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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
Dec 27, 2001

MacRo v. Independent Health Ass'n, Inc.

Plaintiffs Cheryl Macro and Kim Zastrow, insured under a group health contract with Independent Health through the Tonawanda City School District, initiated a class action in state court to challenge Independent Health's modification of infertility treatment coverage. Defendant Independent Health removed the case to federal court, asserting ERISA preemption. Plaintiffs moved to remand, arguing that their claims fell under New York Insurance Law, which is exempt from ERISA preemption by the saving clause, and that their health plan qualified as a 'governmental plan' also exempt from ERISA. The District Court granted the plaintiffs' motion, concluding that the claims were indeed saved from ERISA preemption and that the plan was exempt, thus rendering federal subject matter jurisdiction absent. The court accordingly remanded the case back to New York State Supreme Court.

Infertility CoverageHealth Insurance DisputesERISA PreemptionSaving ClauseGovernmental PlansRemoval to Federal CourtSubject Matter JurisdictionNew York Insurance LawClass Action LitigationEmployee Benefits Plan
References
31
Case No. 2020 NY Slip Op 02509 [182 AD3d 944]
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 30, 2020

Matter of Women's Project & Prods., Inc. (Commissioner of Labor)

The Women's Project and Productions, Inc. (WPP), a non-profit theater company, appealed two decisions by the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board. The Board found WPP liable for additional tax contributions on remuneration paid to certain individuals, including artistic advisors and directors, whom WPP had treated as independent contractors. The Department of Labor, however, considered these individuals employees. The Board modified an Administrative Law Judge's decision, concluding that WPP failed to rebut the statutory presumption of employment under Labor Law § 511 (1) (b) (1-a). The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decisions, ruling that WPP's arguments were unpersuasive and that the Board rationally concluded WPP failed to rebut the statutory presumption of employment. Consequently, the additional tax contributions imposed upon WPP were upheld.

Unemployment InsuranceIndependent ContractorEmployee ClassificationPerforming ArtsStatutory PresumptionLabor LawTax ContributionsAppeal BoardRebuttalArtistic Services
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Chalcoff v. Project One

William Chalcoff died in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. His wife, the claimant, sought workers' compensation benefits, but a dispute arose regarding his employment status—specifically, whether he was an independent contractor or an employee of Marsh and McLennan or Project One Computer Consultants. A Workers’ Compensation Law Judge and subsequently the Workers’ Compensation Board found Chalcoff to be an independent contractor, thus denying benefits. The claimant appealed this decision to this Court. The appellate court affirmed the Board's finding, concluding that substantial evidence supported the determination that Chalcoff was an independent contractor, citing factors like his status as the sole employee and shareholder of Accutek Information Systems, Inc., and the nature of his contractual arrangements.

Workers' CompensationIndependent ContractorEmployment RelationshipSeptember 11 AttacksWorld Trade CenterAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceWorkers' Compensation BoardClaimant BenefitsMarsh and McLennan
References
6
Case No. 2021 NY Slip Op 04070
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 24, 2021

Matter of Cisnero v. Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund

Claimant Jeffrey Cisnero, an independent livery driver, sustained injuries when he was shot during a dispatch. He filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits, which was initially disallowed by a WCLJ but later reversed by the Workers' Compensation Board, finding coverage through the Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund (ILDBF). The carrier appealed, arguing misinterpretation of the relevant statutes, particularly Executive Law § 160-ddd (1). The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the Board's decision, determining that Cisnero's injuries arose out of and in the course of providing covered services as an independent livery driver dispatched by an ILDBF member. The court found that the vehicle's attenuated affiliation with the New York Black Car Operators' Injury Compensation Fund, Inc. did not alter ILDBF's liability.

Workers' CompensationLivery DriverIndependent ContractorBenefit FundAccidental InjuryCourse of EmploymentStatutory InterpretationExecutive LawWorkers' Compensation LawAppellate Review
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Regensdorfer v. Central Buffalo Project Corp.

The Supreme Court erred in denying the cross motion of defendant Central Buffalo Project Corporation and third-party defendant United States Shoe Corporation, doing business as Casual Corner, for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. An out-of-possession landlord, Central Buffalo, was not liable as it relinquished control, was not contractually obligated to repair nonstructural defects, and did not have notice of the condition. The loose stairway treads were deemed a non-structural defect. Additionally, Casual Corner was contractually obligated to indemnify Central Buffalo. The amendment to Workers' Compensation Law § 11, effective September 10, 1996, was deemed prospective only and not applicable to this action.

