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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

Friedar v. Government of Israel

Samuel Friedar, a New York citizen, sued the Government of Israel and its branches for failing to compensate him for medical costs and expenses incurred after being injured while serving in the Israeli Army in 1948. Friedar alleged breach of contract, intentional withholding of information, negligent loss of files, and wrongful conversion of funds. The Government moved to dismiss, claiming sovereign immunity under 28 U.S.C. § 1604 and that the action was barred by the Act of State doctrine. The Court found that the Government was entitled to sovereign immunity, rejecting Friedar's arguments for exceptions based on waiver or commercial activity. Furthermore, even if jurisdiction existed, the Court would dismiss the case under the Act of State doctrine, citing the impropriety of reviewing a foreign state's internal administrative activity, especially regarding military and veterans' benefits. The Government’s motion to dismiss was granted.

Sovereign ImmunityAct of State DoctrineMotion to DismissForeign Sovereign Immunities ActFSIAGovernmental ImmunityCommercial Activity ExceptionVeterans' BenefitsJurisdictionInternational Law
References
13
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Pelham Council of Governing Boards v. City of Mount Vernon

This case addresses a special proceeding initiated by the Pelham Council of Governing Boards, an unincorporated entity comprising the Villages of Pelham and Pelham Manor, the Town of Pelham, and the Pelham Union Free School District. The petitioner sought to annul a resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Mount Vernon in January 2000, which rezoned a 14.55-acre site for the Sanford Boulevard Redevelopment Project. The core issue was the petitioner's standing to bring the action. The court examined associational standing, noting that while three of the four member municipalities might have individual standing under the Westchester County Administrative Code, the Pelham Union Free School District would not. Ultimately, the court determined that the petitioner failed to demonstrate proper representation of its members' views or a necessity for organizational standing in this context, granting the respondents' defense and dismissing the petition for lack of standing.

Organizational StandingAssociational StandingLand UseZoningMunicipal LawCapacity to SueEnvironmental Review (SEQRA)Mount Vernon City CouncilPelham MunicipalitiesSchool District Standing
References
18
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 08, 2016

Matter of Government Empls. Ins. Co. v. Sherlock

Peter Sherlock died in a car collision with an underinsured driver. His widow, Maria E. Tramontozzi Sherlock, sought supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist (SUM) benefits from Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO). GEICO denied the claim, asserting that the SUM coverage was fully offset by prior settlements received from the tortfeasor's insurer and the Old Brookville defendants' insurer, relying on conditions 6 and 11(e) of the SUM endorsement. GEICO then commenced a proceeding to permanently stay arbitration, and the Supreme Court granted GEICO's petition. On appeal, the Appellate Division reversed the Supreme Court's order, denying GEICO's petition and dismissing the proceeding. The court clarified that the non-duplication clause in SUM coverage is intended to prevent double recoveries for the same injuries, not to prevent an insured from obtaining full compensation, and that the amount of SUM coverage should not be reduced without regard to the actual amount of bodily injury damages suffered. Consequently, Tramontozzi Sherlock is entitled to proceed to arbitration.

SUM coverageunderinsured motoristuninsured motoristarbitrationinsurance policybodily injury damagesnon-duplication clauseAppellate DivisionCPLR article 75Insurance Law 60-2.3
References
2
Case No. Action No. 1 and Action No. 2 Consolidated
Regular Panel Decision

Government Employees Insurance v. Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co.

This case involves appeals concerning the consolidation and venue of two actions arising from a fatal car accident in Broome County. Plaintiff Paul Schiffman, executor of the deceased Helds' estates, and plaintiff Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO), the Helds' insurer, initiated separate actions against defendant Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company in Monroe County. Uniroyal moved to consolidate the actions and change venue to Broome County, citing witness inconvenience. The Supreme Court denied Uniroyal's motion regarding venue. The appellate court found special circumstances warranted deviation from the general venue rules, reversing the lower court's decision and setting venue for the consolidated actions in Broome County. An appeal from a motion for reconsideration was dismissed.

Venue ChangeConsolidationProducts LiabilityNegligenceWrongful DeathFatal AccidentWitness InconvenienceAppellate ReviewDiscretionary AbuseBroome County Venue
References
7
Case No. ADJ8031613
Regular
Feb 19, 2013

PAUL SMITH vs. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration and rescinded a prior order finding industrial causation for retirement purposes under Government Code Section 21166. The WCAB held that the Workers' Compensation Judge (WCJ) failed to follow the "same procedure" required for workers' compensation hearings, as outlined in *Pearl v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd.* Specifically, no evidence was admitted, no stipulations were made, and no hearings were conducted. Therefore, there was an insufficient basis for the WCJ's determination of industrial causation.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardCumulative InjuryNervous SystemInternal SystemsCorrectional OfficerCompromise and ReleaseAgreed Medical EvaluatorIndustrial CausationGovernment Code Section 21166Guillain-Barré Syndrome
References
1
Case No. ADJ11026657
Regular
Feb 27, 2020

Monnie Wright vs. California Public Employees' Retirement System, State Compensation Insurance Fund

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) affirmed the finding that collateral estoppel prevents them from determining industrial causation for applicant Monnie Wright's injury under Government Code section 21166. A prior jury found Wright's injury arose out of employment but not in the course of employment. The WCAB has jurisdiction to determine industrial causation for CalPERS disability claims, applying procedural rules and factual findings. However, collateral estoppel, being a hybrid substantive/procedural issue, means the prior jury's determination on "arising out of" but not "in the course of" employment precludes the WCAB from making a new finding of industrial causation (AOE/COE).

