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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

Fowler v. Consolidated Aluminum Corp.

This worker's compensation case examines whether the trial court correctly commuted an employee's award for 85% permanent partial disability to a lump sum. The trial court justified its decision by citing the employee's financial responsibility and the favorable interest rate differential for a lump sum. However, the Supreme Court reversed this aspect of the ruling, emphasizing that judicial discretion for commutation is not absolute and requires substantial evidence demonstrating the employee's specific need, beyond mere financial acumen. The court reinforced the principle that worker's compensation laws are remedial and should be equitably construed for the employee's benefit, but also cautioned against perfunctory lump sum awards without careful inquiry into potential adverse consequences for both parties.

Worker's CompensationLump Sum CommutationPermanent Partial DisabilityJudicial DiscretionStatutory InterpretationRemedial StatuteEmployee BenefitsAppellate ReviewAbuse of DiscretionTennessee Law
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Mitchell v. Exxon Corp.

This worker's compensation case, an appeal before the Tennessee Supreme Court, addresses two main issues: whether the trial court correctly ordered a lump sum commutation of benefits for the injured plaintiff, Lee R. Mitchell, and whether the defendant's appeal was frivolous. The court affirmed the trial court's decision, finding that the plaintiff's severe injuries, particularly organic brain damage, coupled with his dependence on a conservatorship and significant financial need, justified the lump sum award. This was deemed distinguishable from previous cases where such commutations were denied. The court also denied the plaintiff's motion for damages due to frivolous appeal, noting the lack of extensive legal precedent on the specific commutation issue.

Worker's CompensationLump Sum CommutationFrivolous AppealPermanent Total DisabilityConservatorshipOrganic Brain DamageTennessee LawAppellate ReviewJudicial DiscretionSpecial Needs
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re the Arbitration between Rotating Components, Inc. & District 4, International Union of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO

Petitioner moved to confirm an arbitration award, while Respondent cross-moved to vacate it, alleging imperfect execution and lack of a mutual, final, and definite award. The dispute arose from a collective bargaining agreement from December 1959, and a supplementary agreement from January 1960, which stipulated the assignment of the main agreement to a local union within 18 months, with arbitration if the assignment failed. The arbitrator issued an interim award on September 21, 1961, instructing the union to assign the agreement within 30 days. Upon the union's failure, the arbitrator, on October 29, 1961, assigned the agreement to a new local union to be formed for the employees of Rotating Components, Inc. The court found the arbitrator's award to be within his express powers and rejected the objection regarding the finality and definiteness of the award. Consequently, the court granted the petitioner's motion to confirm the award and denied the respondent's cross-motion to vacate it.

Arbitration AwardCollective BargainingUnion AssignmentContract DisputeMotion to ConfirmMotion to VacateLabor DisputeJudicial ReviewInterim AwardFinality of Award
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 02, 1997

Robinson v. Metro-North Commuter Railroad

Plaintiffs, 25 current or former Metro-North employees, filed two class action lawsuits alleging employment discrimination based on race under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and various New York State laws against Metro-North Commuter Railroad. They sought class certification for "all African-American employees of defendant Metro-North Commuter Railroad from 1983 through 1996." The Court consolidated the two actions but subsequently denied the motion for class certification. The denial was based on the plaintiffs' failure to satisfy the commonality and typicality requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(a). The Court found that the plaintiffs' statistical data and sociological opinion were insufficient to establish company-wide discriminatory practices, and individual claims varied significantly, thus lacking typicality for such a broad class.

Employment DiscriminationRace DiscriminationClass ActionClass Certification DenialFederal Rules of Civil Procedure 23Commonality RequirementTypicality RequirementStatistical EvidenceSociological OpinionTitle VII
References
19
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 30, 1989

Lange v. Sartorius, Inc.

This case concerns an appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, New York County, which affirmed an arbitrators’ award in favor of the petitioner and denied the respondents’ cross-motion to vacate it. The dispute arose from the petitioner's termination of employment, which was submitted to arbitration as per their employment agreements. The arbitrators found that the respondents had not complied with the agreements and rendered a monetary award to the petitioner, considering his sudden departure. The appellate court upheld the lower court's decision, emphasizing that arbitration awards are given deference and are not subject to judicial review for merely erroneous factual findings unless completely irrational. Since the arbitrators' award was not irrational, the Supreme Court's order was affirmed.

