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. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 14, 2014

Forest Rehabilitation Medicine PC v. Allstate Insurance

Plaintiff Forest Rehabilitation Medicine PC sued defendant Allstate to recover $3,490 for no-fault medical benefits provided to assignor Tracy Fertitta. The core issue was the medical necessity of "Calmare pain therapy" (scrambler therapy), a novel treatment. The court conducted a bench trial, hearing expert testimony from both sides. Dr. Ayman Hadhoud, for the defense, argued the treatment was not medically necessary, not cost-effective, and essentially a form of physical therapy. Dr. Jack D’Angelo, for the plaintiff, countered that the therapy, though new, had FDA approval, was used by the military, and reduced the assignor's pain levels. Applying the Frye standard, the court found the evidence regarding Calmare scrambler therapy reliable and ruled it was medically necessary for Ms. Fertitta's pain management. Consequently, judgment was awarded to the plaintiff, Forest Rehabilitation Medicine PC, for $3,490 plus attorney's fees and interest.

No-Fault InsuranceMedical NecessityCalmare Pain TherapyScrambler TherapyNovel TreatmentFrye StandardExpert TestimonyPain ManagementFDA ApprovalCervical Radiculopathy
References
14
Case No. 2024 NY Slip Op 00599 [224 AD3d 428]
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 06, 2024

Matter of New Millennium Pain & Spine Medicine, P.C. v. Garrison Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co.

This case involves two appeals by New Millennium Pain & Spine Medicine, P.C. against Garrison Property & Casualty Insurance Company and GEICO Casualty Company. New Millennium sought to vacate master arbitration awards that denied its claims for no-fault benefits for medical services. The Supreme Court denied these applications. The Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed the Supreme Court's decisions, stating that an arbitrator's award will not be set aside unless it is irrational. The court also addressed the argument regarding a 20% wage offset in no-fault benefits, finding it unavailing under Insurance Law § 5102 (b). Ultimately, New Millennium was not entitled to attorneys' fees as it was not the prevailing party.

No-fault benefitsarbitration awardvacaturinsurance lawwage offsetappellate reviewmedical servicesno-fault policy exhaustionattorneys' feesCPLR Article 75
References
8
Case No. 2020 NY Slip Op 04896 [186 AD3d 1770]
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 03, 2020

Matter of Wen Liu v. Division of Gen. Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai Sch. of Medicine

Wen Liu, a data programming analyst, filed for workers' compensation benefits in May 2010, claiming a neck injury from a June 5, 2008 fall at work due to dizziness. The employer failed to timely file a notice of controversy, but a Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) disallowed the claim, finding no causal connection between the injuries and employment. The Workers' Compensation Board upheld this decision, which the claimant appealed. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, emphasizing that the employer's procedural failure did not absolve the claimant of proving a causal relationship. Substantial evidence supported the Board's rejection of the claimant's medical proof, as emergency room records contradicted her later descriptions of the incident and indicated pre-existing conditions.

Workers' CompensationCausationMedical EvidenceTimely NoticeBurden of ProofInjuryFallDizzinessNeck InjuryCarpal Tunnel Syndrome
References
7
Case No. 2017 NY Slip Op 06635
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 26, 2017

Hamburg v. New York University School of Medicine

Plaintiff, Carole Hamburg, M.D., sued New York University School of Medicine for age discrimination under the New York City Human Rights Law and for breach of contract after her employment was not renewed. The Supreme Court granted NYU summary judgment on the age discrimination claim but denied it for the breach of contract claim. On appeal, the Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed the dismissal of the age discrimination claim, finding no evidence of discriminatory intent in NYU's restructuring and phase-out of the general radiology section. The court further modified the lower court's decision, granting summary judgment to NYU on the breach of contract claim, ruling that Dr. Hamburg was not contractually entitled to a year's notice of non-renewal as her non-tenure-eligible position automatically terminated unless renewed. Consequently, the entire complaint was dismissed.

Age DiscriminationEmployment ContractFaculty EmploymentUniversity AdministrationDepartment RestructuringSummary JudgmentAppellate ReviewContract InterpretationTenure-EligibleNon-Tenure Track
References
19
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Mott v. Central New York Psychiatric Center

The claimant, a guard at a state-run psychiatric center, suffered a work-related injury and received workers’ compensation benefits. During his disability, he used personal leave time for which he received full wages. The employer sought reimbursement for these advance payments, but the Workers’ Compensation Board denied reimbursement for the personal leave portion. The Appellate Division reversed this decision, differentiating personal leave from sick leave by noting that personal leave could not be accrued or converted, thus not conferring a permanent benefit to the employer or a detriment to the claimant. The court concluded that denying reimbursement would result in the claimant receiving both full wages and compensation for the same period, a disfavored outcome, and therefore, reimbursement should be granted.

