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

Case No. ADJ2972614 (VNO 0551694) ADJ3199572 (VNO 0558860)
Regular
Jan 31, 2012

ALI POURFARZAD vs. PALMIRA ASSOCIATES, INC., PREFERRED EMPLOYERS INSURANCE COMPANY

This case involves an applicant claiming industrial injuries to his spine, psychological system, and central nervous system (sleep disorder) from two separate dates of employment. The administrative law judge initially found injury to the psychological and central nervous systems but required further development of the record for permanent disability and apportionment. The Appeals Board determined that neither party presented substantial evidence regarding the causation and permanency of the claimed psychological and central nervous system injuries. Consequently, these issues are deferred, and the record will be developed further, potentially through an Agreed Medical Evaluator or a court-appointed physician.

Petition for ReconsiderationPartial Joint Findings of FactPanel Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME)Substantial EvidenceDevelop the RecordAgreed Medical Evaluator (AME)Regular PhysicianLabor Code Section 5701CausationPsychological Injury
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Cravotta v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

The petitioner, a New York City sanitation worker, sustained a knee injury after allegedly slipping on a sanitation truck step contaminated by a slippery substance from a dump site. His application for accidental disability retirement benefits from the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) was denied, as his injury was not deemed an "accident" under Retirement and Social Security Law § 605-b. The petitioner challenged this determination, but both the Supreme Court and the appellate court affirmed the denial. The courts found that the injury occurred during routine duties and was not so extraordinary or unexpected as to constitute an accidental injury.

Accidental disabilityRetirement benefitsSanitation workerKnee injurySlipping accidentRoutine dutiesNYCERSAdministrative determinationJudicial reviewAnnulment petition
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Brown v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

A maintenance employee for the New York City Housing Authority sustained a right knee injury in March 1978 during a mugging and reinjured it in May 1979 while moving a refrigerator. His application for accident disability retirement was denied by the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, whose medical board found no causal relationship between the 1978 incident and the disability, and no accident in 1979. Special Term initially vacated this determination, concluding the 1979 event was an accident. However, the Appellate Division reversed Special Term's judgment, holding that an injury occurring without an unexpected event during ordinary employment duties does not constitute an accidental injury. The court found that the petitioner failed to prove an unexpected event, as his knee merely 'gave way' while moving a refrigerator, and therefore dismissed the petition.

Accident Disability RetirementNew York City Employees’ Retirement SystemKnee InjuryPerformance of DutiesCausal RelationshipMedical Board OpinionCPLR Article 78Appellate ReviewAccidental Injury DefinitionBurden of Proof
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Clarke v. LR SYSTEMS

Walter Clarke, a 74-year-old former employee of Favorite Plastics, Inc., filed a products liability action against LR Systems and Lasits Rohline Service, Inc. for injuries sustained in an industrial accident on August 13, 1996. Clarke's right hand was pulled into an SG Granulator 300 machine, resulting in the loss of part of his thumb and injury to three fingers. He alleged negligence, strict products liability, and breach of warranty, claiming inadequate warnings and a design defect in the grinder. The court granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment on the failure-to-warn claim, finding Clarke was aware of the danger. However, the motion for summary judgment was denied on the defective design claims, ruling that the expert testimony regarding the feasibility of an interlocked guard was admissible.

Products LiabilityIndustrial AccidentGranulator MachineDesign DefectFailure to WarnSummary JudgmentExpert TestimonyNip Point HazardV-belt DriveMachine Safety
References
32
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Protter v. Nathan's Famous Systems, Inc.

The case involves Erwin Protter and his three fast-food franchise corporations suing Nathan's Famous Systems, Inc. and its officers for fraud and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) violations. Protter alleged misrepresentations regarding training, profit margins, and the use of IPO funds, alongside omissions of material facts such as hidden costs and sales declines in other franchises, which he claimed induced him to purchase three Nathan's franchises. Defendants moved to dismiss the Amended Complaint, asserting it was time-barred and failed to state a claim. The Court granted the motion to dismiss the RICO claims with prejudice, citing plaintiffs' failure to plead a distinct enterprise from the persons, acquisition injury under §1962(b), and investment injury under §1962(a). Despite finding the allegations regarding another defrauded franchisee, Steven Lenter, potentially sufficient for an "open-ended scheme" to satisfy the pattern of racketeering requirement at the motion to dismiss stage, the specific deficiencies in the other RICO subsections led to their dismissal. Consequently, the remaining state law claims were dismissed without prejudice due to the lack of federal subject matter jurisdiction.

