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

Case No. 03-cv-4134
Regular Panel Decision

Infantolino v. Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry

Anthony Infantolino sued the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry (JIB) and Thomas Bush, alleging unlawful retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and New York State/City laws. JIB moved for summary judgment, arguing procedural defects and substantive failures, including that it was not Infantolino's employer. The court found JIB to be a 'joint labor-management committee' and thus a 'covered entity' under the ADA, refuting the employer argument. The court denied summary judgment regarding the retaliation claims, finding genuine issues of fact as to whether JIB's stated reasons for its actions were pretexts for impermissible retaliation. However, the motion for summary judgment was granted in part, denying punitive and compensatory damages for the ADA retaliation claim and punitive damages for the New York State Human Rights Law claim, but allowing punitive damages for the New York City Human Rights Law claim.

ADA RetaliationDisability DiscriminationSummary JudgmentBurden-Shifting FrameworkCausal ConnectionPretextPunitive DamagesCompensatory DamagesNew York City Human Rights LawNew York State Human Rights Law
References
36
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Matter of Brady v. Northeast Riggers & Erectors

In March 2012, the claimant, a union construction laborer, sustained a work-related back and abdomen injury. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) initially found the claimant attached to the labor market but deemed a total industrial disability finding premature because permanent disability had not yet been classified. The Workers’ Compensation Board upheld this determination. The claimant appealed, arguing the Board erred in declining to classify him with a temporary total industrial disability. The Court affirmed the Board's decision, asserting that a classification of temporary total industrial disability cannot be made without a prior determination of permanency.

Workers' CompensationIndustrial DisabilityPermanent DisabilityTemporary DisabilityLabor MarketAppellate DivisionBoard DecisionPremature DeterminationGainful EmploymentWork History
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Yanarella v. IBM Corp.

Claimant, a computer programmer, alleged total industrial disability due to multiple chemical sensitivities incurred during her work in a manufacturing environment. The Workers’ Compensation Board's medical examiner and an independent rehabilitation report both concluded she was only permanently partially disabled and remained reasonably employable. The Workers’ Compensation Law Judge classified her as permanently partially disabled, a finding which the Board affirmed. The claimant appealed this decision, raising procedural arguments regarding denied cross-examination and hearings, but the court found these issues were waived or lacked merit as they were not properly raised or requested. Ultimately, the court affirmed the Board's decision, citing substantial medical evidence supporting the conclusion that the claimant was not totally industrially disabled.

chemical sensitivitiesindustrial disabilitycomputer programmerpermanent partial disabilitymedical evidencecross-examination waiverappellate reviewWorkers' Compensation Boardvocational assessmentdue process
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Rudolph v. Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry

Plaintiff Paul Rudolph sought relief against the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry (JIB) and the Pension Fund under ERISA for the denial of his disability pension. Rudolph, who suffered from coronary artery disease, diabetes, and hypertension, was terminated from JIB in 1998 due to his inability to perform work functions. The Pension Committee denied his application and subsequent appeal for disability benefits, concluding that he was not permanently incapacitated to the extent he could no longer secure gainful employment in the Electrical Industry or any other line of business. The court reviewed the Pension Committee's decision under the arbitrary and capricious standard, finding it was reasonable and supported by medical evidence. Ultimately, the defendant's motion for summary judgment was granted, affirming the denial of benefits.

ERISADisability PensionSummary JudgmentArbitrary and Capricious StandardDe Novo ReviewFiduciary DutyEmployee BenefitsPlan AdministrationMedical EvidencePension Committee
References
34
Case No. 2015-01-0199
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 10, 2016

Tolbert, Christoper v. MPW Industrial Services at Volkswagen

This Expedited Hearing Order addresses Christopher Wade Tolbert's request for additional temporary disability benefits following a work-related injury to his head, neck, and back on June 29, 2015, while employed by MPW Industrial Services at Volkswagen. The central issues were Mr. Tolbert's entitlement to benefits and the correct weekly compensation rate. The Court found Mr. Tolbert was entitled to temporary total disability benefits from June 30, 2015, to July 9, 2015, and temporary partial disability benefits from July 10, 2015, to August 3, 2015, due to the employer's failure to provide accommodated work. Furthermore, he was awarded an additional $7.93 per week from August 4, 2015, to October 14, 2015, to correct an underpayment, and temporary partial disability benefits from November 11, 2015, onwards, based on ongoing medical restrictions from Dr. Stephen Dreskin. The Court established his correct weekly compensation rate as $261.28.

Workers' CompensationTemporary Disability BenefitsExpedited HearingWage StatementCompensation RateMedical TreatmentModified DutyEmployer AccommodationPain ManagementNeck Injury
References
7
Case No. 2019-08-0544
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 01, 2022

Braden, Tawan v. Mohawk Industries, Inc.

