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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

Albany Truck Rental Service, Inc. v. New Hampshire Merchants Insurance

This case involves an appeal from a declaratory judgment action to determine insurance coverage obligations following a fatal tractor-trailer accident. The accident killed Michael L. Bennekin, a passenger and co-employee of the driver, David L. Sinnamon, both employed by the NYS Department of Correctional Services, which had leased the tractor from Albany Truck. Travelers insured Albany Truck, while Merchants insured the Department. Bennekin's estate initially sued Sinnamon, Albany Truck, and General Tire. Sinnamon was dismissed due to workers' compensation exclusivity, insulating Albany Truck from vicarious liability for Sinnamon's negligence but not its own independent negligence. The court affirmed the Special Term's ruling that Travelers is the primary insurer and Merchants is the secondary/excess insurer for Albany Truck's independent negligence. However, the court reversed the Special Term's decision to refer attorneys' fees for factual determination, concluding that no fees could be allowed as Sinnamon did not incur them to the Attorney-General.

Insurance coveragePrimary and excess insuranceDuty to defendWorkers' Compensation LawCo-employee defenseDeclaratory judgmentVicarious liabilityIndependent negligenceMotor vehicle accidentBreach of contract
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Lumpkin v. Albany Truck Rental Service, Inc.

This case concerns three related actions stemming from a truck accident that resulted in the death of the plaintiff's decedent, who was a passenger. Both the decedent and the driver, David L. Sinnamon, were employed by the New York State Department of Correctional Services, and the accident occurred during their employment. The original plaintiff sued General Tire and Rubber Company, Albany Truck Rental Service, Inc., and Sinnamon. Sinnamon was dismissed based on the Workers' Compensation Law. Subsequently, General Tire and Albany Truck initiated third-party actions against Sinnamon for indemnity or contribution, which were also dismissed by Special Term, citing Correction Law § 24. The Appellate Division affirmed these dismissals, ruling that Correction Law § 24 clearly bars such third-party actions against employees of the Department of Correctional Services acting within the scope of their employment. The court also rejected the appellants' equal protection challenge to the statute.

Workers' Compensation LawCorrection Law Section 24IndemnificationContributionThird-Party LiabilityGovernment ImmunityEmployee ProtectionStatutory InterpretationEqual Protection ChallengeMotor Vehicle Accident
References
3
Case No. 2022 NY Slip Op 00701
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 03, 2022

Matter of Martin (Trucking Support Servs., LLC--Commissioner of Labor)

Anthony Martin, a truck driver, filed for unemployment insurance benefits. The Department of Labor determined he was an employee of Trucking Support Services, LLC (TSS) and Distribution Cooperative Network of NY (DCN) under the New York State Commercial Goods Transportation Industry Fair Play Act. TSS and DCN contested this, arguing Martin was an independent contractor. The Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board affirmed the initial determinations, finding Martin to be an employee. The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the Board's decision, concluding that TSS and DCN failed to overcome the statutory presumption of employment and that the Fair Play Act was not preempted by federal law.

Unemployment InsuranceIndependent ContractorCommercial Goods Transportation Industry Fair Play ActEmployee ClassificationLabor LawStatutory Presumption of EmploymentABC TestSeparate Business Entity TestFederal Aviation Administration Authorization ActPreemption
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 02, 1990

Abuso v. Mack Trucks, Inc.

Scott P. Abuso, an employee of Tee’s Recycling (a business formed by Mr. T Carting), was injured when he fell from and was hit by a garbage truck owned by Thomas Toscano, a partner in Mr. T Carting. After accepting Workers’ Compensation benefits through Tee’s Recycling, Abuso commenced an action against Joseph Russo (the truck driver and employee of Mr. T Carting) and the Toscano partners (doing business as Mr. T Carting) to recover damages. The defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing that the exclusive remedy provision of Workers’ Compensation Law § 29 (6) precluded recovery. The Supreme Court granted their motion, finding a special employment relationship existed between Abuso and Mr. T Carting. The appellate court affirmed the decision, agreeing that the evidence strongly supported the existence of a special employment relationship, making it a matter of law.

Personal InjurySummary JudgmentSpecial Employment RelationshipExclusive Remedy ProvisionAppellate ReviewGarbage Truck AccidentPartnership LiabilityEmployer ImmunityTort LawJudicial Affirmation
References
6
Case No. 2018 NY Slip Op 06839 [165 AD3d 1360]
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 11, 2018

Matter of Mitchell v. Eaton's Trucking Serv., Inc.

Claimant James Mitchell, a tractor truck driver, filed a workers' compensation claim for injuries to his right hand, wrist, arm, and shoulder, identifying both Eaton's Trucking Service, Inc. (Eaton) and Quality Carrier's, Inc. (Quality) as his employers. The Workers' Compensation Board determined that Eaton was Mitchell's general employer and Quality was his special employer, making both 50% liable for benefits. Quality appealed this decision, challenging the special employment finding. The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the Board's determination, finding substantial evidence supported the conclusion that Mitchell was a special employee of Quality, considering factors such as control over work, method of payment, furnishing of equipment, and the nature of the work arrangement between Eaton and Quality.

