CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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

Case No. 01-22-00313-CV
Regular Panel Decision
May 16, 2024

Team Industrial Services, Inc. v. Kelli Most, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Jesse Henson

Kelli Most, individually and as personal representative of the estate of Jesse Henson, sued Team Industrial Services, Inc. for wrongful death and survival claims after Henson died from severe burns sustained in a steam release at a Kansas power plant. Most alleged Team was negligent in servicing pressure relief valves. The jury found Team 90% negligent and Westar (Henson's employer) 10% negligent, awarding Most $222 million in damages. On appeal, Team challenged the trial court's denial of its motion to dismiss for forum non conveniens and its refusal to apply Kansas law, which has limits on non-economic damages and different joint and several liability rules. The appellate court found that Kansas law should have been applied for proportionate responsibility and wrongful death damages caps, and that the jury's non-economic damages award was excessive due to improper arguments. The court also determined that all forum non conveniens factors favored dismissal to Kansas, vacating the judgment and dismissing the case.

Wrongful DeathSurvival ActionNegligence (Corporate)Forum Non ConveniensChoice of Law (Conflicts)Damages CapsComparative NegligenceExcessive DamagesAppellate Court DecisionIndustrial Safety
References
74
Case No. 03-cv-4134
Regular Panel Decision

Infantolino v. Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry

Anthony Infantolino sued the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry (JIB) and Thomas Bush, alleging unlawful retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and New York State/City laws. JIB moved for summary judgment, arguing procedural defects and substantive failures, including that it was not Infantolino's employer. The court found JIB to be a 'joint labor-management committee' and thus a 'covered entity' under the ADA, refuting the employer argument. The court denied summary judgment regarding the retaliation claims, finding genuine issues of fact as to whether JIB's stated reasons for its actions were pretexts for impermissible retaliation. However, the motion for summary judgment was granted in part, denying punitive and compensatory damages for the ADA retaliation claim and punitive damages for the New York State Human Rights Law claim, but allowing punitive damages for the New York City Human Rights Law claim.

ADA RetaliationDisability DiscriminationSummary JudgmentBurden-Shifting FrameworkCausal ConnectionPretextPunitive DamagesCompensatory DamagesNew York City Human Rights LawNew York State Human Rights Law
References
36
Case No. 03-94-00339-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 16, 1995

Charlie Franks and Industrial Indemnity Insurance Company v. Sematech, Inc., F/D/B/A Semi Conductor Manufacturing Technology Initiative And Burle Industries, Inc.

This case from the Texas Court of Appeals addresses an injured employee's third-party liability claim and an insurance carrier's derivative subrogation rights under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act. Charlie Franks was injured, and the workers' compensation carrier, Industrial Indemnity Insurance Company, paid benefits and subsequently filed a subrogation lawsuit. Franks intervened with his own negligence claim, but his intervention was dismissed due to the two-year statute of limitations. Consequently, the trial court granted summary judgment against Industrial Indemnity, ruling its derivative subrogation claim moot as Franks's underlying rights could not be established. The appellate court affirmed both decisions, emphasizing that Industrial Indemnity's initial suit did not assert Franks's full third-party liability cause of action for his joint benefit.

Workers' CompensationSubrogationStatute of LimitationsThird-Party LiabilitySummary JudgmentPlea in InterventionAppellate ReviewTexas LawInsurance Carrier RightsDerivative Claim
References
17
Case No. ADJ8269895
Regular
Jan 31, 2018

FERMIN SANDOVAL vs. WATERPROOFING ASSOCIATES, CYPRESS INSURANCE, BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY

This case involves an applicant seeking reconsideration of a workers' compensation award finding a 50% permanent disability from a back and right knee injury. The applicant argued he was permanently and totally disabled, that the WCJ erred by considering non-industrial factors, and that his average weekly wage was miscalculated. The Board affirmed the original award, finding that while an applicant can rebut a scheduled rating by showing impairment of rehabilitation due to the industrial injury, this applicant's vocational limitations stemmed from non-industrial factors like illiteracy and language barriers. Therefore, the Board concluded the applicant did not meet his burden to prove a greater loss of earning capacity due solely to the industrial injury as required by *Ogilvie*.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardSecond Petition for ReconsiderationFindings and AwardPermanent DisabilityLabor Code Section 4662(b)Average Weekly WageLabor Code Section 4453(C)(1)Labor Code Section 4453(C)(3)Ogilvie v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd.Scheduled Rating
References
2
Case No. ADJ7037475
Regular
Oct 04, 2018

JESUS ROJAS vs. GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY CENTER, INC.; STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied Jesus Rojas's petition for reconsideration, affirming the administrative law judge's award of 81% permanent disability for his admitted industrial spine injury. Rojas argued for 100% permanent disability based on an Agreed Medical Examiner's opinion of inability to return to the labor market and contended apportionment to non-industrial factors was unsubstantiated. The Board found the apportionment to pre-existing congenital stenosis was supported by medical evidence and that the *Hikida* case did not apply as Rojas's disability was not directly caused by the effects of medical treatment necessitated by both industrial and non-industrial factors. Furthermore, the Board held that Labor Code section 4662(b) does not create an independent pathway to permanent total disability.