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDCALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEMLegally UninsuredSTATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUNDClaims AdministratorOPINION AND DECISION AFTER RECONSIDERATIONGovernment Code section 21166collateral estoppelindustrial causationarising out of and in the course of employment
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Delta Air Lines, Inc. v. Bibb (In Re Delta Air Lines)

Delta Air Lines, Inc., the Debtor, initiated an adversary proceeding against the Government Services Administration, seeking a declaratory judgment to prevent the Government from deducting pre-petition overpayments for services from post-petition amounts owed. Delta argued that such an offset was prohibited by the automatic stay provisions of Sections 362(a)(3) and (6) of the Bankruptcy Code. The Government asserted its right to offset under the Transportation Payment Act and the equitable doctrine of recoupment. The court found that the Transportation Payment Act does not create a payment scheme allowing such deductions and that the claims did not arise from a 'single integrated transaction' for equitable recoupment. Therefore, the court concluded that the Government is not entitled to set off its pre-petition claims against its post-petition liabilities, granting Delta's request for declaratory judgment.

Bankruptcy LawAutomatic StaySetoffRecoupmentGovernment ContractsTransportation Payment ActDeclaratory JudgmentPre-petition ClaimsPost-petition LiabilitiesCreditor Protection
References
54
Case No. ADJ3767421 (SFO 0438615)
Regular
Aug 02, 2010

MICHELLE ROUTSON vs. JOHN EVANS, D.D.S., ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration of a decision that found it lacked jurisdiction over a petition to transfer structured settlement payment rights. The WCAB rescinded the prior decision, holding that the five-year limitation under Labor Code section 5804 does not apply to commutations of compensation payments. Instead, such matters are governed by Labor Code section 5100, which allows the WCAB to commute payments at any time if certain conditions are met. The case is returned to the trial level for the WCJ to determine if the proposed transfer satisfies section 5100 and related Insurance Code provisions.

Structured settlement transferPetition for ApprovalInsurance Code §10134Labor Code §5804commutationWorkers' Compensation Appeals Boardjurisdictionrescindedfive-year limitationLabor Code §5100
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re Robert Plan Corp.

Kenneth Kirschenbaum, the Chapter 7 Trustee for The Robert Plan Corporation and The Robert Plan of New York Corporation, sought court approval for fee awards for himself and his professionals for administering an ERISA plan. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) objected, asserting the court lacked jurisdiction to award fees from Plan assets and had specific objections to the reasonableness of the fees. The court affirmed its core jurisdiction over the Trustee's actions as Plan administrator and his professionals' compensation, regardless of whether payments came from Plan or estate assets, citing previous rulings. The court analyzed whether Bankruptcy Code §§ 326 and 330 conflicted with ERISA statutes concerning fiduciary compensation, concluding no substantive conflict existed and the Bankruptcy Code's specific compensation scheme governed. Ultimately, the court largely overruled DOL's objections and granted the fee applications for the Trustee, K & K, Witz, and Whitfield, deeming the requested amounts reasonable and compliant with the Bankruptcy Code. The awards are payable from the Plan's Pguy Account, with any shortfall covered by the Debtors' estate.

Bankruptcy LawERISAChapter 7 TrusteeFee ApplicationPlan AdministrationJurisdictionReasonable CompensationStatutory ConstructionDepartment of LaborFiduciary Duties
References
50
Case No. ADJ4140574 (VNO 0417628) ADJ3588068 (VNO 0472981)
Regular
Jun 03, 2013

KEVIN THOMPSON vs. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, TRISTAR RISK MANAGEMENT

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board awarded applicant Kevin Thompson an additional attorney's fee of $1,500 under Labor Code section 5801. This fee is for services rendered by his attorney in successfully defending against the defendant's petition for writ of review to the Court of Appeal. The Board disallowed the requested clerical fees as section 5801 applies only to attorney services. Additionally, the request for costs under Labor Code section 5811 was denied due to the lack of required itemization and supporting documentation.

Labor Code § 5801Attorney's feePetition for Writ of ReviewAppeals BoardSupplemental awardReasonable attorney's feeAppellate levelPenaltyClerical servicesLabor Code § 5811
References
12
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