Workers' Compensation LawSpecial EmploymentGeneral EmploymentEmployer LiabilityAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceTractor Truck DriverOccupational DiseaseCarpal Tunnel SyndromeEmployer-Employee Relationship
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 22, 1999

Ma v. Ryder Truck Rental, Inc.

The defendants, Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., and Zhidong Wu, appealed from an order denying summary judgment to Ryder Truck Rental, Inc. The plaintiff cross-appealed from the same order, which granted summary judgment dismissing the action against Zhidong Wu. The appellate court dismissed Zhidong Wu's appeal on the grounds that he was not aggrieved by the provision. The court affirmed the order denying summary judgment to Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., finding it failed to establish its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law regarding its alleged negligent maintenance. The plaintiff's cause of action against Zhidong Wu and any vicarious liability claim against Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., for Zhidong Wu's negligence were barred by the Workers’ Compensation Law.

Automobile accidentPersonal injurySummary judgmentNegligenceVicarious liabilityWorkers' CompensationAppellate reviewCross-appealJudicial dismissalOrder affirmed
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Castro v. Salem Truck Leasing, Inc.

The defendants, Salem Truck Leasing, Inc., and Jose E. Cofresi, appealed an order denying their motion for summary judgment in a personal injury action. The plaintiff was a passenger in a truck operated by Cofresi and owned by Salem, and both were co-employees involved in an accident during their employment. The appeals court modified the order, granting summary judgment dismissing the complaint against Cofresi, citing Workers' Compensation Law co-employee immunity. However, the court affirmed the denial of summary judgment for Salem Truck Leasing, Inc., as a triable issue of fact existed regarding Salem's alleged independent negligence in maintaining the truck.

Personal InjurySummary JudgmentWorkers' Compensation LawCo-employee ImmunityVehicle AccidentTruck LeasingNegligenceAppellate ReviewMotion PracticeKings County
References
4
Case No. CA 12-02386
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 08, 2013

PRICE TRUCKING CORP. v. AAA ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

Price Trucking Corp. (plaintiff-respondent) commenced an action alleging that First Niagara Bank, N.A. (defendant-appellant) violated Lien Law article 3-A by automatically transferring funds from AAA Environmental, Inc.'s operational account into its line of credit account, which Price Trucking claimed constituted a diversion of Lien Law trust assets. The Supreme Court granted Price Trucking's motion for partial summary judgment, finding First Niagara liable as a Lien Law statutory trustee and that it had both actual and constructive notice of the diversion. The Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department, modified the order, denying Price Trucking's motion in its entirety. It concluded that First Niagara was not a statutory trustee under the facts and that the Supreme Court erred in applying a constructive notice standard, asserting that only actual notice is applicable to banks for the holder in due course defense under Lien Law § 72 (1).

Lien LawTrust AssetsHolder in Due CourseActual NoticeConstructive NoticeUniform Commercial CodeLender LiabilitySubcontractorsSummary JudgmentAppeal
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Hess v. Mack Trucks, Inc.

Plaintiffs Raymond Hess and Dennis Heuer sought damages for personal injuries from defendants Mack Trucks, Inc. and Mineóla Mack Distributors, Inc., the manufacturer and distributor of a sanitation truck chassis. The defendants appealed an order from the Supreme Court, Nassau County, denying their motions for summary judgment. The plaintiffs were injured when the truck, fitted with a 'Packmaster' garbage compactor, overturned. They alleged negligence and strict products liability, claiming the chassis was inadequate for the compactor's weight and that there was a failure to warn about overloading or using it with a single-axle chassis. The appellate court affirmed the denial of summary judgment, holding that the dangers of overloading were not self-evident and that material issues of fact remained regarding the defendants' knowledge of the chassis's intended use and the foreseeability of the loading practices.

Personal InjuryProduct LiabilityNegligenceSummary JudgmentAppellate ReviewDuty to WarnDefective ProductSanitation TruckChassisOverloading
References
3
Case No. 2021 NY Slip Op 04070
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 24, 2021

Matter of Cisnero v. Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund

Claimant Jeffrey Cisnero, an independent livery driver, sustained injuries when he was shot during a dispatch. He filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits, which was initially disallowed by a WCLJ but later reversed by the Workers' Compensation Board, finding coverage through the Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund (ILDBF). The carrier appealed, arguing misinterpretation of the relevant statutes, particularly Executive Law § 160-ddd (1). The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the Board's decision, determining that Cisnero's injuries arose out of and in the course of providing covered services as an independent livery driver dispatched by an ILDBF member. The court found that the vehicle's attenuated affiliation with the New York Black Car Operators' Injury Compensation Fund, Inc. did not alter ILDBF's liability.

Workers' CompensationLivery DriverIndependent ContractorBenefit FundAccidental InjuryCourse of EmploymentStatutory InterpretationExecutive LawWorkers' Compensation LawAppellate Review
References
3
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