The Appeals Board affirmed the trial court's order in favor of employee Tawan Braden, who suffered a right ankle injury while working for Mohawk Industries, Inc. The trial court determined a subsequent incident, which caused a 'pop' and increased ankle symptoms, was a direct and natural consequence of the initial compensable work injury. Consequently, the employee was found to be permanently and totally disabled, and the employer's claims for alleged overpayment of temporary disability benefits were denied. The Appeals Board concluded that the employee's actions leading to the subsequent injury were not negligent, thus upholding the causal link between the original work injury and the resulting peroneal tendon tear and permanent disability.

Workers' CompensationAnkle InjuryPermanent Total DisabilityDirect and Natural Consequence RuleVocational Expert TestimonyTemporary Disability BenefitsCausal RelationAppellate ReviewMedical EvidenceEmployment Law
References
17
Case No. 2015-07-0203
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 10, 2016

Hall, Steven v. Mid-South Industrial, Inc.

Steven Hall, a 55-year-old millwright, filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits after sustaining a left knee injury at work in September 2014. His employer, Mid-South-Industrial, Inc., denied the claim, attributing it to a pre-existing condition and subsequently terminating Hall for attendance issues. The court considered conflicting medical opinions from Dr. David Pearce, Dr. Bradford Wright, and Dr. Samuel Chung regarding the injury's causation and impairment. Judge Allen Phillips accredited Dr. Wright's opinion, determining the injury was compensable and arose primarily out of Hall's employment. The judge also ruled that Mid-South failed to provide adequate proof that Hall's termination was for cause, entitling him to temporary partial disability benefits. Hall was awarded past and future medical benefits, temporary total and partial disability, and permanent partial disability based on a one percent impairment.

Knee InjuryMeniscus TearDisability BenefitsMedical BenefitsCausationPermanent Partial ImpairmentTemporary Total DisabilityTemporary Partial DisabilityEmployment TerminationTennessee Workers' Compensation Law
References
11
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Kowalchyk v. Wade Lupe Construction Co.

The claimant, a carpenter over 60 with an 11th-grade education, fractured his back and wrist in August 1985 while on a construction jobsite. Initially, his physician, Dr. James Slavin, considered him totally disabled, and he received total disability benefits from his employer's carrier. However, in December 1985, the employer reduced benefits to a partial disability rate, relying on a report from their consultant, Dr. Edward Pasquarella. The claimant subsequently filed for compensation, leading to a determination by the Workers’ Compensation Law Judge and ultimately the Workers’ Compensation Board that he had a total industrial disability. The employer appealed this decision, arguing it lacked substantial evidence. The court affirmed the Board's decision, considering the claimant’s physical limitations, age, work experience, and limited education, concluding he had no marketable skills outside carpentry.

Workers' CompensationTotal Industrial DisabilityPartial DisabilityMedical Testimony ConflictEarning Capacity AssessmentAppellate ReviewVocational RehabilitationAge & Education FactorsCarpenter InjuryScaffold Accident
References
3
Case No. 03-94-00339-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 16, 1995

Charlie Franks and Industrial Indemnity Insurance Company v. Sematech, Inc., F/D/B/A Semi Conductor Manufacturing Technology Initiative And Burle Industries, Inc.

This case from the Texas Court of Appeals addresses an injured employee's third-party liability claim and an insurance carrier's derivative subrogation rights under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act. Charlie Franks was injured, and the workers' compensation carrier, Industrial Indemnity Insurance Company, paid benefits and subsequently filed a subrogation lawsuit. Franks intervened with his own negligence claim, but his intervention was dismissed due to the two-year statute of limitations. Consequently, the trial court granted summary judgment against Industrial Indemnity, ruling its derivative subrogation claim moot as Franks's underlying rights could not be established. The appellate court affirmed both decisions, emphasizing that Industrial Indemnity's initial suit did not assert Franks's full third-party liability cause of action for his joint benefit.

Workers' CompensationSubrogationStatute of LimitationsThird-Party LiabilitySummary JudgmentPlea in InterventionAppellate ReviewTexas LawInsurance Carrier RightsDerivative Claim
References
17
Case No. 2015-01-0199
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 24, 2016

Tolbert, Christopher v. MPW Industrial Services, Inc., et al.

In this interlocutory appeal, the employee suffered multiple injuries when he fell from a ladder while working as an industrial cleaner. Although the employer provided initial medical care, it did not provide a panel of physicians or pay temporary disability benefits until the employee filed a petition for benefit determination. Following an expedited hearing, the trial court ordered temporary disability benefits at an increased compensation rate and for additional periods of time. The employer has appealed, contending that the expedited hearing should not have been held and, in any event, temporary disability benefits should not have been awarded after the employee attained maximum medical improvement. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand the case.

Temporary Disability BenefitsMaximum Medical Improvement (MMI)Expedited Hearing ProcedureInterlocutory AppealEmployer Medical Care ObligationPhysician Panel SelectionPain Management TreatmentAppellate Standard of ReviewStipulation of FactsJudicial Discretion
References
11
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