Arbitration AwardConfirmation of AwardVacatur of AwardEmployment DisputeJudicial Review of ArbitrationDeference to ArbitratorsIrrational FindingsNew York LawFederal LawAppellate Affirmation
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Skinner v. CNA Insurance Co.

The case involves an appeal by CNA Insurance Company challenging a trial court's decision to commute James Skinner's workers' compensation benefits to a lump-sum payment. The appellate court examined whether the commutation was in the employee's "best interest" and if he could "wisely manage and control" the award, as per T.C.A. § 50-6-229(a) and the Thrasher precedent. The court found that despite the abbreviated record, there was sufficient evidence to support the chancellor's findings regarding Skinner's "special needs" and his wife's ability to manage the funds. Consequently, the appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, denying the insurance company's appeal.

Workers' CompensationLump-sum PaymentCommutation of BenefitsBest Interest of EmployeeAbility to Manage FundsSpecial NeedsSufficiency of EvidenceAppealTennessee LawT.C.A. § 50-6-229(a)
References
1
Case No. ADJ3870027 (AHM 0090638), ADJ4306688 (AHM 0090678)
Regular
Nov 21, 2014

MICHELE WULF vs. ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY, USF & G, Administered by CANNON COCHRAN

This case concerns a petition for reconsideration of an attorney's fee award in a workers' compensation matter. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to address the applicant's attorney's request for commutation of the attorney's fee. The Board amended the original award to reflect that the attorney's fee would be a percentage of the commuted value of the applicant's permanent disability award. The matter was returned to the trial level for the WCJ to calculate the commutation of the attorney's fee and determined sanctions were not warranted.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDADJ3870027ADJ4306688ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITYUSF & GCANNON COCHRANPetition for ReconsiderationJoint Findings Award and Orderpermanent total disabilityattorney's fee
References
0
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Paturzo v. Metro-North Commuter Railroad

Plaintiff Anthony M. Paturzo sued Metro-North Commuter Railroad under F.E.L.A. for injuries sustained in a train collision, with liability conceded by the defendant. A jury awarded Paturzo $650,000 for economic loss and pain and suffering, which Metro-North subsequently moved to challenge as excessive. Judge Kevin Thomas Duffy found the award "clearly excessive" and "so high as to shock the judicial conscience," noting Paturzo's relatively minor documented injuries and failure to mitigate damages. The court also highlighted the improper influence of unadmitted evidence regarding post-traumatic stress syndrome on the jury's calculations. Consequently, the verdict was set aside, and the case was ordered for a new trial to determine damages.

FELADamagesJury VerdictExcessive VerdictRemittiturNew TrialUlnar NeuropathyCervical SprainPost Traumatic Stress SyndromeMitigation of Damages
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Schmidt v. Falls Dodge, Inc.

The claimant was awarded a 21.43% schedule loss of use for binaural hearing loss in 2007. The Workers’ Compensation Law Judge and the Workers’ Compensation Board determined that this award was not subject to temporary disability benefits the claimant was already receiving from earlier workers' compensation cases. The employer and State Insurance Fund appealed, contending that a Court of Appeals decision overruled prior holdings regarding the overlap of schedule and nonschedule awards. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, distinguishing between schedule awards for future earnings loss and nonschedule awards for temporary disability during a limited time frame, concluding they do not overlap.

Workers' CompensationSchedule Loss of UseTemporary DisabilityBinaural Hearing LossAward OverlapAppellate DecisionInsurance FundEmployer LiabilityMedical BenefitsEarnings Loss
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 01, 2002

In re the Arbitration between Sheet Metal Workers International Ass'n & Building & Construction Trades Council

This case addresses a jurisdictional dispute between local labor unions regarding work on a construction project. The Supreme Court affirmed an arbitration award, finding both the petitioner and respondent locals were obligated to arbitrate under the New York Plan for Settlement of Jurisdictional Disputes. The court dismissed arguments regarding a separate national collective bargaining agreement involving the petitioner international union and employer, deeming it a "stranger" to the New York agreement. Consequently, the lower court's determination confirming the award in favor of the respondent local was unanimously affirmed. The petitioners' other contentions challenging the award were found unavailing.

ArbitrationLabor UnionJurisdictional DisputeCollective Bargaining AgreementAward ConfirmationSupreme CourtContractual ObligationLabor LawWork AssignmentDispute Resolution
References
1
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