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Case Law Database

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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 03, 1982

Cerrato v. Thurcon Construction Corp.

This case concerns a construction worker (plaintiff) who sustained serious injuries and sued 211 Thompson Corp. (owner) and Thurcon Construction Corp. (general contractor). Defendant 211 Thompson Corp. raised an affirmative defense of lack of personal jurisdiction due to improper service of process. After the Statute of Limitations had expired, plaintiff moved to strike this defense, while 211 cross-moved to dismiss the action as time-barred. Special Term referred the issue of service validity to a referee, but the plaintiff argued for a jury trial on this factual issue. The Appellate Division, Supreme Court, New York County, modified Special Term's order, directing a jury trial on the validity of the service, while otherwise affirming the original determination. The dissenting opinion argued that the right to a jury trial should not be conditioned on the stage of proceedings or the impact of dismissal on the Statute of Limitations, and furthermore, considered the question of authority to accept service as one of law, not fact.

Jury TrialService of ProcessPersonal JurisdictionStatute of LimitationsAffirmative DefenseAppellate ReviewCPLRProcedural LawConstruction AccidentsNew York Courts
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re the Report of the Special Grand Jury

This case involves five appeals challenging the procedures and evidence supporting a Special Grand Jury's reports, which recommended discipline or removal for employees of the Monroe County Department of Social Services. The Grand Jury was empanelled in 1978 to investigate the department's handling of child abuse cases. Although the County Court accepted the reports for filing, it sealed them pending appeal and later affirmed its decision. The appellate court, however, found significant procedural irregularities, including inadequate jury instructions and improper subcommittee formation, and determined that the evidence was insufficient to substantiate the misconduct charges against the appellants. Consequently, the County Court's orders were reversed, and the Grand Jury reports were ordered to be sealed.

Grand Jury ReportChild Abuse InvestigationMonroe County Department of Social ServicesPublic Servants MisconductProcedural IrregularitiesSufficiency of EvidenceGrand Jury InstructionsSealing ReportsCriminal Procedure LawAppellate Review
References
13
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 16, 1988

In re the Grand Jury Subpoenas Served Upon Doe

The Grand Jury of New York County issued subpoenas duces tecum to the law firm of John Doe, P. C., seeking various records. John Doe, P. C. moved to quash or modify these subpoenas, asserting attorney-client and attorney work product privileges. After an in camera review of 109 files, the court denied the attorney-client privilege claim for two files due to insufficient proof of confidentiality. For the work product privilege, the court applied the crime-fraud exception for specific subpoenaed records, citing an ongoing investigation into corruption in personal injury litigation. The court also narrowly construed the work product privilege. Consequently, the motion was granted for eight specific files found to contain protected attorney work product, while denied for the remaining files. The records not protected by privilege were ordered to be delivered to the District Attorney by August 18, 1988, following service of the decision on August 16, 1988.

attorney-client privilegework product privilegesubpoenas duces tecumGrand Jury investigationcrime-fraud exceptionin camera inspectionlegal ethicsconfidentialityevidence disclosuremotion to quash
References
12
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Application of United Electrical, Radio & M. Workers

This case addresses a motion to expunge a Grand Jury's "presentment" from court records and to remove its members from jury rolls due to alleged misconduct. The petitioners, including the United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America and the American Communications Association, argued the presentment violated grand jury secrecy, exceeded jurisdictional bounds, and infringed upon religious freedoms. The Grand Jury's report, concerning non-Communist affidavits filed by union officials, was widely disseminated and prompted the National Labor Relations Board to take actions against the unions, which were later judicially enjoined. District Judge Weinfeld ruled that the Grand Jury indeed overstepped its authority by issuing a condemnatory report without an indictment and breached secrecy protocols, specifically noting the improper public disclosure of union officials' names. The court also highlighted the inappropriateness of the Grand Jury's inquiries into witnesses' religious beliefs. Consequently, the judge granted the motion to expunge the controversial report but denied the request to strike the jurors' names, acknowledging their belief in acting within their authority.

Grand Jury PowersPresentment ExpungementJudicial ReviewSeparation of PowersFirst Amendment RightsFifth Amendment PrivilegeLabor LawTaft-Hartley ActNon-Communist AffidavitsFreedom of Religion
References
59
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Rodriguez v. State

This is an appeal from jury convictions for two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity, specifically bribery and aggravated theft. The Appellant, Albert Rodriguez, owner of Lamco, was found guilty of orchestrating a kickback scheme involving fraudulent invoices with the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) and bribing EPISD employees. The appellate court affirmed the conviction, addressing numerous legal issues raised by Rodriguez, including the sufficiency of accomplice witness testimony, the denial of severance for the criminal counts, issues with subpoenas, indictment defects, jury charge instructions, and the admissibility of evidence summaries. The court found no reversible error in the trial court's proceedings.

Criminal appealOrganized crimeBriberyAggravated theftFraudKickbacksAccomplice testimonySufficiency of evidenceJury chargeTrial procedure
References
91
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In Re an Application to Quash a Subpoena Duces Tecum in Grand Jury Proceedings

The New York Court of Appeals held that a hospital under Grand Jury investigation for alleged crimes against patients (e.g., "no coding") cannot assert physician-patient or social worker-client privileges, or the patient’s right to privacy, to quash subpoenas for medical records. The court reasoned that these privileges are intended to protect patients, not to shield potential criminals. Additionally, the conditional privilege for material prepared for litigation (CPLR 3101 [d]) does not apply to Grand Jury subpoenas. The decision affirmed the denial of motions to quash subpoenas related to patients Maria M. and Daisy S., emphasizing the broad investigative powers of the Grand Jury.

Grand JurySubpoena Duces TecumPhysician-Patient PrivilegeSocial Worker-Client PrivilegePatient PrivacyMaterial Prepared for LitigationHospital InvestigationMedicaid Fraud ControlCriminal ActivityNo Coding
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re Grand Jury Proceedings Special Investigation 1198/82

The Bureau of Community Services, an authorized child care agency, moved to quash a subpoena issued by the District Attorney for confidential records concerning three children believed to be victims of crimes, sought in a Grand Jury investigation. The Bureau argued these records were protected by various privileges, including social worker/client, attorney/client, physician/patient, and Social Services Law § 372. The District Attorney contended that the social worker/client privilege did not apply to child victims under CPLR 4508 (subd 3). The court, citing precedent from *Matter of Grand Jury Proceedings (Doe)*, ruled that evidentiary privileges, though important, should not obstruct legitimate Grand Jury investigations into criminal activity, especially when the Grand Jury operates in secrecy. Consequently, the motion to quash the subpoena was denied in all respects. The court did order the District Attorney to photocopy the subpoenaed materials and return the originals to the agency within five working days.

SubpoenaMotion to QuashConfidentialitySocial Worker-Client PrivilegeAttorney-Client PrivilegePhysician-Patient PrivilegeGrand Jury InvestigationChild VictimsSocial Services LawCPLR
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Doe v. People

This opinion addresses an application filed by an unnamed hospital, referred to as the 'Petitioner,' seeking to quash two Grand Jury subpoenas duces tecum. These subpoenas, issued in August 1982 by the Deputy Attorney-General for Medicaid fraud control, sought patient medical records, including 'progress notes' and 'mechanical ventilation flow sheets.' The hospital argued against disclosure based on patient privacy rights and the physician-patient privilege. The court, presided over by Justice George J. Balbach, denied the application, reaffirming that a hospital under investigation for potential crimes against its patients cannot assert these privileges to obstruct a Grand Jury investigation. The decision emphasized the Grand Jury's broad investigatory powers and the principle that privileges are intended to protect patients, not shield alleged wrongdoers.

Grand JurySubpoena Duces TecumPhysician-Patient PrivilegePatient PrivacyMedicaid Fraud ControlHospital RecordsConfidentialityQuash SubpoenaCriminal InvestigationStatutory Interpretation
References
9
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Marcus Joseph Roper v. Katherine Elizabeth Jolliffe

Justice Evans authored a dissenting opinion, arguing that Marcus Roper was unconstitutionally denied his right to a jury trial in a civil protective order proceeding initiated by Katherine Jolliffe. The majority concluded Roper did not have this right, but Justice Evans contends the Texas constitution guarantees it for actions analogous to those tried by jury in 1876. Roper had timely requested a jury trial, but the trial court denied it, ultimately issuing a two-year civil injunction against him. Historically, permanent injunction cases, even those involving women suing their husbands for assault, were tried by juries, thus establishing a precedent that the legislature cannot abrogate by statute. Therefore, the dissent concludes that the family code's silence on the judge-jury division for equitable issues should defer to the constitutional right for a jury to decide disputed factual issues, such as whether family violence occurred, and would reverse the trial court's order.

Jury Trial RightProtective OrderTexas ConstitutionFamily LawAbuse of DiscretionDissenting OpinionPermanent InjunctionFamily ViolenceStatutory InterpretationAppellate Review
References
45
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Cardenas v. Continental Insurance Co.

Lillie Cardenas appealed a workers' compensation case after a district court rendered a take-nothing judgment against her following a jury trial. The Texas Workers' Compensation Commission had determined her injury was not work-related and she lacked good cause for failing to provide timely notice. Cardenas contended that appellee Continental Insurance waived its right to complain that the injury was not work-related by failing to raise that issue in its notice of refused/disputed claim, and that the jury's consideration of the work-related injury issue tainted its finding on timely notice. The appellate court held that Cardenas herself waived her right to assert the waiver argument against Continental and that the submission of the first issue did not taint the jury's determination of the second issue. The judgment of the trial court was affirmed.

Workers' CompensationInjury ClaimTimely NoticeWaiverJury TrialDistrict Court AppealTexas Labor CodeGood CauseScope of EmploymentInsurance Carrier
References
3
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