Petition for ReconsiderationFindings of Fact and AwardPermanent DisabilityApportionmentAgreed Medical Examiner (AME)Labor Code section 4656Labor Code section 4658Labor Code section 4662(b)Hikida v. Workers' Comp. Appeals. Bd.non-industrial factors
References
2
Case No. 71 Civ. 2381
Regular Panel Decision
May 27, 1971

Botany Industries, Inc. v. New York Joint Board, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America

Botany Industries, Inc., an employer, sought to vacate a labor arbitration award, while the New York Joint Board, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, the union, sought its confirmation and enforcement. The dispute arose from a 1966 agreement between Botany and the Joint Board, which restricted Botany from doing business with non-union manufacturers of boys', students', and junior clothing and from licensing its 'Botany' trademark under similar conditions. Botany argued these provisions constituted an illegal 'hot cargo' agreement under section 8(e) of the Labor Management Relations Act. The union contended the agreement was protected by the 'garment industry exemption' or was a 'work preservation clause.' The court, presided over by Chief Judge Edelstein, found it had jurisdiction to review the award. It determined Botany did not fall under the garment industry exemption, nor was the agreement a valid work preservation clause. Consequently, the court held the agreement void and unenforceable, thereby vacating Arbitrator Gray's award.

Labor LawArbitration AwardHot Cargo ClauseGarment Industry ExemptionCollective Bargaining AgreementJudicial ReviewUnfair Labor PracticeUnion AgreementContract EnforcementTrademark Licensing
References
40
Case No. 13-20-00004-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 18, 2021

Regina Kay Smith and Jeffrey Scott Grove, as Surviving Parents of Brittany Dawn Grove v. USI Industrial Services, Inc.

Regina Kay Smith and Jeffrey Scott Grove, parents of Brittany Dawn Grove, appealed a summary judgment granted to USI Industrial Services, Inc. The Groves brought claims against USI based on respondeat superior and non-employee mission liability after a fatal auto accident involving USI's former employees, Roberto Rodriguez and Alejandro Ayala, and Brittany Grove. The accident occurred while Rodriguez and Ayala were traveling home after being terminated from USI. The court affirmed the trial court's judgment, concluding that no genuine issue of material fact existed regarding Rodriguez's employment status with USI at the time of the accident. Additionally, the court found that USI did not control the manner or route of travel for the non-employees, thereby negating non-employee mission liability.

Respondeat SuperiorVicarious LiabilityNon-Employee Mission LiabilitySummary Judgment AppealEmployment TerminationCourse and Scope of EmploymentFatal Auto AccidentAffidavit EvidenceJudicial ReviewTexas Court of Appeals
References
24
Case No. ADJ2570690 (BAK 0136703) ADJ2091641 (BAK 0136704) ADJ2368957 (BAK 0136705)
Regular
Feb 01, 2016

WESLEY CHAMBERS vs. SCHLUMBERGER DOWELL, TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY OF ILLINOIS, TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY

In this Workers' Compensation Appeals Board decision, the applicant sustained a 100% permanent disability award due to orthopedic and psychiatric injuries. The Board granted reconsideration, agreeing with the applicant's total permanent disability but finding the prior apportionment to non-industrial factors was insufficient. The Board amended the award to incorporate a 15% apportionment to non-industrial factors based on medical opinion, reducing the compensable permanent disability to 85%, and returned the case for a new rating. This adjustment stems from the applicant's pre-existing "family problems" which contributed to his psychiatric condition, independent of his industrial injuries.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationPermanent DisabilityApportionmentCumulative TraumaPsychiatric InjuryOrthopedic InjuryAgreed Medical ExaminerQualified Medical EvaluatorMedical Evidence
References
1
Case No. MON 0240201
Regular
Apr 09, 2008

CAROL CHARON vs. RALPHS GROCERY COMPANY, SEDGWICK CLAIMS SERVICES

This case involves an applicant seeking reconsideration of a workers' compensation award concerning psychiatric injury. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinding the prior decision because the judge's apportionment of permanent disability to non-industrial factors was not adequately supported by medical evidence. The Board requires further medical clarification on what specific non-industrial factors occurring *after* a prior award are responsible for the increased disability, consistent with evolving apportionment laws.

ReconsiderationApportionmentIndustrial InjuryPsychePermanent DisabilityAgreed Medical EvaluatorVargasLabor Code Section 4663SB 899Marsh
References
2
Case No. ADJ3026623
Regular
Jun 28, 2010

ROBERTO PICENO vs. KLUNE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CIGA, administered by CAMBRIDGE for FREMONT, in liquidation

This case involves a defendant's petition for reconsideration of an award of permanent disability for an applicant's industrial injuries sustained on January 22, 1997. The defendant argued for apportionment of the permanent disability to non-industrial factors and to a cumulative trauma injury. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) dismissed the defendant's petition because it was unverified, a mandatory requirement. The WCAB found the defendant failed to cure this defect within a reasonable time after it was pointed out. Therefore, the defendant's contentions regarding apportionment were not addressed on their merits by the WCAB.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationUnverified PetitionLabor Code Section 5902ApportionmentCumulative TraumaSpecific InjuryAgreed Medical ExaminerQualified Medical EvaluatorSubstantial Evidence
References
1
Showing 1-10 of 8,523 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational