative defense to liability and not a jurisdictional matter properly addressed in a plea to the jurisdiction. The case against Unique was remanded for further proceedings.

Plea to the JurisdictionGovernmental ImmunityTexas Tort Claims ActElection of RemediesBorrowed Employee DoctrineNegligenceTemporary StaffingVicarious LiabilityAppellate ReviewSubject Matter Jurisdiction
References
35
Case No. 2022-08-1404
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 23, 2026

BRITT, BREEAHNA v. CENTER FOR YOUTH MINISTRY TRAINING

Breeahna Britt, an employee, sought medical benefits for a head, neck, and upper-body injury, specifically requesting her physical therapist to be named as her authorized treating physician. The employer, Center for Youth Ministry Training, initially disputed the lack of a valid physician panel but later conceded, offering a Colorado neurologists' panel during the expedited hearing. The Court denied Ms. Britt's request for the physical therapist to be authorized, citing her failure to establish a doctor/patient relationship with a physician, specifically a neurologist. However, the Court affirmed Ms. Britt's entitlement to a new panel of neurologists in Colorado and referred the employer to the compliance program for penalties due to their delay in providing a valid panel.

Workers' CompensationMedical BenefitsPhysician PanelAuthorized Treating PhysicianEmployee RelocationEmployer ObligationNeurologyPenalty AssessmentExpedited HearingTennessee Law
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 23, 2000

Ramnarine v. Memorial Center for Cancer & Allied Diseases

Jagdeo Ramnarine, an employee of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, suffered a laceration at the Memorial Center for Cancer and Allied Diseases. He subsequently filed a negligence lawsuit. The defendant, Memorial Center, moved for summary judgment, arguing that the plaintiff's claim was barred by the Workers’ Compensation Law § 11, as both the Center and the Hospital operate as a single integrated employer despite their separate legal entities. The Supreme Court initially denied this motion. However, the appellate court reversed the decision, granting summary judgment to the defendant. The court found substantial evidence supporting the integrated employer argument, thereby limiting the plaintiff's remedy to workers' compensation benefits and dismissing the complaint and all cross-claims against the defendant.

Workers' Compensation ExclusivityIntegrated Employer DoctrineSummary Judgment ReversalNegligence ClaimCross Claims DismissedCorporate Alter EgoCommon ControlBronx CountyAppellate DivisionLabor Law
References
11
Case No. 12-15-00014-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 03, 2015

East Texas Medical Center D/B/A East Texas Medical Center Emergency Medical Services v. Jody Delaune Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Crystal Delaune, and as Next Friend of D. D., D. D. and D. A. D., Minors

The appellant, East Texas Medical Center (ETMC), appeals a judgment finding it negligent for failing to train its EMS providers. The core issue revolves around whether ETMC adequately trained its employees on patient restraint protocols in a behavioral emergency, which allegedly led to the death of Crystal Delaune. ETMC argues that there is legally insufficient evidence to establish proximate cause because the EMS providers were previously found not negligent. Additionally, ETMC contends the appellee's expert testimony on the standard of care and breach was conclusory and based on improper inference-stacking. The appellant seeks a reversal of the verdict and a take-nothing judgment.

Negligent TrainingProximate CauseLegal Sufficiency of EvidenceStandard of CareEmergency Medical ServicesAppellate ReviewSummary JudgmentEmployee MisconductMedical Negligence DefenseExpert Witness Testimony
References
51
Case No. 03-03-00435-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 29, 2004

Texas Workers' Compensation Commission Richard Reynolds, in His Official Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission/East Side Surgical Center Clinic for Special Surgery And Surgical and Diagnostic Center, L.P. v. East Side Surgical Center Clinic for Special Surgery/Texas Workers' Compensation Commission Richard Reynolds, in His Official Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission

This case involves the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission's failure to establish fee guidelines for ambulatory surgical centers under the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act. East Side Surgical Center, Clinic for Special Surgery, and intervenor Surgical and Diagnostic Center, L.P. (collectively "East Side") sued the Commission to invalidate certain default rules that applied when specific guidelines were absent. The district court declared one rule (133.304(i)) invalid and enjoined its enforcement, citing unlawful delegation of authority. On appeal, the Court of Appeals reversed the district court's judgment regarding the rule's invalidity and dissolved the injunction, citing a Texas Supreme Court decision finding no unlawful delegation. The court affirmed that East Side was not entitled to its usual and customary fee in the absence of specific guidelines.

Workers' CompensationAdministrative LawDelegation of AuthorityRulemakingAmbulatory Surgical CentersJudicial ReviewInsurance CarrierFee GuidelinesFair and Reasonable RatesStatutory Interpretation
References
38
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re the Professional Career Center, Inc.

The Professional Career Center, Inc., offering real estate education, appealed a decision by the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, which affirmed the Commissioner of Labor's assessment for additional unemployment insurance contributions. The assessment stemmed from a determination that the Center's teachers were employees, not independent contractors. Despite a consulting agreement, the court found substantial evidence of an employer-employee relationship. This was based on the Center's control over hiring, payment, quality, student recruitment, tuition, scheduling, and curriculum adherence. The court concluded that these factors supported the finding, affirming the decision against Professional Career Center, Inc.

Unemployment InsuranceEmployer-Employee RelationshipIndependent ContractorProfessional EducationReal Estate LicensingLabor LawSubstantial EvidenceAppellate ReviewContributionsAudit
References
3
Case No. 2021 NY Slip Op 02756 [194 AD3d 421]
Regular Panel Decision
May 04, 2021

Mullins v. Center Line Studios, Inc.

This case involves an appeal concerning an order from the Supreme Court, New York County, regarding claims under Labor Law §§ 240 (1) and 200, and common-law negligence. The Appellate Division, First Department, modified the earlier order. It ruled that Center Line Studios, Inc. was entitled to summary judgment dismissing the Labor Law §§ 240 (1) and 200 claims because it was not a statutory agent and lacked supervisory control over the plaintiff's work. Additionally, NYC Production Core LLC's motion for summary judgment was granted, dismissing the complaint and cross-claims against it, with the exception of contractual indemnification claims, as it was identified as the plaintiff's special employer. A triable issue of fact was found to exist regarding Center Line Studios, Inc.'s potential common-law negligence in creating or exacerbating a dangerous condition.

Labor Law §§ 240(1)Labor Law §§ 200Common-Law NegligenceSummary JudgmentStatutory AgentSpecial Employer DoctrineContractual IndemnificationConstruction AccidentLadder Fall InjuryPremises Liability
References
12
Showing 1-10 of 16,785 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational