CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of D'Addio v. Peter Annis, Inc.

A widow filed a claim for workers' compensation death benefits after her husband, who had an established claim for asbestosis, died. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) found a work-related death and ordered the employer's carrier to deposit funds into the aggregate trust fund (ATF) in July 2010. The carrier did not appeal this initial decision. After a subsequent WCLJ decision in December 2010 reiterated the ATF deposit, the carrier sought review, arguing the deposit was unwarranted. The Workers' Compensation Board denied the carrier's application as untimely. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, holding that the 30-day appeal period for the July 2010 decision had expired and the later WCLJ decision did not extend that timeframe. The court found no abuse of discretion by the Board.

Workers' CompensationUntimely ApplicationAggregate Trust FundDeath BenefitsAsbestosisOccupational DiseaseAppellate ReviewBoard DiscretionTimelinessAppeal Denial
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 08, 2014

Claim of Angela Page v. Liberty Central School District

The claimant, a school librarian, sought workers' compensation benefits in July 2004 for a disability from toxic mold exposure, leading to an established claim for hypersensitivity and awards for temporary total disability. In 2006, the claim was amended to include multiple chemical sensitivity, and awards for marked disability continued. A Workers’ Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) later classified the claimant with a permanent total disability in March 2010, but the Workers' Compensation Board rescinded this finding and referred the matter to an impartial medical specialist, Theodore Them. Them testified that multiple chemical sensitivity is not a medically recognized condition and that the claimant had no causally-related disability, which the Board credited in its December 2012 decision, finding no further causally-related disability and closing the case. The claimant's subsequent appeal of this decision was not perfected, and an application for reconsideration was denied. An April 2013 WCLJ decision to further develop the record on disability was challenged by the employer, who argued the December 2012 Board decision had resolved the issue. The Board panel agreed with the employer in January 2014, precluding further development of the record, a decision which this Court affirmed on appeal, stating the issue of causally-related disability had been decided and the claimant's remedy was a timely appeal of the prior Board decision.

References
2
Case No. 529937
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 23, 2020

Matter of Wolkiewicz v. Lincare Holdings Inc.

Claimant Julie Wolkiewicz was injured in June 2006 and filed for workers' compensation benefits. The employer and carrier (Lincare Holdings Inc.) sought reimbursement from the Special Disability Fund due to alleged preexisting physical impairments under Workers' Compensation Law § 15 (8) (d). Despite a pretrial conference statement purportedly reflecting an agreement for § 15 (8) (d) to apply, the Special Funds Group later moved to discharge the Fund, arguing that the carrier failed to submit medical evidence by the July 1, 2010 statutory cut-off. The Workers' Compensation Board agreed, disavowing any prior precedent suggesting otherwise, and concluded that the carrier had not established a viable claim for reimbursement. The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the Board's decision, rejecting the carrier's arguments regarding the preclusive effect of the pretrial conference statement and promissory estoppel, emphasizing the carrier's failure to submit timely medical evidence.

Workers' Compensation LawSpecial Disability FundReimbursement ClaimPretrial ConferenceMedical Evidence DeadlineStatutory ComplianceAppellate ReviewBoard PrecedentArbitrary and CapriciousPromissory Estoppel
References
14
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

the Claim of Brigandi v. Town & Country Linoleum & Carpet

This case involves an appeal by an employer and its compensation carrier against decisions made by the Workers’ Compensation Board. The decedent, a carpet layer, died from cardiac arrest during work, with an autopsy revealing underlying coronary atherosclerotic disease. His widow was awarded death benefits. The employer’s carrier sought reimbursement from the Special Disability Fund under Workers’ Compensation Law § 15 (8), asserting a preexisting permanent physical impairment. However, the Board determined that there was no evidence that the decedent’s heart condition hindered his job potential before his death, thus releasing the Special Disability Fund from liability and holding the compensation carrier responsible. The employer's subsequent application for reconsideration was denied by the Board, leading to these appeals. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decisions, concluding that the Board rationally found no proof that the decedent's heart disease impaired his job potential, a necessary condition for reimbursement under WCL § 15 (8) (d).

Special Disability FundPreexisting Permanent ImpairmentCardiac ArrestCoronary Atherosclerotic DiseaseDeath Benefits ClaimEmployer ReimbursementCarrier LiabilityBoard Decision ReviewAppellate AffirmationMedical Evidence Interpretation
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 15, 1998

Claim of Baldo v. Daily News

This case involves an appeal from a Workers' Compensation Board decision setting the date of disablement for claimant Joseph Baldo, a former newspaper pressman who suffered from work-related lung cancer, as July 29, 1992. Baldo's widow filed for death benefits after his passing in 1994, leading to a dispute between workers' compensation carriers over liability. The appealing carrier contended that the disablement date should be earlier, citing diagnoses in 1990 or 1991. However, the court affirmed the Board's decision, emphasizing the Board's discretion in selecting a disablement date and finding no medical evidence to establish disability prior to July 29, 1992, even though earlier diagnoses existed.

