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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

Wilson & Co. v. United Packinghouse Workers

An employer initiated a lawsuit seeking $50,000 in damages against the United Packinghouse Workers of America and other labor organizations for an alleged breach of a collective bargaining agreement, citing strikes and work stoppages in New York in March 1948. The defendants moved to dismiss the action, challenging the court's subject matter and personal jurisdiction, and arguing that Section 301(a) of the Labor Management Relations Act was unconstitutional. They contended it exceeded Article III, Section 2 limitations, infringed upon the Tenth Amendment, and violated the Fifth Amendment's due process clause through discriminatory application to unincorporated labor organizations and improper service of process. The court, however, denied all motions. It affirmed that Congress, under the Commerce Clause, constitutionally created substantive federal rights for enforcing collective bargaining agreements and validly established federal jurisdiction and procedural rules for such suits, including service of process on labor organizations.

Labor LawCollective Bargaining AgreementBreach of ContractFederal JurisdictionConstitutional LawDue ProcessCommerce ClauseTenth AmendmentFifth AmendmentLabor Management Relations Act
References
26
Case No. 81 C 2521
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 09, 1981

Mandaglio v. UNITED BROTH. OF CARPENTERS, ETC.

Plaintiffs Dominick Mandaglio and Charles Ferrera, former members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, sued the union entities and several individuals after being removed from their positions and membership. They alleged violations of the Labor-Management Reporting Disclosure Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 411(a) and 529, claiming procedural improprieties during internal union trials and a conspiracy among defendants. Defendants William Konyha and William Sidell, out-of-state residents, moved to dismiss the action against them for want of personal jurisdiction in New York. The court examined New York's long-arm statute, CPLR § 302(a)(2) and (3), to determine if jurisdiction could be established. Finding no prima facie factual showing of conspiracy or substantial New York contacts for Konyha and Sidell, the court granted their motion and dismissed them from the action.

Labor-Management Reporting Disclosure ActUnion MembershipRemoval from OfficePersonal JurisdictionConspiracyExtraterritorial JurisdictionNew York Long-Arm StatuteSummary DismissalDue ProcessInternal Union Procedures
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Dirma v. United States

William Dirma, an employee of Coastal Dry Dock & Repair Corp., sued the United States for personal injuries sustained on June 26, 1985, while working on scaffolding on the USS THORN in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He alleged negligence by the defendant in the erection of the scaffolding. The court found no admiralty jurisdiction as the accident occurred in a dry dock, which is considered an extension of land. However, federal jurisdiction existed under the Federal Torts Claims Act (F.T.C.A.), requiring strict adherence to administrative claim procedures, which the plaintiff allegedly met. The court ultimately determined that Coastal, not the Navy, was responsible for erecting scaffolding and providing a safe workplace, and the plaintiff failed to prove any negligence on the part of the United States. Consequently, the plaintiff's case was dismissed.

Personal InjuryScaffolding AccidentDry DockFederal Tort Claims ActAdmiralty JurisdictionMaritime LawNegligenceIndependent ContractorSovereign ImmunityUSS THORN
References
33
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. 97 Civ. 7455(SS)
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 09, 1998

Schepis v. LOCAL UNION NO. 17, UNITED BROTH.

The plaintiff, Benedetto Schepis, a former union official, sought reimbursement of legal defense costs from Local Union No. 17 and District Council of New York City after his criminal conviction was overturned. The Union removed the case from New York State Supreme Court to federal court, asserting federal question jurisdiction under the LMRDA and LMRA. Schepis moved to remand the action, arguing a lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the motion to remand, finding no federal cause of action for reimbursement under the LMRDA or LMRA, and explicitly noting that LMRDA preserves state law claims. The court also awarded Schepis costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred due to the improper removal.

