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

Case No. ADJ6884562
Regular
Oct 04, 2010

ERIC KRUSE vs. CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, Permissibly Self-Insured

This case concerns whether a 15% reduction in permanent disability indemnity applies when an employer offers an injured employee regular work after their condition is permanent and stationary. The applicant, a parking enforcement officer, sustained a neck and elbow injury and was temporarily disabled before returning to his regular job. The employer offered regular work after the applicant's condition became permanent and stationary, but the applicant had already returned to his normal duties. The majority found that since there was no indication of permanent disability prior to the employer's offer, all permanent indemnity was payable after the offer, entitling the employer to the reduction. However, a dissenting commissioner argued that the offer lacked practical meaning as the applicant had already returned to work and that no weekly payments remained after the offer to be reduced.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardEric KruseCity of San Rafaelparking enforcement officerindustrial injuryneck injuryright elbow injurytemporary total disabilitypermanent and stationaryoffer of regular work
References
0
Case No. ADJ8641626
Regular
Oct 06, 2014

SYLVIA ESPINOZA vs. SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE

This case concerns whether an employer's offer of work triggers a decrease in permanent disability benefits. The applicant initially became permanent and stationary (P&S) in November 2012, and the employer made a timely offer of regular work. However, the applicant's condition later worsened, and she was declared P&S again in July 2013 with new restrictions. The Appeals Board found that while the applicant did not qualify for an increase in benefits, the employer could not rely on the prior offer for a decrease because her condition and restrictions had significantly changed. Therefore, no adjustment to the permanent disability rate was applied.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardSylvia EspinozaSalinas Valley Memorial HealthcareAcclamation Insurance Management ServicesPermanent and Stationary (P&S) reportLabor Code section 4658(d)(3)(A)Agreed Medical Examiner (AME)Robert SteinerM.D.permanent disability rate
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Baker v. Lockheed Aircraft Service Co.

Harvey Baker sued Lockheed Aircraft Service Company and Bob Savage for breach of an alleged employment contract for a position in Iran. Baker claimed he accepted an oral offer, which Lockheed later withdrew, citing unsatisfactory reference checks as a condition precedent. The jury found that Lockheed's revocation was based on information from these checks. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, ruling that the written offer was tentative and subject to contingencies. The court emphasized that the statute of frauds required a complete written memorandum, and the parol evidence rule prevented converting a conditional written agreement into an unconditional oral one. Plaintiff failed to prove the satisfaction of the condition precedent.

Breach of ContractEmployment AgreementCondition PrecedentStatute of FraudsParol Evidence RuleContractual DisputeAppellate ReviewJury VerdictOffer of EmploymentWithdrawal of Offer
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 06, 1998

Nieves v. Five Boro Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Corp.

Reding Nieves, an employee of United Fire Protection, was injured while installing fire sprinklers at a New York Hall of Science site, which was subcontracted by Five Boro Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Corp. He allegedly tripped over a concealed drop light after stepping off an eight-foot ladder, sustaining an ankle injury. Nieves sued Five Boro under Labor Law § 240 (1), and Five Boro filed a third-party action against United, with the motion court initially granting Nieves summary judgment. However, the appellate court modified this order, denying summary judgment for all parties due to unresolved questions of fact surrounding the accident's cause, including conflicting testimonies. Consequently, the case requires a trial to determine liability and facts, as neither side was entitled to summary judgment.

Elevation-related riskTripping hazardSummary judgmentLabor Law § 240(1)Construction site accidentLadder fallContributory negligenceQuestions of factAppellate DivisionSubcontractor liability
References
11
Case No. 2-09-265-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 28, 2010

Don Norris and Avery Air Conditioning/Heating and A-ABAC Services, Inc. v. Shelby Jackson

Appellants Don Norris and Avery Air Conditioning/Heating and A-ABAC Services, Inc. appealed a judgment following a bench trial in favor of Appellee Shelby Jackson. The appellants contended that the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to establish DTPA violations, economic damages, an unconscionable act by Norris, mental anguish damages, and entitlement to treble damages or attorney's fees. The trial court found that Avery violated the DTPA by misrepresenting rights and failing to disclose information, causing $500 in economic damages, which were trebled. It also found Norris committed an unconscionable act intentionally, causing $2,500 in mental anguish damages, also trebled. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding sufficient evidence to support all findings.

Deceptive Trade Practices ActDTPA ViolationUnconscionable ActEconomic DamagesMental AnguishSufficiency of EvidenceAttorney's FeesContract ModificationConsumer ProtectionTexas Law
References
46
Case No. 07-05-0449-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 14, 2007

Gibson Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. and Robin L. Hughes v. Coolbaugh Chiropractic

Gibson Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. and employee Robin L. Hughes appealed a judgment rendered in favor of Coolbaugh Chiropractic for medical services provided to Hughes. Hughes sustained a workplace injury and sought chiropractic treatment. Key issues on appeal included the legal sufficiency of evidence regarding Gibson's bookkeeper's actual authority to authorize multiple medical treatments and the basis for the $3,000 damages award. The Court of Appeals for the Seventh District of Texas affirmed the trial court's judgment. It found sufficient evidence for the bookkeeper's authority and that the damages were within the range of evidence, further concluding that Coolbaugh had adequately presented its claim for attorney's fees.

Employer liabilityEmployee injuryChiropractic treatmentAgency authorityActual authorityApparent authorityDamages awardSufficiency of evidenceAttorney's feesAppellate court
References
22
Case No. 05-18-00564-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 28, 2019

Regency Development & Construction Services, LLC v. Ralph Carrington D/B/A Carrington Air Conditioning and Heating, Carrington AC and Heat , LLC, Anthony Turpin, Turpin & Turpin, Turpin and Turpin, Inc.

Regency Development & Construction Services, LLC appealed the trial court's summary judgments in favor of Ralph Carrington d/b/a Carrington Air Conditioning and Heating, Carrington AC and Heat LLC, Anthony Turpin, Turpin & Turpin, and Turpin and Turpin, Inc. Regency argued that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on the grounds that Regency had no evidence of damages because its insurance carrier paid the underlying personal injury settlement and defense costs. The court affirmed the trial court's judgments, concluding that the collateral source rule does not apply to Regency under the facts of this case because Regency made no payments and received no payments from any other party. Furthermore, Regency's insurer, Cincinnati Insurance Company, failed to properly assert its subrogation rights or intervene in the lawsuit.

Summary JudgmentCollateral Source RuleInsurance CoverageSubrogation RightsBreach of ContractNegligenceIndemnityAppellate ReviewTexas LawCivil Procedure
References
13
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 29, 2004

Velella v. New York Local Condotional Release Commission

The petitioners, including Gonzalez, Caba, Stephens, Velella, and DelToro, challenged determinations by the Conditional Release Commission and the Department of Correction. These determinations advised petitioners that their conditional releases were invalid and directed them to surrender. The Supreme Court, New York County, denied their five CPLR article 78 petitions. This appellate court unanimously affirmed the Supreme Court's decision, finding the petitioners' conditional releases illegal due to non-compliance with Correction Law § 273 (1) and (6). The court also ruled that the agencies had the power to set aside determinations based on significant irregularities and that the petitioners had no substantive due process right to illegal orders, having been afforded adequate procedural due process through the CPLR article 78 proceedings.

Conditional ReleaseCorrection Law ViolationsDue ProcessArticle 78 PetitionAgency AuthorityIllegal ReleaseStatutory InterpretationAppellate ReviewGovernment EstoppelNew York Law
References
14
Case No. 03-05-00319-CV; 03-05-00385-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 14, 2006

Satayarayan Reddy Cheukula A/K/A Sam Reddy v. Estate of Leslie Howard Spradling, And Philip DuCloux as Administraor

Appellant Satayarayan Reddy Cherukula (Reddy) challenged a summary judgment that invalidated his contract to purchase real property from the Estate of Leslie Howard Spradling, administered by Philip Ducloux. Reddy's contract was contingent on probate court approval. Before approval, Ducloux received a higher cash offer from a third party and presented both contracts to the probate court. The probate court rejected Reddy's seller-financed offer, citing the contentious relationship among beneficiaries and the estate's best interest for a cash sale. Reddy sued for specific performance, arguing equitable ownership and Ducloux's breach of contract for not promptly seeking approval and entertaining other offers. The appellate court affirmed the summary judgment, ruling that equitable conversion did not apply because the contract was not specifically enforceable without probate court approval, which was a condition precedent. The court also found no breach by Ducloux regarding promptness or presenting multiple offers, emphasizing his fiduciary duty to the Estate's beneficiaries.

Contract lawReal estateProbate lawEquitable conversionSpecific performanceCondition precedentSummary judgmentFiduciary dutyEstate administrationTexas Court of Appeals
References
12
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Texas Workers' Compensation Insurance Fund v. Texas Employment Commission

Imelda Martinez, a former Vice President of Fraud Investigations for the Texas Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fund (Fund), was terminated and offered a three-month severance package. The termination memorandum conditioned the severance only on returning company equipment and documents. However, she was verbally informed that the severance was also contingent on signing a "Full and Complete Settlement and Release Agreement." Martinez complied with the written condition but did not sign the release. The Fund subsequently refused to pay severance, leading Martinez to file a wage claim with the Texas Employment Commission (TEC) under the Texas Payday Law. The TEC ruled in favor of Martinez, stating that the oral condition was unenforceable as it contradicted the written agreement. The Fund then sought judicial review in the District Court in Kleberg County, which granted summary judgment to the TEC. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's decision, concluding that the oral condition precedent was inconsistent with the written agreement and therefore invalid, upholding Martinez's entitlement to severance pay.

Severance PayEmployment LawWage DisputeTexas Payday LawContract InterpretationCondition PrecedentSummary JudgmentAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceWritten Agreement
References
9
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