McDuffie v. Wilner
Plaintiff Sean A. McDuffie filed a personal injury lawsuit after being injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by Jan S. Wilner, who was driving for JB Hunt Transport, Inc. The case was initially filed in New York State Supreme Court, Bronx County, and subsequently removed to a federal court in New York. McDuffie later added RSK, Co., his workers' compensation carrier, as a defendant, seeking declaratory relief regarding RSK's lien on any recovery. Wilner and JB Hunt moved for summary judgment to dismiss the complaint, arguing New York's No-Fault Insurance Law applied, while RSK moved to affirm its lien and the application of Connecticut's Workers' Compensation Law. McDuffie also moved for summary judgment on the issue of liability against Wilner and JB Hunt. The court granted McDuffie's motion for summary judgment on negligence liability against Wilner and JB Hunt, but denied it regarding reckless actions. The court denied Wilner and JB Hunt's motion to dismiss based on New York's No-Fault Insurance Law and granted RSK's motion, affirming its $65,023.25 lien on McDuffie's potential recovery.