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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

Claim of Kenney v. Walsh Construction Co.

This Per Curiam decision addresses appeals concerning whether employers and their carriers are entitled to credit for lump-sum settlements in reopened workers' compensation cases. The cases of Kenney v. Walsh Construction Co. and Yurivich v. Sans Souci Nursing Home both involve claimants who received lump-sum awards for partial disabilities but later experienced worsening conditions, leading to reopened cases and increased awards. The Workmen’s Compensation Board denied credit to the carriers for the original lump-sum settlements, a decision affirmed by the Appellate Division. The court held that lump-sum settlements under Workmen’s Compensation Law § 15(5-b) cannot be indefinitely extended by excluding weeks where the claimant earned pre-injury wages. It affirmed that carriers assume the risk of reopened cases due to changed conditions, with no statutory or decisional basis for adjusting for claimant earnings during the period the lump-sum award covered.

Lump-sum settlementWorkmen's Compensation Law § 15(5-b)Credit for settlementReopened caseIncreased disabilityPost-disability earningsPre-disability earningsNonschedule adjustmentCaisson diseaseHerniated disc
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Fowler v. Consolidated Aluminum Corp.

This worker's compensation case examines whether the trial court correctly commuted an employee's award for 85% permanent partial disability to a lump sum. The trial court justified its decision by citing the employee's financial responsibility and the favorable interest rate differential for a lump sum. However, the Supreme Court reversed this aspect of the ruling, emphasizing that judicial discretion for commutation is not absolute and requires substantial evidence demonstrating the employee's specific need, beyond mere financial acumen. The court reinforced the principle that worker's compensation laws are remedial and should be equitably construed for the employee's benefit, but also cautioned against perfunctory lump sum awards without careful inquiry into potential adverse consequences for both parties.

Worker's CompensationLump Sum CommutationPermanent Partial DisabilityJudicial DiscretionStatutory InterpretationRemedial StatuteEmployee BenefitsAppellate ReviewAbuse of DiscretionTennessee Law
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Maryland Casualty Co. v. Graham

The appellant, Maryland Casualty Company, challenged the award of lump-sum compensation to the appellee, A. Graham, arguing that the issue was improperly presented and evidence was insufficient. A. Graham, suffering total permanent incapacity, sought a lump sum due to debts for basic necessities and medical treatment, claiming 'manifest hardship and injustice.' The court found that while Graham faced pecuniary embarrassment, the evidence did not meet the statutory criteria for a lump sum, which requires more than just present financial difficulty. The court affirmed the jury's finding of total permanent incapacity. However, it reformed the district court's judgment, ruling that A. Graham would receive weekly payments of $4.80, and his attorney, W. Y. Brown, $2.40 weekly, for a period of 401 weeks, rather than a lump sum.

Workers' CompensationLump Sum PaymentWeekly CompensationManifest HardshipTotal Permanent IncapacityAppellate ReviewJudgment ReformationAttorney FeesStatutory InterpretationEvidence Sufficiency
References
9
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Twin City Fire Insurance Co. v. Cortez

Twin City Fire Insurance Company appealed a judgment that matured a workers' compensation death benefit award. The company had failed to make timely weekly payments to Anita Cortez, the surviving widow, and her minor children, after an initial 18 March 1975 award from the Industrial Accident Board. The lawsuit, initiated by Anita Cortez, sought to mature the entire claim into a lump sum, along with a twelve percent penalty and attorney's fees, citing the company's failure to make prompt payments without justifiable cause. The trial court found no justifiable cause for the payment cessation, ruled in favor of the beneficiaries, and awarded a lump sum without discount, plus penalties and attorney's fees. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, rejecting the insurance company's arguments regarding justifiable cause, the lump sum prohibition, discounting, and attorney's fees computation.

Workers' CompensationDeath BenefitsLump Sum PaymentPenaltyAttorney's FeesJustifiable CauseClerical OversightStatutory InterpretationAppellate ReviewInsurance Carrier Liability
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 02, 1931

Texas Employers' Ins. Ass'n v. Wolfe

Appellee Wolfe instituted a suit in a Dallas county district court to overturn an award made by the Industrial Accident Board of Texas on August 5, 1930. The original award granted him compensation for 100 weeks at $20 per week due to injuries sustained on April 14, 1930, while employed by the Dallas Transfer & Terminal Warehouse Company. Wolfe sought a lump sum judgment for total and permanent disability against the appellant, who served as the insurer. On July 2, 1931, the trial court rendered a judgment in favor of Wolfe for $6,804.09 in a lump sum, vacating the Board's decision. This decision was based on jury findings that Wolfe sustained permanent total incapacity from his injuries and that a lump sum payment was justified. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, overruling the appellant's challenges regarding Wolfe's employment status and the nature of his work at the time of injury.