Workers' Compensation LawLung CancerDate of DisablementAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceCarrier ResponsibilityOccupational DiseaseMedical EvidenceClaimant DisabilityBoard Discretion
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 22, 2002

Claim of Ostuni v. Town of Ramapo

Claimant appealed from a decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board, filed July 22, 2002, which denied her application for reconsideration and/or full Board review of a prior decision. The prior decision had ruled that claimant did not sustain a work-related injury, citing insufficient credible evidence. The appellate court affirmed the Board's denial, finding that the Board fully considered all evidence and no new, previously unavailable evidence was offered to warrant altering its decision. Furthermore, the court found substantial evidence supported the Board’s September 2001 decision that claimant’s injuries were not compensable, as her recurring lower back pain stemmed from injuries predating or following the alleged November 1990 incident, rather than the incident itself. The court also upheld the Board's rejection of contrary testimony as not credible.

Workers' CompensationBack InjuryWork-Related InjuryReconsiderationBoard ReviewAppellate ReviewAbuse of DiscretionArbitrary and CapriciousSubstantial EvidenceMedical Testimony
References
5
Case No. WCB No. G0699039
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 23, 2011

HARRIS, JEFFREY T. v. SCHMIDT, ASHLEY E.

Leo P. DiLuzio sustained work-related injuries to his neck, back, and left knee on July 19, 2005. He was classified with a permanent partial disability and received an additional 25 weeks of Schedule Loss of Use (SLU) for his left knee, making it a 50% SLU. The self-insured employer argued that the 525-week cap on indemnity benefits for concurrent SLU and PPD awards under Workers' Compensation Law § 15(3)(w) should apply, despite the pre-July 26, 2010 accident date. The Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) ruled that the claimant was entitled to both SLU and PPD awards without the 525-week cap. The Board Panel affirmed the WCLJ's decision, referencing Matter of Sanchez and clarifying that the 525-week cap in § 15(3)(w) is applicable only to accidents occurring on or after July 26, 2010.

Workers' CompensationPermanent Partial DisabilitySchedule Loss of UseIndemnity BenefitsConcurrent AwardsStatutory InterpretationAccident DateLegislative AmendmentSection 15(3)(w)Section 15(3)(v)
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Matter of Connolly v. Consolidated Edison

In 1999, a claimant employed by Consolidated Edison, a self-insured employer, established a claim for occupational diseases, and the employer was initially granted reimbursement from the Special Disability Fund. After the claimant's death in 2011, his widow filed for death benefits, leading to a Workers’ Compensation Board decision establishing the death claim but denying the employer's subsequent reimbursement request for these benefits. The Board found the employer's claim for reimbursement from the Special Disability Fund for death benefits to be time-barred, having been made after the July 1, 2010 statutory deadline under Workers’ Compensation Law § 15 (8) (h) (2) (A). On appeal, the court affirmed this decision, clarifying that a claim for death benefits reimbursement is a "separate and distinct" new claim, subject to the July 1, 2010, filing cut-off, regardless of the original disablement date. The ruling emphasizes the Legislature's intent to close the Special Disability Fund to new claims after the specified date.

Workers' Compensation LawSpecial Disability FundReimbursement ClaimDeath BenefitsTime-Barred ClaimOccupational DiseaseAsbestosisSelf-insured EmployerStatutory InterpretationAppellate Review
References
8
Case No. ADJ7781989; ADJ8262771
Regular
Oct 03, 2013

MIRIAN GARCIA vs. COOPER COLD FOODS, INC., ILLINOIS MIDWEST INSURANCE AGENCY as administrator for STAR INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) is granting reconsideration of its own prior decision and rescinding a July 23, 2013 decision that had overturned a prior finding of 2% permanent disability for applicant's right knee injury. The WCAB determined that its August 9, 2012 order granting reconsideration was improvidently granted because the applicant had already filed a successive and improper petition for reconsideration. Consequently, the prior order and the subsequent rescinded decision are vacated, and the applicant's petition for reconsideration is dismissed.

WCABReconsiderationPetition for ReconsiderationFindings and AwardAdministrative Law JudgePermanent DisabilityIndustrial InjurySuccessive PetitionImprovidently GrantedVacated
References
4
Case No. ADJ1210556 (AGO 0018589)
Regular
Oct 10, 2008

EDWIN MILLER vs. KEEBLER COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) dismissed the defendant's petition for removal and granted reconsideration of the WCJ's prior decisions regarding medical mileage and penalties. The Board found the WCJ failed to properly consider statutory factors in determining a "reasonable geographic area" for the applicant's medical treatment. Consequently, the WCAB rescinded the WCJ's decisions and returned the case to the trial level for further proceedings and a new decision addressing all outstanding issues, including the definition of a reasonable geographic area for treatment.

WCABPetition for RemovalPetition for ReconsiderationMedical MileageReasonable Geographic AreaLabor Code Section 4600Administrative Director Rule 9780(h)WCJBoltonRamirez
References
2
Showing 1-10 of 23,495 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational