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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
Aug 10, 2012

Williams v. Woodhull Medical & Mental Health Center

Valerie E. Williams filed an action against Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center and other defendants, alleging discrimination and retaliation under federal and state laws, including Title VII and 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1986. Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom issued a Report and Recommendation, advising to grant the defendants' motion for summary judgment on all claims. Plaintiff Williams filed objections to the R&R, particularly contesting the recommendation on her Title VII retaliation claim. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis, upon de novo review of the contested portions and clear error review of the uncontested, adopted the R&R in its entirety. The court granted summary judgment to the defendants, finding no genuine dispute of material fact regarding Williams's claims, specifically noting a lack of causal connection for retaliation and insufficient evidence for a hostile work environment or due process violations.

Employment DiscriminationTitle VII RetaliationSummary JudgmentProcedural Due ProcessHostile Work EnvironmentMedical Negligence AllegationsPublic Health LawHospital EmploymentMagistrate Judge ReviewFederal Rules of Civil Procedure 56
References
80
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Gartenbaum v. Beth Israel Medical Center

Plaintiff Ilona Gartenbaum, a white employee, filed a Title VII racial discrimination lawsuit against Beth Israel Medical Center and three supervisors, alleging she was denied promotions in favor of less qualified black employees. The court, sua sponte, questioned her counsel, Bart Nason's, pre-filing investigation under Rule 11, noting prior union grievance procedures and an arbitration, where race was not an issue, had not supported Gartenbaum's claims. While Mr. Nason's investigation was found to be inadequate, relying on the client's assertions and an unsupported affidavit from a union representative, the court acknowledged that Gartenbaum could make out a prima facie case for racial discrimination concerning at least two denied promotions. Consequently, the court denied Rule 11 sanctions at this juncture and allowed the Title VII claim to proceed to discovery. Additionally, the court ordered the consolidation of this action with a separate pro se retaliation lawsuit filed by Gartenbaum against the same defendants.

Title VIIRacial DiscriminationEmployment DiscriminationRule 11 SanctionsPre-Filing InvestigationPrima Facie CaseGrievance ProcedureArbitrationEEOC InvestigationNLRB
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Cerami v. Rochester City School District

This case involves an appeal from a Workers’ Compensation Board decision that found a claimant’s benefit claim untimely. The claim, filed in 1980, stemmed from a mental breakdown in 1966-1967 alleged to be work-related. The Board ruled the claimant was mentally competent to file within the two-year statutory period (WCL § 28), thus rejecting the tolling provision for mental incompetency (WCL § 115). The appellate court reviewed the medical testimony of Dr. Leve and Dr. Pisetzner, concluding the Board misconstrued their findings regarding the claimant’s capacity to comprehend his mental illness as work-related, despite general competence to file other claims. The court found overwhelming medical evidence indicated the claimant was mentally incapable of filing a claim for employment-induced mental illness and therefore deemed the claim timely under WCL § 115 due to continuing mental incapacity. Additionally, the court found substantial, virtually unanimous medical testimony confirming the work-related causation of the claimant’s mental illness, contrary to the Workers’ Compensation Law Judge’s determination. The decision was reversed, compensation benefits granted, and the matter remitted to the Board for further proceedings.

Workers' Compensation ClaimTimeliness of ClaimMental IncompetencyTolling Statute of LimitationsParanoid SchizophreniaEmployment-Induced Psychological InjuryCausal RelationshipMedical Testimony InterpretationAppellate ReviewReversal of Board Decision
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Rohlehr v. Brookdale University Hospital & Medical Center

Stanley Rohlehr sued Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center alleging four claims: termination in violation of New York Labor Law § 740 and the Fair Labor Standards Act, breach of an employee handbook, and violation of public policy. Rohlehr was terminated after filing complaints with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regarding union activities, followed by disciplinary notices for job performance issues. The NLRB dismissed his subsequent complaint, concluding termination was due to unsatisfactory performance. The Hospital moved for summary judgment. The court granted the Hospital's motion, dismissing all claims because the Labor Law § 740 claim did not involve public health or safety, the § 740 filing waived other contractual claims, the FLSA claim did not pertain to FLSA violations, and New York does not recognize a common law cause of action for abusive discharge.

WhistleblowerRetaliationWrongful TerminationSummary JudgmentLabor LawEmployee RightsEmployment ContractPublic PolicyNational Labor Relations BoardUnion Activities
References
23
Case No. ADJ6713503
Regular
May 16, 2014

MATTHEW JENSON vs. PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP, SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the Petition for Reconsideration filed by South Lake Medical Center and its associated entities. The Board also dismissed the successive Petition for Reconsideration filed by Accurate Medical Assessment Rating Center (AMARC). AMARC's prior petition was already denied, and successive petitions are not permitted, requiring review by the Court of Appeals instead. The Board adopted the WCJ's Report and Recommendation in support of these decisions.