Landlord LiabilityPremises LiabilitySummary JudgmentContractual IndemnificationWorkers' Compensation LawStructural DefectNotice of DefectAppellate ReviewOut-of-Possession LandlordLease Agreement
References
15
Case No. 2021 NY Slip Op 01738 [192 AD3d 953]
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 24, 2021

Andres v. North 10 Project, LLC

The plaintiff, Mieczyslaw Andres, commenced an action to recover damages for personal injuries he sustained when an electrical panel box he was removing fell and struck him. He appealed from an order denying his motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability under Labor Law § 240 (1) against defendants North 10 Project, LLC, and HSD Construction, LLC. The Appellate Division, Second Department, affirmed the lower court's decision, concluding that the plaintiff failed to establish that the electrical panel box was an object requiring securing under Labor Law § 240 (1).

Personal InjuryLabor Law § 240 (1)Summary Judgment MotionFalling Object DoctrineAppellate DivisionLiabilityConstruction Site SafetyStatutory InterpretationWorkers' RightsPremises Liability
References
7
Case No. 536034 CV-22-2074
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 14, 2023

Matter of Newman v. Project Renewal, Inc.

The claimant, Hillary Newman, appealed two decisions of the Workers' Compensation Board concerning her established workers' compensation claim. Newman sustained injuries in May 2016 and subsequently had an intervening accident in September 2017. While she disclosed the intervening accident to her treating physician, this information was not available to an independent medical examiner (IME) when she completed a questionnaire on April 27, 2018, denying any subsequent injuries. The Workers' Compensation Board found Newman violated Workers' Compensation Law § 114-a for knowingly making a false statement and imposed both mandatory and discretionary penalties. The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the finding of a § 114-a violation, supported by substantial evidence. However, the court modified the duration of the mandatory penalty, ruling it should extend only until June 11, 2018, when the medical report detailing the intervening accident was filed and available to the carrier, rather than until April 9, 2021. The appeal from the earlier Board decision was dismissed as moot.

Workers' CompensationFraudMisrepresentationIndependent Medical ExaminationMandatory PenaltyAppellate ReviewCredibility IssueMaterial FactIntervening AccidentMedical Report Disclosure
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Swift Independent Packing Co. v. District Union Local One

This case involves a dispute between Swift Independent Packing Company and District Union Local One over a labor arbitration award. Swift sought to vacate the award, which was issued by Arbitrator Mario A. Procopio and favored the Union regarding work schedules and overtime pay under a collective bargaining agreement. Swift raised several objections, including alleged arbitrator bias, reliance on facts not in evidence, the award lacking essence from the agreement, and refusal to hear testimony. The District Court, emphasizing its limited scope of review over arbitration awards, denied Swift's motion for summary judgment to vacate the award and granted the Union's motion to confirm it, concluding that no grounds for vacatur existed and that Swift had waived its right to object to the alleged bias.

Labor ArbitrationCollective Bargaining AgreementArbitration AwardVacatur of AwardConfirmation of AwardArbitrator BiasJudicial ReviewWaiver DoctrineOvertime PayWork Schedules
References
19
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re the Arbitration between Rochester Independent Workers & General Dynamics/Electronics Division

This case involves a motion by the Rochester Independent Workers, Local No. 1 (Union) to compel arbitration against General Dynamics/Electronics Division (Company). The grievance concerned a reduction in force, lay-offs, and the transfer of work out of the bargaining unit. The Union claimed violations of the Recognition and Management Rights articles of their collective bargaining agreement. The Company argued that its right to subcontract and assign work was an exclusive management prerogative explicitly excluded from arbitration by the agreement. The court, referencing Federal precedents, determined that the agreement's language clearly excluded such matters from arbitration and, therefore, denied the Union's motion to compel arbitration.

arbitrationlabor disputecollective bargaining agreementsubcontractingmanagement rightsgrievance procedurelay-offunionfederal court decisionscontract interpretation
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Independent Ass'n of Publishers' Employees, Inc. v. Dow Jones & Co.

Plaintiffs, the Independent Association of Publishers’ Employees, Inc. (IAPE) and ten Canadian employees, sued defendant Dow Jones & Company, Inc., alleging a breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA. The plaintiffs claimed that Dow Jones violated its fiduciary obligations by changing the Profit-Sharing Retirement Plan's benefit allocation formula, which resulted in reduced benefits for Canadian employees due to currency conversion. Dow Jones argued it was not a fiduciary for this specific act or that the action was not a breach, asserting the right to amend plan contributions. The court, treating the motion as one for summary judgment, found that Dow Jones's fiduciary duties under ERISA did not extend to the method of calculating employer contributions or modifying non-accrued benefits. The court concluded that both the Plan provisions and ERISA allowed prospective changes in contributions by the employer, and therefore, Dow Jones had not breached any fiduciary duty. Defendants' motion for summary judgment was granted.

ERISAFiduciary DutyProfit-Sharing PlanBenefit AllocationSummary JudgmentNon-Accrued BenefitsPlan AmendmentEmployer ContributionsCanadian EmployeesDistrict Court
References
5
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