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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

Berweger v. County of Orange

Plaintiffs Lurana M. Berweger and Susan E. Menon, nurses at the Orange County Correctional Facility, sued under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for wrongful termination, alleging retaliation for criticizing the County’s Department of Mental Health's (DMH) inadequate inmate medical care. They also brought a state claim under New York State Labor Law § 740. The defendants included the County of Orange, County Executive Joseph G. Rampe, Commissioner of Mental Health Chris Ashman, County Attorney Richard Golden, and their private employer, Eastern Health Care Group, Inc. (EHG). The court granted summary judgment for Ashman and Golden on the § 1983 claims, citing lack of evidence, but denied it for Rampe, EHG, and the County due to remaining factual disputes regarding Rampe's involvement and EHG's potential state actor status. All state whistleblower claims were dismissed as plaintiffs complained about a third party (DMH), not their direct employer. EHG's motion for attorneys' fees and Rule 11 sanctions was denied, as Menon's claim was not deemed frivolous.

Civil Rights (42 U.S.C. § 1983)Whistleblower ProtectionWrongful TerminationSummary JudgmentFirst AmendmentMunicipal LiabilityState Actor DoctrineIndependent Contractor LiabilityCorrectional HealthcareOrange County
References
27
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

O'Toole v. County of Orange

Marianne T. O’Toole, as bankruptcy trustee for Mary Bea Fratto, sued the County of Orange for sex discrimination and retaliation under Title VII. Fratto, a former corrections officer, alleged she faced rumors of a sexual relationship with a sergeant and subsequently experienced retaliation, including scrutiny of her performance and eventual termination, after filing a formal harassment complaint. The County of Orange moved to dismiss the entire complaint. The court denied the motion, ruling that the plaintiff provided plausible factual content to support both gender discrimination and retaliation claims, meeting the required minimal inference of discriminatory intent and adverse action. Thus, the case can proceed to further litigation.

DiscriminationRetaliationTitle VIIEmployment LawSex DiscriminationHostile Work EnvironmentMotion to DismissPleading StandardsFederal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 12(b)(6)United States District Court
References
34
Case No. 09-CV-8140 (KMK)
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 31, 2011

In Re Dayton

Plaintiffs Michael Dayton and Barbara Nieves, individually and as guardian for their five infant children, brought action against the City of Middletown, its police officers, Orange County, and the Department of Social Services Orange County (DSS) alleging federal and state law violations. The claims stemmed from a November 2008 incident involving an alleged attack by a felon and subsequent police actions, followed by Family Court proceedings where neglect findings were entered against the parents. The court granted DSS's motion to dismiss with prejudice, finding it not a suable entity. Motions to dismiss the federal § 1983 Monell claims against Middletown and Orange County were granted without prejudice due to insufficient pleading of a municipal policy. State law claims against Orange County were dismissed without prejudice due to untimely notice of claim for adult plaintiffs, with infant claims requiring state court application. Claims arising from the Family Court's neglect finding and protective order were dismissed with prejudice under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, but other allegations regarding Orange County's conduct during Family Court proceedings survived. The Middletown Officers' motion for summary judgment was denied without prejudice, citing insufficient factual inconsistencies for dismissal prior to discovery. Plaintiffs were given thirty days to file a Second Amended Complaint.

Civil Rights ViolationsFourth AmendmentEighth AmendmentFourteenth Amendment42 U.S.C. § 1983Motion to DismissSummary JudgmentRooker-Feldman doctrineMonell claimFailure to Train
References
98
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Orange v. County of Suffolk

Plaintiffs, former and current Suffolk County Civil Service employees, sued Suffolk County, its County Executive, and legislators under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for alleged politically motivated adverse employment actions. Defendants moved to dismiss federal claims based on immunity and state claims on statute of limitations. The court granted in part and denied in part, holding individual defendants absolutely immune for legislative acts (voting for a resolution abolishing positions and the executive signing it). Claims against officials in their official capacity were dismissed as redundant to the County. The court retained jurisdiction over the state law claim and dismissed the conspiracy claim with leave to amend, denying attorney's fees to defendants.

Civil Rights42 U.S.C. 1983First AmendmentFourteenth AmendmentPolitical Affiliation DiscriminationLegislative ImmunityAbsolute ImmunityMotion to DismissSuffolk CountyDepartment of Social Services
References
35
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 01, 1996

Sormani v. Orange County Community College

The plaintiff, a student and part-time employee at Orange County Community College, filed an action seeking damages for negligence and sex discrimination, alleging sexual harassment by a coach. The Supreme Court partially denied the defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment. On appeal, the order was reversed. The appellate court ruled that the negligence claim was barred by the Workers’ Compensation Law as the plaintiff's exclusive remedy, rejecting the dual-capacity doctrine. The sex discrimination claim was also dismissed due to the plaintiff's failure to timely inform the employer of the conduct and lack of evidence demonstrating employer acquiescence or a supervisory relationship.

