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

Case No. 2019 NY Slip Op 09078 [178 AD3d 1268]
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 19, 2019

Matter of Donovan v. DOCCS Coxsackie Corr. Facility

Danl D. Donovan, a correction sergeant, sustained a work-related hip injury. His employer, DOCCS Coxsackie Correctional Facility, advanced his wages and sought reimbursement. Following an award for a schedule loss of use, a dispute arose regarding the deduction of attorney fees from the claimant's payment, which the Workers' Compensation Board upheld. While Donovan's appeal was pending before the Appellate Division, the Board issued an amended decision based on a new legal rationale. Consequently, the Appellate Division, Third Department, dismissed the initial appeal as moot.

Workers' CompensationSchedule Loss of UseAttorney Fee DeductionReimbursement DisputeMoot AppealAppellate DivisionWork-related InjuryWage ReimbursementIndependent Medical ExaminerAdministrative Review
References
2
Case No. ADJ9184413
Regular
Oct 27, 2020

JEFFREY SPRINGER vs. RJ DONOVAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case involves a workers' compensation claim by Jeffrey Springer against RJ Donovan Correctional Facility. The Applicant sustained injuries resulting in industrially caused hypertension, hypertensive kidney disease, and hypertensive heart disease. The primary dispute centered on how to combine a prior 28% permanent disability rating for kidney disease with a new 49% rating for heart disease. The defendant argued these were part of a single cardiovascular system and sought to subtract the prior award's monetary value from the new rating. The WCJ found the injuries to the kidney and heart were distinct, justifying combining them, and awarded 63% permanent disability after deducting the prior award's value. The Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration, adopting the WCJ's reasoning.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardRJ Donovan Correctional FacilityLegally UninsuredState Compensation Insurance FundPetition for ReconsiderationPermanent DisabilityHypertensionHypertensive Kidney DiseaseHypertensive Heart DiseaseHypertensive Cardiovascular Disease
References
1
Case No. 08-cv-6567L
Regular Panel Decision

Davis v. NYS Department of Corrections Attica Correctional Facility

Plaintiff Stefanie A. Davis, a former employee of the New York State Department of Corrections at Attica Correctional Facility, filed a lawsuit alleging race and gender discrimination and unlawful retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New York State Human Rights Law. She claimed her supervisor assigned her a disproportionate number of minority inmates, and she faced retaliation after complaining. Defendant's initial motion for summary judgment was granted for all claims except retaliation. Following this, Defendant filed a second motion for summary judgment on the remaining retaliation claim. The court granted Defendant's second summary judgment motion, concluding that Plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie case for retaliation, specifically noting the absence of protected activity and materially adverse employment action.

Employment DiscriminationRetaliationTitle VIINew York State Human Rights LawSummary JudgmentRace DiscriminationGender DiscriminationProtected ActivityAdverse Employment ActionPro Se Litigant
References
24
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Reed v. Great Meadow Correctional Facility

The decision addresses a habeas corpus petition filed by Robert Reed against Great Meadow Correctional Facility. Reed had been convicted of two counts of first-degree rape in Niagara County, a conviction which was largely affirmed on appeal, though his sentences were modified to run concurrently. He raised four primary grounds for federal habeas relief: insufficiency of evidence, incredibility of witnesses, prosecutorial misconduct, and improper consolidation of indictments during his trial. The court, however, rejected each of Reed's arguments, finding that the evidence presented at trial was constitutionally sufficient, witness credibility was properly within the jury's discretion, no prosecutorial misconduct as defined by precedent occurred, and the joinder of indictments was appropriate. Citing relevant case law, the court determined that the petitioner failed to demonstrate actual prejudice from the joinder and that the jury was properly instructed. As a result, the petition for habeas corpus was dismissed, and a certificate of appealability was denied, as the court found no substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.

Habeas CorpusRape ConvictionInsufficiency of EvidenceWitness CredibilityProsecutorial MisconductJoinder of IndictmentsDue ProcessActual Prejudice StandardFederal Habeas ReliefState Court Conviction
References
18
Case No. ADJ7911474
Regular
Jan 22, 2019

KIA SPREWELL vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, RICHARD J. DONOVAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

