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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Patrick Butler General Contractor, Inc. v. Rocco

Patrick Butler General Contractor, Inc. and Patrick Butler appealed an order from the Supreme Court, Queens County, which granted summary judgment dismissing their complaint for breach of contract. The plaintiff, a licensed home improvement contractor, was fired by the defendants during a renovation project in Nassau County. The defendants claimed the plaintiff used unlicensed subcontractors, leading to the dismissal of the complaint. The appellate court dismissed Patrick Butler's appeal but reversed the order for Patrick Butler General Contractor, Inc. It ruled there was a factual dispute regarding whether the workers hired by the plaintiff were independent contractors requiring licenses or employees exempt under Nassau County Administrative Code, thereby reinstating the complaint.

Breach of ContractSummary JudgmentHome Improvement ContractorsUnlicensed SubcontractorsEmployee-Employer RelationshipAppellate ReviewContract DisputeNassau County Administrative CodeCPLRReinstatement of Complaint
References
9
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 13, 2000

Rosenberg v. Ben Krupinski General Contractors, Inc.

Robert Rosenberg, an employee of an alarm company, was allegedly injured after tripping over cardboard at a construction site. He and his wife sued Ben Krupinski General Contractors, Inc. (the general contractor) and Dave Mims Fifth Generation Painting Contractors (a subcontractor) under Labor Law §§ 200 and 241 (6). The Supreme Court granted summary judgment to Mims but denied Krupinski's motion for similar relief. On appeal, the order was modified; Krupinski's motion for summary judgment dismissing the Labor Law § 200 claim was granted, as Krupinski established it had no authority to control the activity causing the injury. However, the motion for summary judgment on the Labor Law § 241 (6) claim was properly denied due to triable issues of fact regarding whether the accident occurred in a passageway or work area and whether specific regulations (12 NYCRR 23-1.7 (e) (1) or (2)) were violated, and whether Krupinski was still the general contractor at the time of the accident.

Personal InjuryConstruction AccidentGeneral Contractor LiabilitySummary JudgmentSafe Place to WorkAppellate DivisionTriable Issue of FactLabor Law CompliancePremises LiabilitySubcontractor
References
3
Case No. ADJ8967361
Regular
Nov 26, 2014

FELIPE GARCIA (DECEASED) GUILLERMINA GARCIA (WIDOW) vs. SALVADOR GAYTAN dba G\&P AG MANAGEMENT CONTRACTORS, INC.; STAR INSURANCE, Adjusted by MEADOWBROOK INSURANCE GROUP

This case involved a petition for reconsideration by the applicant in a workers' compensation matter where the deceased worker, Felipe Garcia, was initially found to be an employee but later deemed an independent contractor by the Appeals Board. The applicant argued the Board erred by disregarding the WCJ's credibility assessment and by not applying Labor Code section 2750.5 to unlicensed contractors. The Board denied the petition, finding no evidence the deceased worker was engaged in activities requiring a contractor's license under Business and Professions Code sections 7000 and 7026. Therefore, Labor Code section 2750.5 was inapplicable, and the prior decision finding the applicant an independent contractor was upheld.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardIndependent contractorEmployee statusReconsiderationLabor Code section 2750.5Contractors' State License LawBlew v. HornerGarza v. Worker's Comp. Appeals Bd.Rinaldi v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd.Unlicensed contractor
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Sheet Metal Division of Capitol District Sheet Metal, Roofing & Air Conditioning Contractors Ass'n v. Local Union 38 of the Sheet Metal Workers International Ass'n

The plaintiffs, a coalition of sheet metal contractor associations, filed a lawsuit against Local Union 38 and a related employer association, alleging violations of federal and state antitrust and labor laws. The core of the dispute was a collective bargaining agreement provision mandating that all sheet metal fabrication be performed within Local 38's geographical jurisdiction, which plaintiffs argued constituted an illegal trade barrier. Defendants countered that the provision was a lawful work preservation clause, protected under labor law exemptions. The court ultimately ruled that the challenged clause was neither a valid work preservation measure nor exempt from antitrust scrutiny. Consequently, the court granted the plaintiffs' motion for a declaratory judgment, declaring the provision void and unenforceable due to its violation of both the National Labor Relations Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act.

AntitrustLabor LawCollective Bargaining AgreementWork Preservation ClauseSherman ActNLRADeclaratory JudgmentTrade BarrierGeographic JurisdictionSecondary Boycott
References
31
Case No. ADJ1883473
Regular
Dec 14, 2018

JOSE MANUEL SALDIVAR vs. REUEL SARABIA CIPRIANO, dba GENESIS GENERAL BUILDING CONTRACTOR, INC., ALEXANDER LEIGH, DAVID LEIGH, UNINSURED EMPLOYERS BENEFITS TRUST FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) rescinded its prior findings and substituted new ones, determining Alexander Leigh was the employer of Jose Manuel Saldivar. The Board found that the unlicensed and uninsured contractor, Reuel Sarabia Cipriano, was acting as an employee of the property owner, Alexander Leigh, as a matter of law, due to Cipriano's failure to maintain a valid contractor's license and workers' compensation insurance. The WCAB specifically rejected the argument that Cipriano's alleged misrepresentations to the property owner estopped the injured worker or the Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund (UEBTF) from establishing Leigh as the employer. Therefore, the WCAB ordered that Leigh, as the ultimate hirer, was legally responsible for Saldivar's industrial injury.

Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fundillegally uninsuredunlicensed contractorultimate hireremployee statusindependent contractorestoppeldue processcross-examinationDeclaration of David Leigh
References
15
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Peterec-Tolino v. Commercial Electrical Contractors, Inc.

The claimant, an apprentice employed by Commercial Electrical Contractors, Inc., was terminated after allegedly threatening a project superintendent. He subsequently filed for workers' compensation benefits, citing a neck and back injury sustained prior to his termination. The claim proceeded under an Alternate Dispute Resolution program, where an arbitrator ultimately disallowed it, concluding it was an afterthought following the claimant's termination. The claimant appealed this decision. The appellate court affirmed the arbitrator's ruling, emphasizing that arbitration awards should only be vacated in limited circumstances such as fraud, corruption, misconduct, or if the award is irrational or exceeds the arbitrator's power. The court found the arbitrator's determination rational and supported by testimony, dismissing the claimant's allegations of fraudulent testimony and arbitrator misconduct as credibility issues appropriately resolved by the arbitrator.

Arbitration AwardCredibility DisputeCompensable InjuryAppellate ReviewFraud AllegationMisconduct AllegationAlternate Dispute ResolutionNeck InjuryBack InjuryEmployer Termination
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 09, 2001

Hyman v. Aurora Contractors, Inc.

The case involves an action brought pursuant to Labor Law § 240 (1) after a construction worker, the plaintiffs decedent, fell to his death through an unguarded skylight. The jury apportioned liability, finding Aurora Contractors, Inc. and Environmental Systems of New York liable. The court affirmed the judgment, noting that evidence of post-accident safety measures was properly admitted. Environmental's contention regarding an erroneous action against it due to a pending cross-claim was raised for the first time on appeal and deemed waived because Environmental had answered the cross-claim as a proper pleading.

Construction AccidentUnguarded SkylightLiability ApportionmentPost-Accident Safety MeasuresWaiver of ClaimCross-ClaimJury VerdictWrongful DeathLabor Law Violation
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Admiral Insurance v. Joy Contractors, Inc.

This case addresses an insurance coverage dispute arising from a tower crane collapse during construction. Plaintiff Admiral Insurance Company, an excess insurer, denied coverage to defendant Joy Contractors, Inc., the crane operator, and several additional insureds, citing a 'residential construction activities' exclusion and Joy’s alleged misrepresentations in its underwriting application. The Supreme Court and Appellate Division had issued differing rulings on these key issues, particularly concerning the applicability of the exclusion and whether alleged misrepresentations by a named insured could affect additional insureds' coverage. The Court of Appeals found the Appellate Division erred in its assessment of evidence regarding the residential construction exclusion and in its application of precedent concerning additional insureds. Consequently, the higher court reinstated Admiral's claims for rescission, reformation, and declarations related to Joy's misrepresentations against all defendants, while affirming the ambiguity of an LLC exclusion.

Insurance CoverageCrane CollapseExcess PolicyCGL PolicyResidential Construction ExclusionMaterial MisrepresentationAdditional InsuredsRescissionReformationAppellate Review
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 05, 2007

North Country Insurance v. Jandreau

This appeal concerns an insurer's motion for summary judgment, seeking a declaration that it is not obligated to defend or indemnify a general contractor in a personal injury lawsuit. The underlying action arose when an employee of a roofing subcontractor fell from a roof on a construction site. The insurer disclaimed coverage, alleging the general contractor failed to provide timely notice of the occurrence as per the policy. However, the general contractor claimed a good-faith belief of non-liability, citing the subcontractor's responsibility, notification to the subcontractor's insurer, and the injured worker's disregard for instructions not to access the roof. The Supreme Court denied the insurer's motion, determining that the reasonableness of the general contractor's delayed notice was a factual question suitable for a jury, a decision which the appellate court affirmed.

Insurance CoverageTimely NoticeSummary JudgmentGood-Faith Belief of NonliabilityAppellate ReviewConstruction AccidentGeneral ContractorSubcontractor LiabilityDuty to DefendDuty to Indemnify
References
5
Case No. Docket # 7
Regular Panel Decision

Empire Enterprises JKB, Inc. v. Union City Contractors, Inc.

This case involves a breach of contract claim by Empire Enterprises JKB, Inc. against Union City Contractors, Inc. for unpaid debris removal services, and a Miller Act claim against Union City's sureties, Nova Casualty Company and Nova American Groups, Inc. After a bench trial in January 2008, Union City filed for bankruptcy, leading to an automatic stay on claims against them. The court, however, proceeded with Empire's Miller Act claim against Nova. The primary dispute concerned the quantity of debris removed, with Empire claiming 11,470 cubic yards. The court found Empire's evidence credible and rejected Nova's fraud defense, ultimately granting judgment in favor of Empire against Nova for $84,653.63, plus prejudgment interest.

Miller Act claimPayment bondBreach of contractSurety liabilityFederal public works projectDebris removalCubic yardage disputePrejudgment interestAttorney's fees deniedFraud affirmative defense
References
29
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