NegligenceSex DiscriminationSexual HarassmentSummary JudgmentWorkers' Compensation LawExclusive RemedyDual-Capacity DoctrineExecutive Law 296Title VII Civil Rights ActHostile Work Environment
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Vazquez v. Orange County Rehabilitation Center

Plaintiff's ward was allegedly sexually assaulted by defendant Lewis while engaged in piecework at a sheltered workshop operated by Occupations. Defendants Occupations and Lewis asserted workers' compensation coverage as affirmative defenses. The court held that claims occurring before July 22, 1989, when Mental Hygiene Law § 33.09 (c) excluded sheltered workshop participants from workers' compensation, are not subject to the defense. For claims after July 22, 1989, when the law was amended to allow coverage if elected, the issue of workers' compensation coverage is referred to the Workers' Compensation Board. Defendant Orange County Department of Mental Health's motion for summary judgment was granted due to lack of evidence linking them to the incident or supervision of Occupations.

sexual assaultsheltered workshopworkers' compensationsummary judgmentaffirmative defensestatutory constructionjurisdictionMental Hygiene Lawamendmentnegligence
References
11
Case No. 2015 NY Slip Op 07262
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 07, 2015

Westchester County Correction Superior Officers Ass'n v. County of Westchester

The case involves an action brought by the Westchester County Correction Superior Officers Association and several retired correction officers against the County of Westchester. The plaintiffs sought damages for an alleged breach of a collective bargaining agreement, claiming the county failed to provide benefits equivalent to Workers' Compensation Law for permanent disability. The Supreme Court, Westchester County, initially denied the defendants' motion to dismiss but later granted their motion for summary judgment, dismissing the complaint. The Supreme Court also denied the plaintiffs' cross-motion to amend their complaint. On appeal, the Appellate Division, Second Department, affirmed the Supreme Court's decision, concluding that no provision in the collective bargaining agreement mandated such payments and that the proposed amendment to the complaint lacked merit.

Collective Bargaining AgreementBreach of ContractSummary JudgmentWorkers' Compensation BenefitsLoss of Earning CapacityPermanent DisabilityLeave to Amend ComplaintAppellate ReviewAffirmationJudiciary Law
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 21, 1998

Westchester County Correction Officers Benevolent Ass'n v. County of Westchester

The County of Westchester appealed orders from the Supreme Court, Westchester County. The Supreme Court had granted the Westchester County Correction Officers Benevolent Association, Inc.'s petition to quash administrative subpoenas (Matter No. 1) and denied the County's motion to enjoin the Association from challenging the subpoenas (Matter No. 2). The appellate court affirmed both orders, finding that the County failed to adhere to Workers’ Compensation Law § 300.10 (c). This statute mandates that subpoenas to a claimant's treating physician can only be issued upon the physician's non-appearance at the first adjournment, not as a routine practice prior to attempts at voluntary appearance. The court emphasized that the County's prior practice violated the statute and impeded the remedial goals of the Workers' Compensation Law.

Administrative LawWorkers' CompensationSubpoena ComplianceAppellate CourtLabor RelationsStatutory InterpretationDue ProcessCollective BargainingJudicial ReviewPublic Sector Employment
References
3
Case No. 88 Civ. 2505 (VLB)
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 25, 1994

Gottlieb v. County of Orange

This civil rights action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 addresses the tension between familial privacy and the protection of children from sexual abuse. The case arose from a father being directed to leave his home or face the removal of his daughter, following allegations of abuse. The court denied the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment. It granted summary judgment for the individual defendants, finding they were protected by qualified immunity as their actions were objectively reasonable given their training. However, the court denied summary judgment for the institutional defendants, the County of Orange and the Orange County Department of Social Services, indicating potential institutional liability for inadequate procedures and training in child abuse investigations.

Civil RightsChild AbuseFamilial RightsQualified ImmunityMunicipal LiabilitySocial ServicesChild Protective ServicesSummary JudgmentConstitutional LawDue Process
References
30
Case No. 2024 NY Slip Op 00069 [223 AD3d 660]
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 10, 2024

Matter of County of Nassau v. Nassau County Sheriff's Corr. Officers' Benevolent Assn.

The County of Nassau appealed an order denying its petition to vacate an arbitration award. The arbitration award had concluded that the County violated a collective bargaining agreement by denying General Municipal Law § 207-c benefits to correction officers who missed no work time but sought medical treatment for work-related injuries or illnesses. The Supreme Court initially denied the County's petition and granted the union's cross-petition to confirm the award. The Appellate Division, Second Department, reversed this order, finding the arbitration award to be irrational because the claimants neither sought payment of salary/wages nor reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical expenses, thus not requiring the benefits outlined in General Municipal Law § 207-c. Consequently, the County's petition to vacate the arbitration award was granted, and the cross-petition to confirm was denied.

Arbitration AwardVacaturCollective Bargaining AgreementGeneral Municipal Law § 207-cCorrection OfficersMedical BenefitsLost TimePublic Policy ExceptionIrrational AwardAppellate Review
References
9
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