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

Case No. 2021 NY Slip Op 07401
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 23, 2021

Matter of Carola B.-M. v. New York State Off. of Temporary & Disability Assistance

Petitioners Carola B.-M. and Tiara M. challenged the denial of their supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Orleans County Department of Social Services. The benefits were denied because they were deemed ineligible college students. The Appellate Division, Fourth Department, reversed this determination, holding that participation in the Adult Career and Continuing Education Services, Vocational Rehabilitation program (ACCES-VR) qualifies as a Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) program. This status exempts the students from certain SNAP eligibility requirements. The court found that the original determination was based on an unreasonable interpretation of relevant regulations, annulled the decision, granted the petition, and remitted the case for a calculation of retroactive benefits.

SNAP benefitscollege student eligibilityJob Training Partnership ActACCES-VRvocational rehabilitationCPLR article 78regulatory interpretationpublic assistancefood stampsAppellate Division
References
28
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Brownley v. Doar

Doris Brownley and Janee Nelson, single mothers receiving Safety Net Assistance (SNA), sought a preliminary injunction to prevent their evictions, arguing the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) provided inadequate shelter allowances. They contended that Social Services Law § 159 incorporates the adequacy requirements of § 350 (1) (a) for families with children. The court denied OTDA's cross-motion to dismiss, ruling that plaintiffs had standing and were not required to exhaust administrative remedies due to the futility and risk of irreparable harm. Finding a likelihood of success on the merits, irreparable harm including potential homelessness and foster care for children, and a favorable balance of equities, the court granted the preliminary injunction, allowing the plaintiffs and their children to remain in their homes.

Shelter allowanceSafety Net AssistancePreliminary injunctionEviction preventionSocial Services LawHousing inadequacyPublic assistanceFamilies with childrenStandingAdministrative remedies
References
23
Case No. 5674395Z
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 01, 2011

Baines v. Berlin

Mashon Baines, a homeless and disabled mother of three, initiated a CPLR article 78 proceeding to challenge the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance's August 31, 2011 decision to discontinue her temporary housing assistance. This decision stemmed from an alleged altercation with a shelter director, Marilyn Gonzalez, during a fire drill, leading to Baines's arrest. Baines argued that her due process rights were violated because the discontinuance notice cited only the assault on Ms. Gonzalez, while the administrative decision was based on multiple uncharged wrongdoings and failed to adequately consider video evidence. The court found that respondents failed to adequately apprise Baines of all charges, thereby violating her due process rights, and consequently annulled the August 31, 2011 fair hearing decision. The court also granted Baines's request for attorneys' fees, costs, and disbursements.

Due ProcessAdministrative HearingHomeless AssistanceShelter BenefitsDiscontinuance of BenefitsNotice RequirementsCPLR Article 78Judicial ReviewAttorneys' FeesSelf-Incrimination
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Canty v. Office of Counsel

The petitioner, an inmate at Southport Correctional Facility, initiated a CPLR article 78 proceeding to challenge the denial of his Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request. He sought accident reports of correction officers injured during a riot at Auburn Correctional Facility. The respondent, Department of Correctional Services, argued that the documents were exempt under privacy and confidentiality statutes, including Public Officers Law and Civil Rights Law. The court granted the petition in part, ordering the production of the upper portion of the accident/injury reports for Correction Officers Peter Kuc, Richard Knight, and Jeffrey W. Claflin, with specific redactions for personal information. However, the court denied access to the lower, medical portion of these reports and workers' compensation benefit election forms, deeming them exempt under various statutes including HIPAA and Public Health Law.

FOILCPLR Article 78Government RecordsPrivacyPublic Officers LawCivil Rights LawCorrection OfficersAccident ReportsInmate PetitionerRedaction
References
18
Case No. SFO 0499592, SFO 0499593
Regular
Jan 07, 2008

Hamid Khazaeli vs. SYSMASTER CORPORATION, GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY

This case concerns an applicant's petition for reconsideration after the denial of his request to change venue to San Jose. The applicant, now representing himself, argued that the venue change was necessary for him to receive adequate assistance due to his employment in San Jose. The Appeals Board denied reconsideration, upholding the prior decision which found the employer's reasons for maintaining venue in Oakland (location of witnesses and employer) outweighed the applicant's convenience. The Board noted that the applicant could still seek general assistance from Information and Assistance officers at the San Jose office regardless of venue.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardRemovalReconsiderationChange of VenueSan JoseOaklandApplicant's RepresentationIndustrial InjuryCumulative TraumaBack Injury
References
0
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Parks v. Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance

Stephanie Parks filed a race discrimination lawsuit against her former employer, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), under Title VII and the New York State Human Rights Law. OTDA moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, arguing it was filed after Title VII's 90-day statute of limitations. The plaintiff received her EEOC right-to-sue letter around December 26, 2008, setting a March 26, 2009 deadline. While the complaint was formally filed on March 30, 2009, the court found it was timely, having been initially submitted to the Clerk on March 17, 2009, and returned only for a minor cover sheet correction. Citing rules against rejecting filings for mere form issues, the court denied the defendant's motion to dismiss, deeming the initial submission date as the filing date.

