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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
Nov 04, 1999

Claim of Decker v. Kings Park Industries, Inc.

The claimant, an operating engineer, sought workers' compensation benefits for a 27.9% binaural hearing loss allegedly sustained during his employment with Kings Park Industries. The Workers' Compensation Board initially found the claimant had removed himself from harmful noise exposure. However, in an amended decision, the Board ruled there was insufficient credible medical evidence to establish a causal relationship between the claimant's hearing loss and his employment, subsequently denying his claim for benefits. Both the carrier and the claimant appealed this amended decision. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's findings regarding both the claimant's removal from noise exposure and the lack of causal relationship evidence, thereby upholding the denial of benefits.

Occupational Hearing LossWorkers' Compensation Law § 49-bbCausal RelationshipMedical Evidence RequirementsHarmful Noise ExposureWorkers' Compensation Board DecisionsAppellate ReviewDenial of BenefitsPrima Facie Medical EvidencePhysician Testimony Preclusion
References
7
Case No. 17 NY3d 702
Regular Panel Decision

Ovadia v. Office of the Industrial Board of Appeals

The New York Court of Appeals addressed whether a general contractor, HOD Construction Corp., acted as a joint employer of its subcontractor Well Built Construction Corp.'s masonry workers, thereby owing them unpaid wages. The lower courts had found joint employment, but the Court of Appeals reversed, holding that the standard contractor/subcontractor relationship during the bulk of the project did not establish joint employment under the Labor Law. The Court determined that factors relied upon by the Board were common in construction and did not indicate direct control or functional supervision by HOD over Well Built's employees. However, the case was remitted to the Industrial Board of Appeals for a determination on whether HOD's owner made an enforceable promise to pay the workers for a specific six-day period after the subcontractor abandoned the project, which could establish an employment relationship for that limited time.

Joint EmploymentSubcontractor LiabilityUnpaid WagesGeneral Contractor ResponsibilityLabor LawEconomic Reality TestAppellate ReviewRemittalConstruction IndustryWorkers' Rights
References
13
Case No. 15 Civ. 7543 (NSR)
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 22, 2017

Safe Step Walk in Tub Co. v. CKH Industries, Inc.

Plaintiff Safe Step Walk In Tub Co. sued Defendant CKH Industries, Inc. for non-payment of marketing fees. CKH counter-claimed, alleging violations of franchise laws, breach of agreements, unfair business practices, and fraud. Safe Step moved to dismiss CKH’s counter-claims. The court granted in part and denied in part the motion. It determined that the relationship between the parties could plausibly constitute a franchisor-franchisee relationship under the FTC Rule and various state laws, allowing certain counter-claims to proceed. However, claims under New York and Rhode Island's "Little FTC" Acts, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unfair competition were dismissed. The court also held that Tennessee law governs the contract disputes, while state franchise laws apply where Defendant's franchises are located. Additionally, the court found that oral modifications and part performance could sustain certain contract claims despite written-only modification clauses.

Franchise LawBreach of ContractUnfair CompetitionFraudMotion to DismissChoice of LawFederal Trade Commission ActState Franchise ActsPromissory EstoppelUnjust Enrichment
References
87
Case No. 2015 NY Slip Op 02209 [126 AD3d 575]
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 19, 2015

Matter of Exceed Contr. Corp. v. Industrial Bd. of Appeals

The Appellate Division, First Department, confirmed the determination of the Industrial Board of Appeals (IBA) that Exceed Contracting Corp. was an 'employer' within the meaning of Labor Law § 190 (3). Petitioners challenged the IBA's decision, which had affirmed the Commissioner of Labor's orders for them to pay unpaid wages. The court found substantial evidence supported the IBA's findings that Exceed's vice president controlled claimants' work and that a purported subcontractor acted as Exceed's agent, establishing an employer-employee relationship. Consequently, the petition brought pursuant to CPLR article 78 was denied, and the proceeding dismissed.