WCABLien ClaimantPetition for ReconsiderationLabor Code section 5813California Code of Regulations title 8 section 10561WCJSanctionsSuccessive PetitionOrder Denying Petitions for ReconsiderationWrit of Review
References
2
Case No. 07-CV-6149L
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 18, 2010

Johnson v. THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER

Plaintiffs Keith Johnson, M.D., and Laura Schmidt, R.N., filed a qui tam action under the False Claims Act against the University of Rochester Medical Center and Strong Memorial Hospital. They alleged defendants defrauded the government by submitting false claims for anesthesiology services under Medicare/Medicaid, claiming physician supervision when it was absent. Johnson also alleged retaliatory discharge for reporting violations, and Schmidt claimed retaliation for refusing to alter medical records. The defendants moved to dismiss, arguing failure to plead fraud with particularity under Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b) and failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6). Johnson cross-moved to amend the complaint to add claims of libel per se and prima facie tort against Dr. Lustik. The court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss, finding that the plaintiffs failed to allege that any fraudulent bills were actually presented to Medicare/Medicaid. The retaliation claims were also dismissed because the complaints were not made in furtherance of a qui tam action. Johnson's motion to amend was denied as frivolous and in bad faith. Defendants' request for sanctions was denied without prejudice.

False Claims ActQui TamMedicare FraudMedicaid FraudRetaliatory DischargePleading StandardsRule 9(b)Motion to DismissLeave to AmendLibel
References
28
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Schwartz v. State Insurance Fund

Claimant appealed two Workers' Compensation Board decisions. The first decision, filed April 25, 2012, ruled that her alleged cardiac conditions were not causally related to her established work-related stress claim. The second decision, filed May 2, 2012, denied her payment for intermittent lost time. The court affirmed both decisions, finding that the employer's independent medical examiner complied with Workers' Compensation Law § 137, and the Board's resolution of conflicting medical opinions regarding cardiac conditions was supported by substantial evidence. Additionally, the Board's determination that the claimant's Friday absences were for convenience, not disability, was also upheld by substantial evidence.

Workers' Compensation Board AppealsCausally Related DisabilityCardiac ConditionsHypertensionMitral Valve InsufficiencyTricuspid Valve InsufficiencyEnlarged Left AtriumWork-Related StressAdjustment DisorderIntermittent Lost Time Benefits
References
4
Case No. ADJ7436407, ADJ1895040 (FRE 0238028)
Regular
Feb 04, 2015

Colleen Newby vs. Fresno Community Medical Center, St. Agnes Medical Center, State Compensation Insurance Fund

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied Colleen Newby's Petition for Removal, upholding the denial of her petition to quash a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) request. The Board found that the prior employer, Fresno Community Medical Center, was authorized to file an application for adjudication of claim for Newby's subsequent employment with St. Agnes Medical Center. Crucially, the Board determined that a claim form is not a prerequisite for St. Agnes to request a QME panel in this specific scenario, where a second injury is claimed by a prior employer. Newby's due process claim was rejected as she had an opportunity to present her arguments on removal.

Petition for RemovalPetition to QuashQME RequestQualified Medical EvaluatorClaim FormDue ProcessAgreed Medical EvaluatorApplication for AdjudicationTemporary DisabilityPermanent Disability
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 23, 1976

Lichtenstein v. Montefiore Hospital & Medical Center

This appeal concerns a wrongful death action filed by Ruth Lichtenstein against Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center. The plaintiff alleged the hospital's negligence in allowing her husband, Gary Lichtenstein, to escape from an open psychiatric unit, leading to his suicide. The appellate court found no evidence of negligence on the hospital's part regarding the patient's escape, overturning the prior verdict which awarded $400,000 in damages. The court deemed the damages excessive and ordered a new trial, providing guidance on issues like the inference of suicide and proximate cause.

Wrongful DeathNegligenceHospital LiabilityPsychiatric PatientSuicideElopementOpen Psychiatric UnitProximate CauseDamagesExcessive Verdict
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 19, 2001

Carman v. Abter

A nurse employed by a medical center providing dialysis services alleged she contracted HIV after a needle stick injury sustained while drawing blood from a patient. She filed a medical malpractice action against the medical center, a salaried physician (Dr. Ma) employed by a nephrology group associated with the center, and an independent infectious disease consultant (Dr. Abter) used by the group. The Supreme Court initially dismissed the complaint against all defendants, applying the Workers' Compensation Law's "fellow employee rule." On appeal, the judgment was modified. The appellate court affirmed the dismissal for the medical center and Dr. Ma, concluding their services to the plaintiff were employment-related and not available to the general public. However, the complaint against Dr. Abter was reinstated, as the fellow-employee rule was found not to apply to him given his status as an independent consultant.

Medical malpracticeHIV exposureNeedle stick injuryWorkers' CompensationFellow employee ruleIndependent contractorPhysician negligenceEmployer liabilityAppellate reviewNew York law
References
1
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