ReimbursementAdvance PaymentsPersonal LeaveSick LeaveWorkers' Compensation BenefitsDisabilityEmployer ReimbursementDisproportionate ResultAppellate DivisionNew York
References
9
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Kevin M. v. South Beach Psychiatric Center

Kevin M. was arrested for stalking Grammy-winning singer Robyn Fenty (Rihanna) after sending her hundreds of delusional letters and frequently appearing near her Manhattan apartment. Found unfit to stand trial, he was civilly committed to South Beach Psychiatric Center (SBPC). During a subsequent hearing, medical experts testified to his severe psychotic disorder, continuous delusions, and assessment as a danger to himself and others. The court denied Kevin M.'s application for release, finding existing Mental Hygiene Law inadequate to protect Ms. Fenty. Exercising its general equity jurisdiction, the court issued a permanent injunction and an order of protection, prohibiting Kevin M. from any contact with Ms. Fenty or her properties, and allowing for immediate arrest if violated, addressing perceived gaps in New York law concerning dangerously mentally ill individuals with specific targets.

StalkingMental IllnessInvoluntary CommitmentOrder of ProtectionPermanent InjunctionPsychotic DisorderPublic SafetyCriminal Procedure LawMental Hygiene LawEquity Jurisdiction
References
23
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Regenbogen v. New York State Willard Psychiatric Center

The case involves an appeal regarding a workers' compensation claim for mental injury filed by a former employee of Willard Psychiatric Center, who later worked for the Workers’ Compensation Board. The claim, initially found compensable, faced jurisdictional challenges after a March 1997 amendment to Workers’ Compensation Law § 20 (2) (a) mandated neutral arbitration for Board employees' claims pending on or after its effective date. The court found that the Workers’ Compensation Board lacked jurisdiction to issue its June 1997 amended decision because the claim was still 'pending' after the amendment's effective date. Consequently, the court reversed the Board's decisions and remitted the entire matter for arbitration, emphasizing that the legislative intent was to remove any appearance of partiality in such claims.

Workers' Compensation BoardJurisdictional DisputeRetroactive Application of LawStatutory AmendmentArbitration MandateMental Stress ClaimAppellate ProcedurePending ClaimsBoard Employee ClaimsAdministrative Law
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Keser v. New York State Elmira Psychiatric Center

This case addresses whether late payment penalty provisions of Workers’ Compensation Law § 25 (3) (f) apply to reimbursements made by an employer’s compensation carrier for wages paid during an employee's disability, and if so, whether they apply when reimbursement is in a form other than monetary payment to the employee. The Court affirmed the Appellate Division's decision, answering both questions in the affirmative. A 20% penalty was upheld against the State Insurance Fund for late reimbursement to the New York State Elmira Psychiatric Center, the employer of claimant Peter Keser. The ruling emphasizes that for penalty purposes, no distinction should be made between awards payable directly to claimants and those payable to an employer as reimbursement, and the mechanics of payment (e.g., accounting credit) do not alter the need for timely compliance with award terms, promoting prompt payment of workers' compensation benefits.

Workers' CompensationLate Payment PenaltyEmployer ReimbursementDisability BenefitsStatutory InterpretationSection 25(3)(f)Compensation DefinitionCarrier LiabilityPrompt PaymentAccrued Leave
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai v. Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.

The plaintiff, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, moved to strike several affirmative defenses and dismiss corresponding counterclaims brought by the defendant, Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. The core dispute involves a patent license agreement and an alleged unlicensed sublicense by Neurocrine to AbbVie. The court granted Mt. Sinai's motion, striking Neurocrine's affirmative defenses for patent invalidity, non-infringement, and patent misuse. The decision emphasized that Neurocrine was estopped from challenging patent validity due to prior benefits from the license and clarified that Mt. Sinai's damages claim was for breach of contract, not future royalties. Consequently, Neurocrine's related declaratory judgment counterclaims were also dismissed.

Patent invalidityNon-infringementPatent misuseBreach of contractLicense agreementSublicenseDeclaratory judgmentMotion to strikeAffirmative defensesEstoppel
References
23
Case No. ADJ94 70576
Regular
Jun 26, 2017

CARLOS CAMARGO vs. COX PETROLEUM TRANSPORT, EM OIL TRANSPORT, INC., STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted the applicant's Petition for Reconsideration, rescinded the original Finding and Order, and returned the case for further proceedings. The WCAB found that the primary medical evaluator's (QME) reports were not substantial evidence because they were based on incomplete and inaccurate history, and failed to consider the impact of industrial stress on the applicant's internal medicine conditions. Additionally, the WCAB determined that a separate evaluation by a psychology or psychiatry QME was warranted to address the applicant's psychiatric injury claim, as the internal medicine QME deferred to mental health specialists. Therefore, the record requires further development regarding both the physical and psychiatric aspects of the applicant's claimed industrial injuries.

AOE/COEQMEhypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathyindustrial stresspsychiatric injuryDSM-IVLabor Code section 3208.3preponderance of the evidenceaggravated conditionsupplementation of the record
References
12
Showing 1-10 of 1,024 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