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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

Claim of Keselman v. New York City Transit Authority

Claimant, injured in 1986, initially established a right shoulder injury. The Workers’ Compensation Board affirmed this but denied a causally related neck injury in 1996. After another application in 1998 alleging a worsened neck condition, the Workers’ Compensation Law Judge found a causally related neck injury and permanent partial disability, awarding benefits from February 5, 1998, which the Board affirmed. Separately, the Board also ruled the employer was entitled to credit schedule payments against disability payments made after February 5, 1998. The court affirmed both decisions, finding substantial evidence supported the deterioration of the neck injury post-1996 and that schedule awards are independent of actual disability periods, thus allowing the employer's credit.

Workers' CompensationPermanent Partial DisabilitySchedule AwardDisability PaymentsNeck InjuryRight Shoulder InjuryCausally Related InjuryReopening CaseMedical EvidenceMRI
References
7
Case No. 2019 NY Slip Op 04295 [172 AD3d 655]
Regular Panel Decision
May 30, 2019

Capital Bus. Credit LLC v. Tailgate Clothing Co., Corp.

The Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed a Supreme Court order regarding a dispute between Capital Business Credit LLC (plaintiff) and Tailgate Clothing Company, Corp. (defendant). Plaintiff purchased accounts receivable from a nonparty related to clothing manufacturing. Defendant paid some invoices but left 12 outstanding. Defendant claimed an equitable recoupment credit for payments made to the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) for severance pay to Honduran workers, which became due after the manufacturer violated local law by not paying severance. The Court found issues of fact precluding summary judgment on the account stated claim and correctly sustained the equitable recoupment defense, noting it was based on transactions linked to the defendant's licensing and manufacturing agreements. The court also rejected plaintiff's waiver and estoppel arguments.

Equitable recoupmentAccount stated claimSummary judgmentAccounts receivableBreach of contractTimeliness of objectionLicensing agreementManufacturing agreementHonduran labor lawSeverance pay
References
6
Case No. ADJ2759696 (VNO 0492027)
Regular
Oct 11, 2010

WOON YOUNG PARK vs. FILM PAYMENT SERVICES, INC., CHARTIS INSURANCE

The Board granted reconsideration, rescinding the WCJ's decision on the defendant's credit for overpaid temporary disability. The defendant is allowed credit for temporary disability payments made from March 26, 2009, to June 3, 2009, at the temporary disability rate. Further credit is granted for payments made from June 4, 2009, to December 7, 2009, at the permanent disability rate of $185.00 per week. The Board denied further credit due to insufficient evidence regarding post-AME report overpayments.

Petition for ReconsiderationPermanent DisabilityTemporary DisabilityCreditStipulated AwardAgreed Medical ExaminationPermanent and StationarySection 4909Abuse of DiscretionDue Process
References
0
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Thoms v. Educational Credit Management Corp. (In Re Thoms)

Kashima Thoms, a Chapter 7 debtor, initiated an adversary proceeding seeking the discharge of her substantial student loan obligations totaling $90,948.58, citing "undue hardship" under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8). Educational Credit Management Corp. (ECMC) became the primary defendant, administering all of Thoms's student loans. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court applied the Second Circuit's stringent three-part Brunner test, which requires demonstrating an inability to maintain a minimal living standard, persistence of this hardship, and good faith repayment efforts. The Court found that Thoms, earning $48,000 annually, had sufficient disposable income, and her financial prospects were likely to improve, particularly with potential changes in childcare expenses and family living arrangements. Crucially, Thoms had made only minimal payments years prior and failed to utilize available loan restructuring options, thereby failing to prove good faith. Consequently, the Court ruled that Thoms did not establish undue hardship, denying the discharge of her student loan debts.

Bankruptcy LawStudent Loan DischargeUndue Hardship DoctrineBrunner TestChapter 7 BankruptcyAdversary ProceedingFinancial DistressRepayment EffortsFederal Student LoansDebtor-Creditor Law
References
4
Case No. ADJ3234390 (OXN 0146866)
Regular
May 02, 2019

KENNETH CROW vs. COASTLINE EQUIPMENT, AMERICAN CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY OF REDDING, PENNSYLVANIA

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration, affirming the WCJ's finding that a Stipulation with Request for Award was not ambiguous. The defendant sought credit for permanent disability payments made before June 28, 2010, in dismissed cases, arguing the stipulation allowed for credit of "previously made" payments. However, the Board found the stipulation's plain language only entitled the defendant to credit for payments made on or after June 28, 2010, in the primary case. The defendant failed to prove mutual intent for credit of prior payments in dismissed claims.

