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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

Claim of Milner v. Country Developers, Inc.

The Special Disability Fund appealed decisions by the Workmen’s Compensation Board which imposed liability on the Fund for a claimant's injuries. The Board found that the employer, Country Developers, continued to employ the claimant, a carpenter, with knowledge of his pre-existing permanent physical impairment, triggering liability under subdivision 8 of section 15 of the Workmen’s Compensation Law. The claimant suffered a fracture of the nose and a hip dislocation in 1964, having a history of three ruptured disc surgeries and other conditions. The appeal centered on whether the employer had sufficient knowledge of the claimant’s permanent condition. Testimony from the employer’s foreman, Mr. Pahlck, indicated awareness of the claimant's back issues, including wearing a back brace and being favored by co-workers. The court affirmed the Board’s decision, reiterating that employer knowledge is a question of fact for the Board, and its findings, if supported by substantial evidence, will not be disturbed.

Workers' Compensation LawSpecial Disability FundEmployer LiabilityPre-existing Permanent ImpairmentEmployer KnowledgeSubstantial EvidencePermanent Partial DisabilityFracture of NoseHip DislocationRuptured Discs
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

the Claim of Brigandi v. Town & Country Linoleum & Carpet

This case involves an appeal by an employer and its compensation carrier against decisions made by the Workers’ Compensation Board. The decedent, a carpet layer, died from cardiac arrest during work, with an autopsy revealing underlying coronary atherosclerotic disease. His widow was awarded death benefits. The employer’s carrier sought reimbursement from the Special Disability Fund under Workers’ Compensation Law § 15 (8), asserting a preexisting permanent physical impairment. However, the Board determined that there was no evidence that the decedent’s heart condition hindered his job potential before his death, thus releasing the Special Disability Fund from liability and holding the compensation carrier responsible. The employer's subsequent application for reconsideration was denied by the Board, leading to these appeals. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decisions, concluding that the Board rationally found no proof that the decedent's heart disease impaired his job potential, a necessary condition for reimbursement under WCL § 15 (8) (d).

Special Disability FundPreexisting Permanent ImpairmentCardiac ArrestCoronary Atherosclerotic DiseaseDeath Benefits ClaimEmployer ReimbursementCarrier LiabilityBoard Decision ReviewAppellate AffirmationMedical Evidence Interpretation
References
2
Case No. ADJ9311285
Regular
Jan 12, 2018

Herbert Schmitz vs. Westlands Water District, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company/Wausau

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) reconsidered a decision awarding 74% permanent disability. The defendant argued the Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME), Dr. Deshmukh, improperly used the hernia chapter of the AMA Guides for impairment rating, violating *Almaraz-Guzman* principles. The WCAB agreed that Dr. Deshmukh's rating lacked sufficient explanation for deviating from standard orthopedic evaluations. Consequently, the WCAB rescinded the permanent disability and attorney's fees findings, returning the case for further proceedings, potentially including a supplemental report or deposition from Dr. Deshmukh, to properly address impairment rating.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardPermanent DisabilityQualified Medical EvaluatorWhole Person ImpairmentAMA GuidesAlmaraz-GuzmanIndustrial InjuryMedical TreatmentLabor CodeFindings and Award
References
6
Case No. ADJ8055062
Regular
May 28, 2013

JAIME CASTANEDA vs. KING DAHL EVENT DESIGN, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case involves a workers' compensation applicant seeking reconsideration of a prior award that found a $15\%$ permanent disability and no industrial injury to the psyche. The applicant argues the administrative law judge (WCJ) erred by not including a neurologist's impairment rating for a sleep disorder and by not relying on the primary treating physician's orthopedic assessment. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinded the original award, and returned the matter for the WCJ to incorporate the neurologist's sleep disorder impairment rating, finding it uncontradicted. However, one commissioner dissented, arguing the sleep disorder was secondary to pain already included in the orthopedic rating and any psychiatric component was noncompensable.

WCABReconsiderationFindings and AwardIndustrial InjuryPermanent DisabilityOrthopedistNeurologistSleep DisorderAMA GuidesImpairment Rating
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of VanDermark v. Frontier Insurance

In this workers' compensation appeal, the employer and its carrier challenged two decisions by the Workers’ Compensation Board concerning a claimant's permanent total disability. The claimant sustained a back injury in 1998 and was initially found to have a permanent partial disability. However, the Board later modified the award, concluding the claimant had a permanent total disability after August 2004, a finding supported by the testimony of her treating orthopedic surgeon despite conflicting medical evidence. The employer also contested the denial of their applications for reconsideration and/or full Board review, arguing insufficient evidence and an abuse of discretion. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decisions, deferring to its resolution of conflicting medical evidence and finding no arbitrary or capricious action in denying reconsideration, as no new evidence was presented.

Workers' Compensation LawPermanent Total DisabilityPermanent Partial DisabilityMedical EvidenceConflicting Medical OpinionsBoard's DiscretionReconsideration ApplicationFull Board ReviewAppellate ReviewSufficiency of Evidence
References
6
Case No. 534239
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 29, 2022

Matter of Lyman v. New York State Canal Corp. C/O N.Y. Power Auth.