Unpaid wagesEmployer determinationLabor LawSubcontractor liabilityCredibility findingsCPLR Article 78Appellate reviewIndustrial Board of AppealsCommissioner of LaborDrywall subcontractor
References
6
Case No. 71 Civ. 2381
Regular Panel Decision
May 27, 1971

Botany Industries, Inc. v. New York Joint Board, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America

Botany Industries, Inc., an employer, sought to vacate a labor arbitration award, while the New York Joint Board, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, the union, sought its confirmation and enforcement. The dispute arose from a 1966 agreement between Botany and the Joint Board, which restricted Botany from doing business with non-union manufacturers of boys', students', and junior clothing and from licensing its 'Botany' trademark under similar conditions. Botany argued these provisions constituted an illegal 'hot cargo' agreement under section 8(e) of the Labor Management Relations Act. The union contended the agreement was protected by the 'garment industry exemption' or was a 'work preservation clause.' The court, presided over by Chief Judge Edelstein, found it had jurisdiction to review the award. It determined Botany did not fall under the garment industry exemption, nor was the agreement a valid work preservation clause. Consequently, the court held the agreement void and unenforceable, thereby vacating Arbitrator Gray's award.

Labor LawArbitration AwardHot Cargo ClauseGarment Industry ExemptionCollective Bargaining AgreementJudicial ReviewUnfair Labor PracticeUnion AgreementContract EnforcementTrademark Licensing
References
40
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Salomon v. Adderley Industries, Inc.

Plaintiffs Geordany J. Salomon, Donielle Lewis, Dwight Edghill, and Shanroy Powell sought to amend their complaint against Adderley Industries, Inc. to include American Communications Industries, Inc. and several individuals (Lawrence Presser, Joseph Misseri, Vincent Cestaro) as additional defendants. They also requested to add a new claim under New York Labor Law Section 195. Judge Paul A. Crotty of the Southern District of New York reviewed the motion, applying Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 15(a) and 16(b). The court granted the motion to add the new corporate and individual defendants, finding that the plaintiffs were diligent in seeking the amendment after new information emerged during discovery and that the proposed claims of employer status were plausible under the FLSA and NYLL. However, the request to add the NYLL § 195 claim was denied because the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate sufficient good cause for its late inclusion.

Amendment of PleadingsJoinder of PartiesEmployer LiabilityFair Labor Standards ActNew York Labor LawWage and Hour ClaimsDiscoveryGood Cause StandardUndue DelayFutility of Amendment
References
36
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Textile Workers Pension Fund v. Findlay Industries, Inc.

The Textile Workers Pension Fund sued Findlay Industries Inc. for alleged unpaid contributions related to vacation and holiday pay, seeking back contributions, liquidated damages, and injunctive relief. Findlay Industries Inc. maintained that its collective bargaining agreements with four local unions only required contributions for 'hours worked,' not for vacation or holiday pay. The court found that Findlay had consistently contributed based on 'hours worked' since 1973, and the Fund had knowingly accepted this interpretation for many years. Despite previous audits and demands, the Fund's claims for additional contributions were rejected, and the court ruled that the collective bargaining agreements required contributions only for 'hours worked.' Consequently, all claims by the plaintiff Fund were dismissed on the merits.

Pension Fund DisputeCollective Bargaining AgreementHours WorkedVacation PayHoliday PayERISALMRAContract InterpretationEmployer ContributionsTrust Fund
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Erie County Industrial Development Agency v. Roberts

This CPLR article 78 proceeding addresses whether the prevailing wage requirement of Labor Law § 220 applies to private construction projects financed by industrial development agencies using tax-exempt bonds. The petitioners, Quo Vadis Editions, Inc. and Erie County Industrial Development Agency, challenged the Commissioner of Labor's determination that such projects constitute "public works." Special Term ruled against the Commissioner, prohibiting the application of the prevailing wage requirement. The appellate court affirmed Special Term's decision, concluding that these projects are not "public works" because their fundamental purpose is private, with the private developer retaining economic ownership and benefits, despite the agency's formal title for financing mechanisms.

Prevailing WageIndustrial Development AgenciesTax-Exempt BondsPublic Works DoctrineLabor LawGovernmental FunctionPrivate DevelopmentDeclaratory ReliefStatutory InterpretationEconomic Development Incentives
References
9
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
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