Race DiscriminationTitle VIIStatute of LimitationsSubject Matter JurisdictionTimeliness of FilingEEOC Right-to-SueFederal Rules of Civil ProcedureClerk's ErrorEmployment DiscriminationMotion to Dismiss
References
18
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Steen v. Governor's Office of Employee Relations

Petitioners, employed as Recreation Workers and Therapists at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, were assigned new duties as "Treatment Plan Coordinators" under the "Buffalo Model" program. These new responsibilities included transcribing patient information, conducting patient interviews, entering data into worksheets, and performing 90-day progress reviews. Believing these tasks constituted out-of-title work typically performed by higher-grade Treatment Team Leaders, petitioners filed administrative grievances, which were consistently denied by the Governor's Office of Employee Relations. Subsequently, petitioners commenced a CPLR article 78 proceeding, but the Supreme Court dismissed their application, upholding the administrative determination. On appeal, the higher court found no rational basis for the administrative conclusion that the duties were a logical extension of petitioners' original roles, determining that the work was indeed out-of-title. Consequently, the judgment of the Supreme Court was reversed, the administrative determination annulled, and the petition granted.

Out-of-title workGrievancePosition classificationAdministrative determinationJudicial reviewAlbany CountyState Office of Mental HealthPilgrim Psychiatric CenterTreatment Plan CoordinatorsRecreation Worker
References
3
Case No. 2015 NY Slip Op 07262
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 07, 2015

Westchester County Correction Superior Officers Ass'n v. County of Westchester

The case involves an action brought by the Westchester County Correction Superior Officers Association and several retired correction officers against the County of Westchester. The plaintiffs sought damages for an alleged breach of a collective bargaining agreement, claiming the county failed to provide benefits equivalent to Workers' Compensation Law for permanent disability. The Supreme Court, Westchester County, initially denied the defendants' motion to dismiss but later granted their motion for summary judgment, dismissing the complaint. The Supreme Court also denied the plaintiffs' cross-motion to amend their complaint. On appeal, the Appellate Division, Second Department, affirmed the Supreme Court's decision, concluding that no provision in the collective bargaining agreement mandated such payments and that the proposed amendment to the complaint lacked merit.

Collective Bargaining AgreementBreach of ContractSummary JudgmentWorkers' Compensation BenefitsLoss of Earning CapacityPermanent DisabilityLeave to Amend ComplaintAppellate ReviewAffirmationJudiciary Law
References
2
Case No. 2020 NY Slip Op 00653 [179 AD3d 1412]
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 30, 2020

Matter of James v. Home Comfort Assistance, Inc.

Claimant Christina James sought workers' compensation benefits after sustaining a work-related ankle injury. The Workers' Compensation Law Judge established an employer-employee relationship and awarded benefits. Home Comfort Assistance, Inc. appealed this decision to the Workers' Compensation Board, but their application for review was denied due to incompleteness; specifically, referring to attached pages for the "Basis for Appeal" instead of providing the information directly on the form RB-89. Home Comfort then appealed the Board's denial to the Appellate Division, Third Department. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, ruling that the Board acted within its discretion by refusing to consider an application that did not fully comply with 12 NYCRR 300.13 (b) (1).

Workers' CompensationAppellate ReviewIncomplete ApplicationForm RB-89Administrative ReviewDiscretionary AuthorityProcedural ComplianceThird DepartmentEmployer-Employee RelationshipJurisdictional Defect
References
8
Case No. ADJ7630224
Regular
Nov 29, 2012

TINA SPERBER vs. LAW OFFICES OF LISA M. PACIONE

This case involves Tina Sperber's workers' compensation claim against her employer, Law Offices of Lisa M. Pacione. The applicant, a legal assistant, sustained an injury while investigating a property related to a case, claiming implied authorization. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied reconsideration, upholding the judge's finding that the applicant was not a credible witness regarding her authority. The Board agreed that the applicant lacked permission for the investigation and that the information gathered provided no benefit to the defendant.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardDenying ReconsiderationLegal AssistantLaw OfficesInvestigationImplied AuthorizationCredibilityBenefit to DefendantFamily Law ProceedingsAdministrative Law Judge
References
2
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