Removal jurisdictionFederal questionLabor-Management Disclosure and Reporting ActLabor Management Relations ActUnion fiduciary dutiesState law claimsWell-pleaded complaint ruleComplete preemptionAttorney's feesRemand
References
25
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Beth Israel Medical Center v. 1199/S.E.I.U. United Healthcare Workers East

Beth Israel Medical Center (BIMC) petitioned to vacate an arbitration award concerning a labor dispute over wage differentials for registered nurses on flex-time schedules at its Kings Highway Division. Local 1199, the nurses' union, moved to confirm the award. The dispute arose when BIMC discontinued pro-rata wage differentials for day shift nurses, arguing a 2002 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) adopted a different plan. The arbitrator found for Local 1199, concluding the 2002 MOA did not alter the longstanding practice established in prior MOAs. BIMC argued the arbitrator exceeded his power and violated public policy; however, the court denied BIMC's petition and granted Local 1199's motion, affirming the arbitrator's decision that drew its essence from the collective bargaining agreement.

Labor DisputeArbitration AwardWage DifferentialsCollective Bargaining AgreementFlex-Time ScheduleRegistered NursesNew YorkFederal CourtLMRAContract Interpretation
References
14
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Petrenko v. United States

Plaintiff John Petrenko filed a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action against the United States, alleging civil rights violations including negligent beating, false arrest, and false imprisonment stemming from a 1988 incident with United States Park Police officers. Petrenko sought $10 million in damages. The Government moved for summary judgment, which the court granted. The court ruled that the United States is immune from § 1983 suits and that prior state court findings of probable cause precluded the false arrest and imprisonment claims. Petrenko's negligent beating claim was dismissed due to insufficient evidence, and his state claim for vehicle impoundment costs was also dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, as adequate state remedies exist.

42 U.S.C. § 1983Civil Rights ViolationFalse ArrestFalse ImprisonmentNegligent BeatingSummary JudgmentSovereign ImmunityCollateral EstoppelProbable CauseFederal Question Jurisdiction
References
18
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Hightower v. United States

Willie Hightower, a federal employee, sued the United States and three individual federal officers for alleged injuries from a 1999 arrest at a VA hospital campus. Hightower sought money damages under state tort laws via the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) and constitutional claims under Bivens, despite having already received benefits under the Federal Employee's Compensation Act (FECA) for the same incident, which he certified as work-related. The court dismissed the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. It ruled that FECA provides the exclusive remedy for federal employees' work-related injuries, thereby precluding FTCA claims against the United States. Furthermore, Bivens claims against the United States are barred by sovereign immunity, and against individual federal employees, they are precluded by the comprehensive remedial schemes of FECA and the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA).

Federal Employee Compensation ActFederal Tort Claims ActBivens ActionSovereign ImmunitySubject Matter JurisdictionExcessive ForceFalse ArrestMalicious ProsecutionSlanderLibel
References
31
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

De Luca v. United Nations Organization

A former United Nations security officer filed a lawsuit against the United Nations and eight of its officials, alleging breach of contract, forgery, negligence, civil rights violations, and denial of medical benefits. The plaintiff claimed the U.N. failed to reimburse him for 1988 taxes, issued a fraudulent final pay statement with a forged signature, and unlawfully denied him continued health insurance coverage after his resignation. The defendants moved to dismiss the complaint, asserting immunity under international and federal law. The court denied the plaintiff's motion for default judgment and granted the defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint in its entirety with prejudice, finding that the United Nations and its officials were immune from the action for acts performed in their official capacities.

ImmunityInternational OrganizationsUnited NationsDiplomatic ImmunitySovereign ImmunityBreach of ContractEmployment LawTax ReimbursementMedical BenefitsOfficial Capacity
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

T & M Meat Fair, Inc. v. United Food & Commercial Workers, Local 174

The plaintiffs, T & M Meat Fair, Inc. and its owners, filed a class action lawsuit in New York state court against the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) unions and affiliated funds, alleging fraud and breach of fiduciary duty related to their participation in ERISA plans. The defendants removed the case to federal court, citing original jurisdiction under ERISA and LMRA. The plaintiffs then moved to remand the case back to state court, arguing that federal jurisdiction was improper and also sought attorneys' fees and costs. The District Court denied the plaintiffs' motion to remand, finding that federal jurisdiction was proper based on at least one claim arising under ERISA in the amended complaint, and also denied the request for attorneys' fees and costs. The court explicitly stated that Count III, asserting rights under ERISA for Milano, established federal jurisdiction.

ERISALMRARemoval JurisdictionFederal CourtState CourtRemand MotionClass ActionLabor UnionPension FundsHealth Funds
References
14
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