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

Case No. ADJ656416 (RIV 0030336)
Regular
Oct 18, 2011

JOHN CAVEY vs. SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT, CNA CLAIMPLUS, INC., PIPE JACKING, INC., STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND, CAST & CREW PAYROLL, CNA CLAIMPLUS, PARAMOUNT PICTURES, ST PAUL/TRAVELERS INSURANCE, et al.

This case concerns reconsideration petitions filed by Paramount Pictures and State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) regarding an arbitrator's award of the date of injury for workers' compensation purposes. Paramount's petition is dismissed as untimely filed. SCIF's petition, arguing against the September 1999 last date of injurious exposure based on medical evidence, is denied for the reasons stated in the arbitrator's report. The Board adopted the arbitrator's findings and incorporated the report into their decision.

Labor Code section 5412Labor Code $\S$5500.5date of injuryinjurious exposureapportionmentcontributionpetition for reconsiderationuntimely petitionWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardAward of Arbitrator
References
2
Case No. 2017 NY Slip Op 08613 [156 AD3d 447]
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 07, 2017

Rodriguez v. Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.

Plaintiff Ryan Rodriguez was injured while working on a movie set. Defendant Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. was the production company. Columbia Pictures moved for summary judgment to dismiss common-law negligence and Labor Law § 200 claims, arguing it was a 'special employer' entitled to the exclusive remedy doctrine of the Workers' Compensation Law. The Supreme Court, New York County, denied this motion. The Appellate Division, First Department, unanimously reversed the Supreme Court's order, granting Columbia Pictures' motion for summary judgment, finding it demonstrated a prima facie entitlement to the 'special employer' defense, which the plaintiff failed to rebut.

Summary JudgmentSpecial EmployerWorkers' Compensation LawLabor Law § 200Common-Law NegligenceAppellate DivisionExclusive Remedy DoctrinePersonal InjuryFilm ProductionVicarious Liability
References
1
Case No. 14-CV-1044
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 29, 2018

Greene v. Paramount Pictures Corp.

Plaintiff Andrew Greene sued Paramount Pictures, Red Granite Pictures, and Appian Way for defamation, alleging he was portrayed inaccurately in 'The Wolf of Wall Street' movie through the character Nicky Koskoff. Greene claimed the character, nicknamed 'Rugrat' (mocking his toupee, similar to Greene's 'Wigwam'), defamed him by depicting him engaged in criminal activity, drug use, and unprofessional behavior. Defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing the character was a composite, not 'of and concerning' Greene, and that they did not act with actual malice. The Court found that even if Koskoff was a depiction of Greene, the plaintiff failed to show clear and convincing evidence that defendants acted with actual malice, as they did not knowingly or recklessly disregard whether the character would be perceived as Greene. Therefore, the Court granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment and dismissed Greene's libel claim with prejudice.

DefamationLibelSummary JudgmentActual MalicePublic FigureFictional CharacterComposite CharacterFirst AmendmentMovie ProductionThe Wolf of Wall Street
References
29
Case No. ADJ11720540
Regular
Nov 08, 2019

SHEILA BROWN vs. COMPASS HEALTH, MURPHY BEANE

This case involves a clerical error in the date of service for a Workers' Compensation Appeals Board decision. The Board's Opinion and Order, dated October 8, 2019, was mistakenly stamped as served on that date. The actual service date was November 8, 2019. The Board issued this order to correct the clerical error to reflect the accurate service date without requiring further proceedings.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardClerical ErrorDate of ServiceOpinion and OrderReconsiderationPetition for RemovalDecision After RemovalAmended DateSan Luis ObispoJohn Spatafore Law Firm
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Pig Newton, Inc. v. Boards of Directors of the Motion Picture Industry Pension Plan

Plaintiff Pig Newton, Inc. commenced an action against the Boards of Directors of the Motion Picture Industry Pension Plan, Health Plan, and Individual Account Plan, seeking a declaration that certain provisions of the Plans’ Trust Agreements were invalid and unenforceable. The Defendants counterclaimed for delinquent contributions under ERISA. The core dispute revolved around "Controlling Employee Provisions" in the Trust Agreements, which obligated employers to contribute for Controlling Employees for a specified number of hours and weeks regardless of actual hours worked. Pig Newton argued these provisions were invalid, not properly incorporated, or conflicted with collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). The Court, applying federal common law and an arbitrary and capricious standard of review for the Directors' interpretation, found the provisions valid, properly incorporated, and not in conflict with the CBAs, concluding that Szekely (Pig Newton's sole owner) qualified as a Controlling Employee. Consequently, the Court denied Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and granted Defendants' cross-motion for summary judgment, dismissing Plaintiff's complaint and awarding Defendants the sought-after contributions, interest, auditors’ fees, and liquidated damages.