Lorna Lyman, a motorized snow operator, sustained a work-related right foot injury in January 2018. Her claim for workers' compensation benefits led to a dispute regarding the classification of her permanent impairment. The self-insured employer appealed the Workers' Compensation Board's (WCB) decision that classified claimant's injury as a nonschedule permanent partial disability, arguing for a schedule loss of use award instead. The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the WCB's determination. The court found that substantial medical evidence, including testimonies from the treating podiatrist and an independent orthopedic surgeon, supported the Board's conclusion that claimant suffered from a permanent and chronic painful condition with severe swelling and minimal improvement after exhausting treatment, thus qualifying for a nonschedule classification under Workers' Compensation Law § 15 (3) (w).

Nonschedule ClassificationPermanent Partial DisabilitySchedule Loss of UseChronic Pain ConditionFoot InjuryAppellate DivisionMedical Impairment GuidelinesSubstantial Evidence ReviewMaximum Medical ImprovementPosterior Tibial Tendon Injury
References
6
Case No. 2019 NY Slip Op 05367 [174 AD3d 1017]
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 03, 2019

Matter of City of Plattsburgh (Plattsburgh Permanent Firemen's Assn.)

The City of Plattsburgh, the appellant, appealed an order from the Supreme Court that denied its application to permanently stay arbitration with the Plattsburgh Permanent Firemen's Association. The dispute originated from a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) which stipulated a minimum staffing level of 36 firefighters and prohibited layoffs. When a firefighter retired, reducing the staff to 35, the City refused to fill the vacancy, citing financial reasons, leading the Firemen's Association to demand arbitration. The Supreme Court denied the City's application to stay arbitration and granted the Association's motion to compel. The Appellate Division reversed this decision, ruling that the disputed CBA provision was a job security clause. The court found that this clause did not explicitly demonstrate the City's intent to waive its right to reduce staffing for budgetary or economic reasons, thus violating public policy and rendering the dispute non-arbitrable. A concurring opinion further noted that the clause also violated public policy due to its unreasonable duration.

ArbitrationCollective Bargaining AgreementJob Security ClausePublic PolicyStaffing LevelsFirefighters UnionBudgetary ConstraintsAppellate DivisionCPLR Article 75Stay Arbitration
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of LaClaire v. Birds Eye Foods, Inc.

Claimant sustained work-related injuries to her left and right knees in 2007. The Workers' Compensation Board subsequently determined that her condition warranted a marked permanent partial disability classification, entitling her to continuing disability benefits rather than a schedule loss of use award. The employer and its workers' compensation carrier appealed this determination. The court affirmed the Board's decision, finding substantial evidence, including the claimant's orthopedic surgeon's testimony regarding crepitus, swelling, and severe pain, supported the marked permanent partial disability classification. Furthermore, the court concluded that the Board did not abuse its discretion in requiring additional proof concerning any overpayments made to the claimant.

Workers' CompensationPermanent Partial DisabilitySchedule Loss of UseKnee InjuriesAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceMedical OpinionCredibility AssessmentOverpaymentsDisability Benefits
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 01, 2001

In re the Claim of Barager-Dieter v. Kelly Temporary Services

In this appeal from a decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board, the court affirmed a ruling that the claimant had sustained a permanent partial disability of moderate severity. The claimant reported arm injuries in 1992 due to production work. The Board's determination, which was based on the testimony and report of orthopedic surgeon Matthew Landfried, found sufficient evidence despite conflicting medical opinions. Landfried diagnosed accumulative trauma syndrome, performed multiple surgeries, and placed the claimant under permanent lifting and repetitive activity restrictions. The court upheld the Board's resolution of conflicting medical proof in the claimant's favor, concluding that substantial evidence supported the award.

permanent partial disabilityaccumulative trauma syndromecarpal tunnel surgeryulnar nerve transpositionmedical evidence conflictworkers' compensation appealappellate affirmancelifting restrictionsrepetitive strain injuryorthopedic diagnosis
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Martone v. Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority-Metro

In 2005 and 2007, a bus driver (claimant) suffered work-related neck and back injuries. Initially, a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge found him permanently totally disabled. However, the Workers’ Compensation Board modified this, determining he had a permanent partial disability with a 75% loss of wage-earning capacity based on medical evidence and other factors. The claimant appealed this decision, arguing a lack of substantial evidence for the partial disability finding. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, noting medical reports indicating submaximal efforts, high medication dosages, symptom magnification, and the ability to ambulate, which supported the finding of partial disability. The court also upheld the 75% loss of wage-earning capacity, finding it supported by substantial evidence after considering the claimant's impairment, work restrictions, age, education, and work experience.

Permanent Partial DisabilityWage-Earning CapacityChronic Pain SyndromeLumbar Spine SurgeryMedical EvidenceSubmaximal EffortsSymptom MagnificationAppellate ReviewBoard DecisionMedical Treatment Guidelines
References
2
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