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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

In re the Arbitration between North Country Community College Ass'n & North Country Community College

Petitioner Michael Leahy, a tenured accounting professor, was terminated by North Country Community College for misconduct involving a heated verbal exchange with his supervisor. Leahy and his union, the North Country Community College Association of Professionals, filed a grievance that proceeded to arbitration. The arbitrator found serious misconduct but modified the penalty to a 15-month suspension without pay, along with anger management counseling, rather than termination. Petitioners sought to confirm the arbitration award, while respondents cross-moved to vacate it. The Supreme Court confirmed the award, and this appellate court affirmed that decision, concluding that the arbitrator did not exceed his authority in modifying the penalty and that the award was not irrational or violative of strong public policy.

Arbitration Award ConfirmationEmployee TerminationWorkplace MisconductCollective Bargaining AgreementArbitrator AuthorityPublic Policy ChallengePenalty ModificationAnger ManagementJudicial Review of ArbitrationDisciplinary Action
References
8
Case No. 2019 NY Slip Op 05238 [173 AD3d 1571]
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 27, 2019

Matter of Kriplin (Community Newspaper Group LLC--Commissioner of Labor)

Jonathan Kriplin, a newspaper carrier for Community Newspaper Group LLC (now Community First Holdings, Inc. - CFHI), applied for unemployment insurance benefits after ceasing deliveries. The Department of Labor and an Administrative Law Judge determined that Kriplin and other carriers were employees, making CFHI liable for unemployment insurance contributions. The Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board upheld these findings. The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the Board's decisions, citing substantial evidence of an employment relationship, consistent with prior cases involving CFHI and similar workers. The court dismissed CFHI's arguments regarding independent contractor status and First Amendment rights.

Unemployment InsuranceEmployment RelationshipIndependent ContractorNewspaper CarriersAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceDepartment of LaborUnemployment Insurance Appeal BoardLabor LawFirst Amendment Rights
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 01, 1996

Sormani v. Orange County Community College

The plaintiff, a student and part-time employee at Orange County Community College, filed an action seeking damages for negligence and sex discrimination, alleging sexual harassment by a coach. The Supreme Court partially denied the defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment. On appeal, the order was reversed. The appellate court ruled that the negligence claim was barred by the Workers’ Compensation Law as the plaintiff's exclusive remedy, rejecting the dual-capacity doctrine. The sex discrimination claim was also dismissed due to the plaintiff's failure to timely inform the employer of the conduct and lack of evidence demonstrating employer acquiescence or a supervisory relationship.

NegligenceSex DiscriminationSexual HarassmentSummary JudgmentWorkers' Compensation LawExclusive RemedyDual-Capacity DoctrineExecutive Law 296Title VII Civil Rights ActHostile Work Environment
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Baldwin v. Goddard Riverside Community Center

Plaintiff Susan Baldwin sued her former employer, Goddard Riverside Community Center, for retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law. She alleged retaliation for opposing housing discrimination against Russian applicants and supporting a co-worker's discrimination lawsuit. The defendant moved for summary judgment on all claims. The court found no direct evidence of retaliatory animus or disparate treatment. Relying solely on temporal proximity, the court determined it was insufficient to establish a causal connection between Baldwin's protected activities and the alleged adverse actions, especially given that many adverse actions and termination discussions began before her key protected activities. Therefore, the defendant's motion for summary judgment was granted, and the case was closed.

RetaliationEmployment DiscriminationHousing DiscriminationTitle VIINYSHRLNYCHRLSummary JudgmentProtected ActivityCausal ConnectionTemporal Proximity
References
46
Case No. 2017 NY Slip Op 04342 [151 AD3d 1154]
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 01, 2017

Claim of Pereira-Jersey v. Rockland Community College

Renee Pereira-Jersey, a purchasing agent, filed for workers' compensation benefits in February 2008 due to conditions like breathing difficulties and headaches resulting from workplace mold exposure. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) established a work-related injury, later amending the claim to include a consequential cognitive adjustment disorder and awarding reduced earnings for a three-day work week, which was affirmed by the Workers' Compensation Board. The employer, Rockland Community College, repeatedly challenged further reduced earnings awards. However, the WCLJ and Board found substantial evidence supporting claimant's causally-related disability preventing full-time work. The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the Board's decision, deferring to its resolution of conflicting medical evidence and finding no abuse of discretion in the Board not considering an issue not raised before the WCLJ.

Workers' Compensation BenefitsMold Exposure InjuryReduced EarningsCognitive ImpairmentOccupational AsthmaChronic SinusitisToxic EncephalopathyAppellate DivisionSubstantial EvidenceConflicting Medical Opinions
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 01, 2017

Musante v. Mohawk Valley Community College

Robert Musante, a former faculty member, filed a civil rights lawsuit against Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) alleging age and gender discrimination, retaliation, and defamation following his termination. MVCC terminated Musante after an investigation into student complaints of classroom misconduct, including sexually explicit stories and inappropriate language. Musante disputes the allegations, claiming the complaints were from disgruntled students and that the investigation was biased, driven by an HR director's disapproval of his teaching style and perceived animus against older male professors. He also claims retaliation for lodging a discrimination complaint and for defamatory statements made by an MVCC employee that hindered his job search. The court denied MVCC's motion for summary judgment, finding genuine disputes of material fact regarding discrimination, retaliation, and defamation, and ordered the claims to proceed to trial.

Age DiscriminationGender DiscriminationRetaliation ClaimDefamation ClaimSummary Judgment MotionFaculty TerminationClassroom MisconductStudent ComplaintsEmployment DiscriminationCivil Rights Litigation
References
28
Case No. 04 CV 4165
Regular Panel Decision

Olsen v. New York Community Bancorp, Inc.

This Memorandum of Decision and Order addresses motions to consolidate eleven related securities fraud class actions and appoint a lead plaintiff and lead counsel. The actions were brought on behalf of investors who purchased New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NYCB) stock between June 2003 and May 2004, alleging violations of federal securities law due to material misrepresentations and omissions related to NYCB's merger with Roslyn Bancorp, Inc. The Court, presided over by District Judge Hurley, granted the motion to consolidate all actions under case number 04 CV 4165. Applying the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) and Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court appointed the "NYCB Group," composed of Metzler Investment GmbH and Bernard Drucker, as the lead plaintiff, determining they had the largest financial interest and satisfied all other requirements. Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman LLP was approved as lead counsel. The motions from other groups (Lee Group, Dr. Schnapp, Stevens Group, Dalia Group, Stewart Group) for lead plaintiff were denied.

Securities FraudClass ActionLead PlaintiffLead CounselConsolidation of ActionsPSLRAEastern District of New YorkNYCB GroupMetzler InvestmentBernard Drucker
References
16
Case No. 2018 NY Slip Op 07391
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 01, 2018

Matter of Community Hous. Improvement Program v. Commissioner of Labor

The Appellate Division, Third Department, dismissed an appeal filed by the Community Housing Improvement Program against the Commissioner of Labor. The appeal sought to challenge a decision by the Industrial Board of Appeals regarding a minimum wage order for the building service industry. The court determined it lacked subject matter jurisdiction because the petitioner failed to properly file a notice of appeal with the court of original instance, which was the Industrial Board of Appeals, not the Appellate Division. Additionally, the petitioner failed to timely and correctly serve the notice of appeal on the respondent's counsel at the designated address. Consequently, due to the complete failure to comply with CPLR 5515, the appeal was dismissed.

JurisdictionAppeal ProcedureService of ProcessAppellate DivisionIndustrial Board of AppealsMinimum WageLabor LawCPLRNew York CourtsStatutory Interpretation
References
12
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Community Service Society v. Welfare Inspector General

The case concerns an application by the Community Service Society (CSS) and Gladys Baez to quash a subpoena issued by the Welfare Inspector General of the State of New York. The subpoena sought privileged communications between Baez and a certified social worker at CSS concerning her marital status and employment, information relevant to an investigation of alleged welfare fraud. Petitioners argued the communications were protected under CPLR 4508. The Inspector General contended Baez waived the privilege by signing a public assistance form and that the communication revealed contemplation of a crime. The court ruled that the signed consent form did not constitute a clear waiver of privilege. It also determined that information about marital status or employment does not inherently reveal the contemplation of a crime for the purpose of the CPLR 4508 exception. Consequently, the court granted the motion to quash the subpoena, affirming the privileged nature of the communications, but denied Baez's requests for an injunction and class action certification.

Social worker-client privilegeCPLR 4508Subpoena quashWelfare fraud investigationWaiver of privilegeConfidential communicationsClass action denialExecutive LawSocial Services LawPenal Code
References
11
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 11, 1984

Industrial Liaison Committee of the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce v. Flacke

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) issued a State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit for the Niagara Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant (NFWTP). The Industrial Liaison Committee (ILC), joined by the Province of Ontario, commenced a CPLR article 78 proceeding to annul the permit, arguing that DEC failed to hold a public hearing despite significant public interest and requests from various parties, as mandated by 6 NYCRR 753.6. The court, presided over by Lawrence E. Kahn, J., reviewed DEC's actions, emphasizing its role in refereeing the administrative process. Finding that both significant public interest and reason for a hearing were present, the court ruled that DEC's failure to hold a public hearing was arbitrary and capricious. Consequently, the court granted the petition, vacating the October 5, 1982 permit, while allowing the previously set effluent limitations to remain in effect during remand for a new determination.

Environmental LawSPDES PermitPublic HearingArticle 78 ProceedingAdministrative LawArbitrary and CapriciousDECClean Water ActJudicial ReviewWater Pollution
References
11
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