ERISAMultiemployer PlanPension PlanHealth PlanDeclaratory JudgmentSummary JudgmentTrust AgreementsCollective Bargaining AgreementsControlling Employee ProvisionsDelinquent Contributions
References
44
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 28, 2008

Aminzadeh v. Hyosung USA

The claimant, a machine operator, sustained a left hand injury in 2005. During treatment for this injury, she was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in her left wrist. A separate claim for carpal tunnel syndrome was established as an unrelated occupational disease, with a disablement date of June 2007 by a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge. The Workers’ Compensation Board affirmed this decision. The employer’s workers’ compensation carrier appealed the Board’s ruling on the date of disablement. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, finding that the selection of June 2007 as the date of disablement was supported by substantial evidence, as the condition was objectively diagnosed then.

Workers' CompensationOccupational DiseaseCarpal Tunnel SyndromeDate of DisablementSubstantial EvidenceAppellate ReviewLeft Hand InjuryMachine OperatorMedical DiagnosisBoard Decision
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Cook v. Water Tunnel Contractors

A motion was filed seeking to compel the Workers’ Compensation Board to accept two notices of appeal, dated July 10, 1978, and September 22, 1978. The court partially granted the motion, directing the Workers’ Compensation Board to accept the notice of appeal dated July 10, 1978. However, the motion was denied with respect to the notice of appeal dated September 22, 1978. The decision was rendered without costs to either party. Justices Mahoney, Greenblott, Main, Mikoll, and Herlihy concurred with the ruling.

Motion PracticeAppellate ProcedureWorkers' CompensationJudicial ReviewAdministrative DecisionCourt OrderPartial GrantNotice of AppealLegal CostsConcurring Opinion
References
2
Case No. 15-36090
Regular Panel Decision

In re Covelli

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court granted the Debtors' motion to reopen their Chapter 7 bankruptcy case and imposed sanctions on creditor William Clement for violating the discharge injunction. Clement had pursued a deficiency judgment in state court on a discharged mortgage debt, despite previous court orders. The Court found Clement in contempt and ordered him to withdraw the state court proceeding, imposing a daily penalty for non-compliance. The Court denied Clement's separate motion to declare an earlier Chapter 13 petition date as the effective date for the Chapter 7 discharge, reaffirming the June 15, 2015 Chapter 7 petition date.

BankruptcyDischarge InjunctionSanctionsMotion to ReopenPetition DateDeficiency JudgmentContemptChapter 7Chapter 13Automatic Stay
References
82
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 15, 1998

Claim of Baldo v. Daily News

This case involves an appeal from a Workers' Compensation Board decision setting the date of disablement for claimant Joseph Baldo, a former newspaper pressman who suffered from work-related lung cancer, as July 29, 1992. Baldo's widow filed for death benefits after his passing in 1994, leading to a dispute between workers' compensation carriers over liability. The appealing carrier contended that the disablement date should be earlier, citing diagnoses in 1990 or 1991. However, the court affirmed the Board's decision, emphasizing the Board's discretion in selecting a disablement date and finding no medical evidence to establish disability prior to July 29, 1992, even though earlier diagnoses existed.

Workers' Compensation LawLung CancerDate of DisablementAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceCarrier ResponsibilityOccupational DiseaseMedical EvidenceClaimant DisabilityBoard Discretion
References
3
Case No. ADJ1510738 (SJO 0251902)
Regular
Feb 13, 2009

XXZZX SJO2 vs. SUBSEQUENT INJURIES BENEFITS TRUST FUND

This case concerns a Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIF) petition to reconsider an untimely dismissal of their initial petition. The SIF argued their petition was timely filed but not date-stamped due to clerk training. The Appeals Board rescinded the dismissal and addressed the merits of the SIF's original petition. The core issue was the interpretation of Labor Code section 4659(c) regarding the commencement of annual increases to permanent total disability indemnity for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2003. The Board affirmed the finding that these increases begin on January 1 following the date of injury, not from the date of the first payment, to protect injured workers from inflation.

Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust FundPetition for Reconsiderationuntimely filedFindings and Awardindustrial injurypre-existing disabilitypermanent disabilityLabor Code section 4659life pensiontotal permanent disability indemnity
References
0
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