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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 12, 2001

Claim of Oberson v. Bureau of Ferry Aviation & Transportation

The claimant was terminated from his employment as a marine oiler after a physical altercation with his supervisor in January 1993. He sought workers' compensation benefits, claiming a compensable psychological injury from the altercation. A Workers’ Compensation Law Judge disallowed the claim due to the claimant's failure to timely notify the employer of his injury. The Workers’ Compensation Board affirmed this decision, which was subsequently affirmed on appeal. Although the employer had actual knowledge of the altercation and termination, there was no indication they had actual knowledge of a psychological injury stemming from the altercation until 1999, approximately six years later. The Board's determination that the employer did not have timely notice and was prejudiced by the delay was supported by substantial evidence.

Workers' Compensation NoticePsychological Injury ClaimTimeliness of NoticeEmployer PrejudiceActual KnowledgeWorkplace AltercationEmployment TerminationWorkers' Compensation Board AffirmationAppellate ReviewStatutory Interpretation
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Milner v. Country Developers, Inc.

The Special Disability Fund appealed decisions by the Workmen’s Compensation Board which imposed liability on the Fund for a claimant's injuries. The Board found that the employer, Country Developers, continued to employ the claimant, a carpenter, with knowledge of his pre-existing permanent physical impairment, triggering liability under subdivision 8 of section 15 of the Workmen’s Compensation Law. The claimant suffered a fracture of the nose and a hip dislocation in 1964, having a history of three ruptured disc surgeries and other conditions. The appeal centered on whether the employer had sufficient knowledge of the claimant’s permanent condition. Testimony from the employer’s foreman, Mr. Pahlck, indicated awareness of the claimant's back issues, including wearing a back brace and being favored by co-workers. The court affirmed the Board’s decision, reiterating that employer knowledge is a question of fact for the Board, and its findings, if supported by substantial evidence, will not be disturbed.

Workers' Compensation LawSpecial Disability FundEmployer LiabilityPre-existing Permanent ImpairmentEmployer KnowledgeSubstantial EvidencePermanent Partial DisabilityFracture of NoseHip DislocationRuptured Discs
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Matter of Logan v. New York City Health & Hospital Corp.

The claimant, a medical surgery technician, initially reported a left knee injury after slipping on a wet floor on November 25, 2010. Nearly a year later, in September 2011, she filed a claim for additional injuries to her right knee, neck, back, and bilateral shoulders resulting from the same incident. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge initially disallowed these additional claims due to lack of timely written notice as per Workers’ Compensation Law § 18. However, both a Board panel and the full Workers’ Compensation Board subsequently excused the claimant's late notice, interpreting the statute to require employer knowledge of the accident, not each specific injury. The self-insured employer appealed, contending that "knowledge of the accident" should be construed as "knowledge of the injury," but the court affirmed the Board's decision, upholding the plain meaning and distinct statutory usage of "accident" and "injury."

Workers' CompensationNotice of InjuryTimely NoticeEmployer KnowledgeAccident vs. InjuryStatutory ConstructionPlain Meaning RuleLegislative IntentNew York LawAppellate Division
References
13
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Litwack v. Plaza Realty Investors, Inc.

This case concerns an appeal regarding an action for personal injuries allegedly caused by toxic mold in a plaintiff's apartment. The Supreme Court initially granted summary judgment to the defendants, dismissing the complaint, and these orders were subsequently affirmed on appeal. The central legal question revolved around whether the defendants' knowledge of a discolored, wet wall and a steam pipe leak constituted sufficient notice of a potential mold hazard. The majority concluded that such knowledge, as a matter of law, did not establish notice of potential mold growth. A dissenting opinion argued that the focus should be on whether defendants had notice of persistent water leaks, from which a hazardous mold condition was foreseeable, citing the plaintiff's repeated complaints and an expert's opinion.

Toxic MoldPersonal InjuryLandlord LiabilitySummary JudgmentConstructive NoticeWater DamageAppellate ReviewExpert WitnessPremises LiabilityEnvironmental Health
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 03, 2004

Claim of Scally v. Ravena Coeymans Selkirk Central School District

In this case, a claimant appealed a Workers’ Compensation Board decision regarding apportionment of her workers' compensation award. The claimant, who suffered a work-related left knee injury in 2002, had a pre-existing non-work-related injury to the same knee from 1986. While a WCLJ initially denied apportionment, the Board reversed, directing a 50/50 apportionment based on the premise that the prior injury would have resulted in a schedule loss of use award had it been work-related. The appellate court upheld the Board's determination, deferring to its interpretation that a non-work-related injury leading to a schedule loss of use constitutes a "disability in a compensation sense" for apportionment purposes. This decision was supported by medical expert testimony indicating a schedule loss of use from the prior surgery.

Workers' CompensationApportionmentKnee InjuryNon-work-related InjurySchedule Loss of UsePreexisting ConditionMedical Expert TestimonyBoard InterpretationJudicial ReviewAppellate Decision
References
13
Case No. ADJ10232171
Regular
Apr 10, 2017

HERMAN O'BERRY vs. WORLD LEAGUE OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL aka NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE EUROPE (NFL EUROPE), ST. LOUIS RAMS, FAIRMONT PREMIER INSURANCE COMPANY (TIG)

This case concerns a workers' compensation claim for cumulative injury filed by a former professional football player against his former employers and their insurer. The primary issue was the statute of limitations, specifically the date of injury under Labor Code Section 5412, which is when the employee first suffered disability and knew or should have known it was work-related. The Board granted reconsideration to clarify this date, finding that the applicant's filing of his claim application on December 17, 2015, was the earliest documented evidence of his knowledge of the connection between his employment and his cumulative injury, establishing this as the date of injury. The employer's exemption from providing notice under Section 3600.5(e) did not alter this determination regarding the applicant's actual knowledge.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardNFL EuropeSt. Louis RamsLabor Code section 5405Labor Code section 5412cumulative injurydate of injurystatute of limitationspetition for reconsiderationApplication for Adjudication of Claim
References
16
Case No. ADJ10425864, ADJ7159539
Regular
Dec 24, 2018

GHASSAN MOSRIE vs. CHURCH OF THE CHIMES, GUIDEONE INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinding a prior finding that the applicant's 2008 injury claim was barred by the statute of limitations. The Board determined that imputed knowledge from the applicant's attorney does not constitute actual knowledge for tolling purposes. The employer's failure to provide statutory notice of rights, coupled with the applicant's lack of actual knowledge, prejudiced the applicant. Therefore, the Board found the applicant's claim for the November 8, 2008 injury is not barred by the statute of limitations, deferring other issues.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationStatute of LimitationsTollingClaim FormNotice of Potential EligibilityWaiverMandatory Settlement ConferenceAffirmative DefenseActual Knowledge
References
6
Case No. ADJ8855485
Regular
Nov 07, 2019

IMELDA SOSA vs. BRAWLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, ATHENS ADMINISTRATORS, LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE, SELF-INSURED SCHOOLS OF CALIFORNIA

This case involves an employer's reconsideration request concerning a finding of cumulative trauma injury. The applicant was found to have sustained a cumulative trauma injury through June 13, 2011, resulting in 23% permanent disability and an award for indemnity and future medical treatment. The employer argued against compensable temporary disability for a single day's absence and questioned the applicant's knowledge of the cumulative trauma's industrial cause. The Board affirmed the original award, finding the applicant had knowledge of an industrial injury and suffered disability on June 13, 2011.

Cumulative trauma injuryDate of injuryLabor Code section 5412Compensable temporary disabilityPermanent disabilityIndustrial accident leaveEducation CodeWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationFindings Award and Order
References
2
Case No. ADJ10881718
Regular
Jul 19, 2019

WANDA JACKSON vs. CVS PHARMACY, INC., NEW HAMPSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

This case, *Jackson v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc.*, concerns the date of injury for a cumulative trauma claim under Labor Code section 5412. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied reconsideration, upholding the finding that the applicant did not know her disability was work-related until receiving medical advice. The applicant's belief that her pain was caused by work activities was insufficient without knowledge that it constituted a compensable cumulative injury. Therefore, the date of injury was determined to be when she gained this medical knowledge, not when she first experienced symptoms or had a general belief about their origin.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationLabor Code section 5412date of injurycumulative injuryoccupational diseasedisabilityknowledge of industrial origintemporary disabilitypermanent disability
References
2
Case No. ADJ9 088743
Regular
Jan 26, 2016

LEO ESTRELLA vs. MILWAUKEE BREWERS, SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS, ACE USA

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied Leo Estrella's petition for reconsideration, upholding the administrative law judge's finding that his cumulative injury claim against the Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants was time-barred by the one-year statute of limitations. The Board found that applicant knew or should have known of his right to file a claim more than one year prior to filing, precluding application of the five-year "new and further disability" statute. Applicant's contention that the statute of limitations was tolled due to lack of knowledge was rejected, as the evidence indicated he was aware of the industrial causation of his injuries by 2009. One commissioner dissented, arguing the date of injury should be 2013 and that defendants failed to prove applicant's knowledge of his rights or the statute of limitations.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardCumulative InjuryStatute of LimitationsLabor Code Section 5405Labor Code Section 5410New and Further DisabilityTollingDate of InjuryIndustrial CausationProfessional Baseball Player
References
14
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