Industrial Accident BoardLump Sum AwardTotal Permanent DisabilityEmployment StatusStructural Iron WorkerBurden of ProofJury VerdictAppellate AffirmationScope of EmploymentWage Calculation
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Niziol v. Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reviewed a workers' compensation case to determine if a lump sum award, granted under Tenn.Code Ann. § 50-6-231, could be reconsidered and increased under Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-241(a)(2) after an employee's loss of employment. Employee Christopher Niziol suffered a back injury while working for Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc., receiving a $35,000 lump sum settlement based on 27.99% permanent partial disability. After Niziol's termination, he sought to increase his award, which the trial court granted, raising it to 50% permanent partial disability. The Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel reversed, citing the finality of lump sum awards. Relying on the precedent set in Brewer v. Lincoln Brass Works, Inc., the Supreme Court reversed the Panel's decision, reinstating the trial court's judgment, affirming that lump sum awards can be reconsidered and enlarged under § 241(a)(2) regardless of the reason for job loss.

Workers' CompensationLump Sum AwardPermanent Partial DisabilityStatutory InterpretationReconsideration of AwardLoss of EmploymentIndustrial DisabilityTenn.Code Ann. § 50-6-241(a)(2)Tenn.Code Ann. § 50-6-231Appeals Panel Reversal
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Cianciulli v. Perales

This case concerns a petitioner's challenge under CPLR article 78 against determinations by the New York State Commissioner of Social Services. The Commissioner affirmed a local agency's decision to discontinue the petitioner's Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) grant due to receiving a lump-sum income exceeding household needs. The Commissioner also affirmed that a $2,600 loan repayment was not a life-threatening circumstance, thus not deductible from the lump-sum income for AFDC reapplication. The court confirmed both determinations, finding the petitioner's arguments lacked merit. It rejected claims that regulation 18 NYCRR 352.29 [h] violates constitutional duties or statutory mandates, or creates an invalid conclusive presumption of income availability. The court upheld the Commissioner's interpretation that life-threatening situations occur after lump-sum receipt, not for prior debts, even if those debts were for life-threatening circumstances at the time they were incurred.

AFDCLump-sum incomePublic assistanceSocial Services LawLife-threatening circumstanceLoan repaymentAdministrative reviewConstitutional lawStatutory interpretationEligibility criteria
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Employers' Liability Assur. Corp. v. Williams

J. H. Williams, an employee, sustained an injury in September 1924 while working for American Construction Company, an insured employer under the Texas Employers’ Liability Act. He initially received weekly compensation payments from Employers’ Liability Assurance Corporation, Limited. After payments ceased, Williams sought a lump sum award from the Industrial Accident Board, which was granted in June 1925. The assurance corporation subsequently sued in the district court of Galveston county to set aside this award. Williams cross-petitioned for total and permanent disability and a lump sum payment due to manifest hardship. A jury found Williams totally and permanently disabled, and the court sided with Williams, awarding him and his attorneys, Morris, Sewell & Morris, a lump sum of $6,032.15. The assurance corporation appealed this judgment, contesting the finding of total permanent disability and the lump sum award. The appellate court affirmed the lower court's decision, finding sufficient evidence to support the jury's findings and noting the appellant's failure to follow legal procedures regarding a surgical operation demand.

Workers' CompensationTotal Permanent DisabilityLump Sum SettlementIndustrial Accident BoardAppellate ReviewMedical Expert TestimonyJury FindingsEmployer LiabilitySurgical InterventionManifest Hardship
References
6
Case No. 2023-08-1738
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 12, 2023

Stewart, Coshando, Surviving Spouse of Michael Stewart v. Memphis, Light, Gas and Water

This compensation order addresses the amount and lump-sum payment of attorney fees for Coshando Stewart, surviving spouse of deceased employee Michael Stewart. Michael Stewart died from electric shock, and Ms. Stewart was awarded maximum benefits and burial expenses. Her attorney, Tim Williams, requested $49,324.00 in fees, representing approximately 9.78% of the total award. The Court found this amount reasonable, citing Tennessee Code Annotated sections 50-6-226 and 50-6-229, and considering factors from Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 8, RPC 1.5. The Court also ordered the attorney's fees to be paid in a lump sum, noting the Tennessee Supreme Court's precedent in death cases.

Attorney FeesLump Sum PaymentWorkers' Compensation Death BenefitsContingency FeeReasonableness of FeesStatutory InterpretationDependency BenefitsElectric Shock FatalitySettlement OfferCourt Discretion
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Brewer v. Lincoln Brass Works, Inc.

The plaintiff, Nathan Brewer, an employee of Lincoln Brass Works, Inc., sustained a work-related back injury in 1992 and received a lump sum workers’ compensation award. Following an aggravation of his injury in 1994 and further surgeries, Mr. Brewer filed a petition for enlarged benefits under Tenn.Code Ann. § 50-6-241(a)(2). The trial court initially granted these benefits, but the workers’ compensation panel reversed, asserting that lump sum payments were final, the petition was time-barred, and findings were insufficient. The Supreme Court addressed the conflict between statutes regarding lump sum finality and award enlargement, holding that lump sum awards can be enlarged if criteria are met, but § 241(a)(2) is not the correct avenue for claims involving subsequent injuries or increased anatomical disability. Consequently, the Court dismissed Brewer’s petition without prejudice, directing that his claim for additional impairment should have been filed as a new, separate action.

Workers' Compensation BenefitsLump Sum Payment FinalityAward EnlargementAnatomical ImpairmentIndustrial Disability RatingSubsequent Work InjuryAggravation of Prior InjuryStatute of Limitations AccrualDisability Benefits ReconsiderationSpinal Disc Rupture
References
6
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