Stipulations with Request for AwardPetition for ReconsiderationFindings and AwardPermanent Disability IndemnityCredit for PaymentsContract InterpretationDismissed ClaimsMerged CasesWCJ ReportWCAB
References
12
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Normile v. Allstate Insurance

Chief Judge Cooke's dissenting opinion critiques the majority's interpretation of Insurance Law section 671 (subd 2, par [b]) regarding how collateral source payments affect an insurer's aggregate $50,000 liability for basic economic loss. The dissent argues that the majority's method, which allows insurers to reduce their total liability by these payments, leads to an incomplete recovery for injured parties, particularly when total losses exceed $50,000. Cooke proposes an alternative allocation where collateral source payments are first applied to cover losses beyond the $50,000 basic economic loss threshold. This approach, he contends, ensures that insurers pay the full $50,000 in first-party benefits and only take credit for collateral sources that would otherwise result in a double recovery within the basic economic loss limit, or for amounts exceeding the $50,000 threshold. The dissenting judge asserts that the Legislature did not intend to create such an inequity, where injured individuals are left with less than full compensation while insurers avoid their primary obligation.

Insurance Law InterpretationBasic Economic LossCollateral Source PaymentsNo-Fault InsuranceWorkers' Compensation BenefitsSocial Security Disability BenefitsDissenting OpinionAggregate LiabilityFirst-Party BenefitsDouble Recovery
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Beth V. v. New York State Office of Children & Family Services

Claimant, a youth division aide, suffered severe injuries including physical assault, rape, and kidnapping during work, leading to established workers' compensation benefits and a classification of permanent partial disability. She subsequently reached a $650,000 settlement in a federal civil rights action against her employer and co-employees for the same injuries. The workers' compensation carrier waived its lien for past benefits but asserted a right to a credit for future payments against the settlement under Workers’ Compensation Law § 29. The Workers’ Compensation Board reversed a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge’s decision, ruling in favor of the carrier's credit, finding the settlement covered the same injuries for which workers' compensation benefits were awarded. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, confirming the carrier's entitlement to a credit against the third-party settlement recovery.

Workers' CompensationThird-Party SettlementCredit Against RecoveryLienFuture BenefitsPermanent Partial DisabilityPTSDRapeCivil Rights ClaimFederal Lawsuit
References
4
Case No. 2018 NY Slip Op 05652 [164 AD3d 1000]
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 02, 2018

Matter of Robinson v. Workmen's Circle Home

Barbara Robinson, a certified nurse's assistant, filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits for a work-related right shoulder injury in 2011. She received temporary disability payments totaling $133,807.48. In 2016, a Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) awarded her a 42.50% schedule loss of use (SLU) to her right arm, amounting to $102,494.50, less prior payments. Robinson appealed the WCLJ's decision, arguing that the employer's carrier should not be credited for temporary partial disability payments against the SLU award. The Workers' Compensation Board disagreed, ruling that the carrier could credit all prior disability payments. The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the Board's decision, finding no basis to differentiate between temporary total and temporary partial disability payments for credit purposes, thereby preventing an unjustifiable double recovery for the claimant.

Workers' CompensationSchedule Loss of UseTemporary Disability PaymentsCreditDouble RecoveryAppellate DivisionWork-Related InjuryRight Shoulder InjuryCarrier ReimbursementLegal Precedent
References
7
Case No. ADJ2852888 (AHM 079739) ADJ6775021
Regular
Dec 11, 2010

PAUL BUTELO vs. LEIGHTON AND ASSOCIATES, AMERICAN MOTORISTS INSURANCE COMPANY

This case concerns a dispute over a defendant's credit for long-term disability (LTD) payments received by the applicant. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to correct an error where the trial judge erroneously denied a credit for a $102,237.77 third-party recovery. However, the Board affirmed the judge's denial of credit for the LTD payments because the defendant failed to prove the payments were intended as an advance on workers' compensation benefits. The case was returned to the trial level for further proceedings consistent with this decision.

Long Term DisabilityThird Party RecoveryCreditWCJReconsiderationTemporary Disability IndemnityPetition for ReconsiderationEAMSInvited ErrorDue Process
References
11
Case No. ADJ1755508
Regular
Mar 30, 2011

SOSTENES REYES vs. PRO TRADES CONNECTION, AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration of the initial award, primarily addressing the defendant's contentions regarding the applicant's average weekly wage and credit for temporary disability payments. The Board agreed with the WCJ's recommendation to amend the award to include credit for temporary disability payments already made. Additionally, the Board corrected a clerical error concerning the permanent disability indemnity, incorporating credit for past payments and an attorney's fee. The award was otherwise affirmed, confirming the applicant's admitted industrial injury and $100\%$ permanent total disability.

WCABReconsiderationAverage Weekly EarningsTemporary Total DisabilityPermanent Total DisabilityCredit for PaymentsSupplemental PetitionClerical ErrorAttorney FeeMedical Treatment
References
0
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