Franchise FraudRICO ViolationsRacketeering ActivityMotion to DismissFed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6)Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b)Fraudulent MisrepresentationInvestment InjuryAcquisition InjuryEnterprise-Person Distinctness
References
56
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 12, 1988

Torres v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

The petitioner, a Rikers Island correction officer, sought to annul the New York City Employees’ Retirement System’s denial of his application for accident disability retirement benefits. The Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of the petition, finding that the Medical Board and Board of Trustees' determination was neither arbitrary nor capricious. The court found that the petitioner's injuries occurred after he completed his tour of duty and signed out, while leaving the premises on a Correction Department bus, not in the actual performance of city service. This decision was based on Administrative Code of the City of New York § 13-168, which requires injury during city service for eligibility. The court also clarified that eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits was not binding on the Medical Board for accident disability benefits, referencing Administrative Code § 13-176 (c).

accident disability retirementRikers Island correction officercity serviceNew York City Employees’ Retirement SystemMedical BoardBoard of TrusteesCPLR Article 78workers' compensationadministrative coderetirement benefits
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Cassarino v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

The petitioner sought accidental disability retirement benefits, but the Board of Trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System denied the application on December 13, 2007. The Supreme Court reviewed this denial and found that the Board's determination was not arbitrary and capricious. The court reasoned that the petitioner's injuries arose from the performance of usual duties as a sanitation worker, citing prior cases. Furthermore, the court determined that the petitioner's slip or trip on a strap within a sanitation truck was not sufficiently extraordinary or unexpected to qualify as an 'accidental' injury under the law. Consequently, the Supreme Court affirmed the Board's denial of benefits.

Accidental DisabilityRetirement BenefitsSanitation WorkerNew York City Employees’ Retirement SystemJudicial ReviewAdministrative DeterminationInjury CausationOrdinary DutiesAppellate DivisionSocial Security Law
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Cook-Schoonover v. Corning Hospital

Claimant, an employee at Corning Hospital, suffered psychological injuries due to a verbally harassing work environment from coworkers Lori Glass and Michelle Lewis, leading to hospitalizations and a diagnosis of anxiety attacks, panic disorder, and depression. She filed for workers' compensation benefits, which were initially dismissed by the Workers’ Compensation Law Judge but later found compensable by the Workers’ Compensation Board, supported by medical reports from Frank Bourke, Michael Cilip, and Albert Wolkoff. The employer and carrier appealed, alleging due process violations, but the court found no record of these requests. The court affirmed the Board's decision, citing substantial evidence from claimant's testimony and medical reports, and emphasized that psychic injury can result from extended emotional stress and pre-existing vulnerability does not preclude benefits.

work-related stresspsychological injuryhostile work environmentverbal harassmentpanic disorderdepressionworkers' compensation benefitsmedical evidencewitness credibilitydue process
References
9
Case No. ADJ3435222
Regular
Sep 08, 2015

Keith Whitmore vs. Metropolitan State Hospital

This case concerns applicant Keith Whitmore's claim for a psychiatric injury allegedly caused by cumulative trauma and personnel actions at Metropolitan State Hospital. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration of a prior finding that barred his claim under Labor Code section 3208.3(h), which exempts injuries caused by lawful, good faith personnel actions. The WCAB found that the defendant hospital failed to meet its burden of proving its personnel actions were lawful, non-discriminatory, and in good faith, overturning the prior decision. Therefore, the WCAB found that Whitmore sustained an industrial injury to his psychological system, though his claims for neurological and central nervous system injuries were not disturbed.

Labor Code section 3208.3(h)good faith personnel actionscumulative trauma injurypsychiatric injurypsychiatric technicianMetropolitan State HospitalPanel Qualified Medical EvaluatorDepressive Disorder Not Otherwise Specifiedoccupational group number 311Workers' Compensation Appeals Board
References
5
Case No. ADJ9186468
Regular
Jan 13, 2017

LORENA GUERRA vs. FALLAS PADERES/NATIONAL STORES, INC. & HARTFORD INSURANCE COMPANY, GALLAGHER BASSETT SERVICES, INC.

This case involves a workers' compensation applicant seeking further medical treatment for a psychological injury exacerbated by her employment. The administrative law judge (WCJ) previously found that while the applicant sustained an industrial injury to her psyche and internal systems due to work stress and aggravation of Turner's Syndrome, she no longer required further treatment. The applicant appealed, arguing that the WCJ improperly apportioned treatment to her pre-existing condition. However, the Appeals Board denied the reconsideration petition, finding substantial medical evidence from a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) indicating that the applicant reached a stationary status regarding her industrial psychological injury in June 2013 and no longer required further treatment for that specific injury. The Board also noted that the medical opinions did not support an acceleration of the applicant's pre-existing Turner's Syndrome.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardFindings and AwardPsyche InjuryTurner's SyndromeMedical TreatmentQualified Medical EvaluatorApportionmentSubstantial EvidenceHysterectomyAcceleration
References
3
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