This case involved Kia Sprewell's workers' compensation claim against the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility for injuries sustained as an office assistant. The defendant sought reconsideration of the initial award, primarily contesting the commutation method for attorney fees and the substantiality of the neurologist's medical opinions. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration in part, affirming the award of permanent disability but amending the attorney fees to be commuted from the side of the life pension award. The Board found the neurologist's opinions on apportionment and rating of various injuries, including headaches and spinal issues, to be substantial medical evidence.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardKia SprewellRichard J. Donovan Correctional FacilityState Compensation Insurance FundPetition for ReconsiderationFindings and AwardPermanent DisabilityApportionmentLife PensionAttorney Fees
References
0
Case No. 525127
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 18, 2018

Matter of Maloney v. Wende Corr. Facility

Claimant Shawn Maloney, a correction officer, injured his right shoulder while working at Wende Correctional Facility. His workers' compensation claim was established. Conflicting medical reports from his treating orthopedist, Michael Grant (90% SLU), and an independent medical examiner, Gregory Shankman (50% SLU), led to a hearing. The Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) credited Shankman's opinion, finding a 50% schedule loss of use (SLU) of the right arm. The Workers' Compensation Board upheld this decision. On appeal, the claimant argued the employer waived defenses by not filing a prehearing conference statement, but the court disagreed, noting the claim was not controverted. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, finding substantial evidence supported crediting Shankman's medical opinion due to the Board's precedent against duplicative assignments of loss of use values for anterior flexion and abduction deficits.

Schedule Loss of Use (SLU)Right Arm InjuryShoulder InjuryOrthopedic EvaluationMedical Expert TestimonyConflicting Medical EvidenceAppellate Division Third DepartmentPrehearing Conference Statement RuleWaiver of DefensesMedical Impairment Guidelines
References
8
Case No. 2025 NY Slip Op 02248 [237 AD3d 1379]
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 17, 2025

Matter of Jehle v. DOCCS Coxsackie Corr. Facility

William Jehle, a correction officer, sustained a work-related injury, prompting his employer, DOCCS Coxsackie Correctional Facility, to continue paying his full wages. The employer sought reimbursement, and Jehle's attorney filed for counsel fees. The Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) established the claim, found a temporary total disability, awarded a credit to the employer for wage reimbursement, and granted counsel fees of $4,300 as a lien against this reimbursement. The Workers' Compensation Board affirmed the WCLJ's decision, deeming the lien proper under Workers' Compensation Law § 24 (2) (b). The Appellate Division, Third Department, further affirmed the Board's decision, holding that an award for previously unawarded benefits constitutes an 'increase' under the law, and that counsel fees are appropriately a lien against the employer's reimbursement, dismissing arguments of the employer subsidizing fees.

Counsel FeesLien on AwardEmployer ReimbursementTemporary Total DisabilityWorkers' Compensation LawAppellate ReviewCorrection OfficerWage ReimbursementStatutory InterpretationClaimant Attorney Fees
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 06, 2000

Gonzalez v. New York State Department of Correctional Services Fishkill Correctional Facility

Plaintiff Mildred Gonzalez, a Hispanic female corrections officer, sued the New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS), Fishkill Correctional Facility (Fishkill), and several individual defendants, alleging discrimination based on gender, race, color, and national origin, and retaliation under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Gonzalez claimed her co-worker, Herbert Reilly, created a hostile work environment which her supervisors failed to address. The court dismissed the complaint as to Defendant Clark for lack of service, Title VII claims against individual defendants, and state law claims against DOCS and Fishkill. However, the court allowed hostile work environment and retaliation claims against DOCS and Fishkill to proceed and granted leave to amend the complaint to include a negligent supervision claim against Mann and Ercole.

Hostile Work EnvironmentTitle VII Discrimination42 U.S.C. § 1983Gender DiscriminationRace DiscriminationNational Origin DiscriminationRetaliationEmployment DiscriminationMotion to DismissMotion to Amend Complaint
References
53
Case No. 02-CV-6666L
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 29, 2008

Brown v. NEW YORK STATE DEPT. OF CORREC. SERVICES

Plaintiff, Curtis Brown, a Correction Officer, sued his employer, the New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS), and several individuals for racial discrimination and retaliation under Title VII, Sections 1981, 1983, and the New York Human Rights Law. Brown alleged a hostile work environment due to continuous harassment, verbal abuse, and physical violence by white coworkers at Elmira Correctional Facility since 2001, along with retaliatory discipline. Defendants sought summary judgment. The court dismissed claims against individual defendants under Title VII, all claims against Elmira, the State Comptroller, Civil Service, and all constructive discharge claims due to Eleventh Amendment immunity or other legal deficiencies. However, the court denied summary judgment on Brown's Title VII hostile work environment and retaliation claims against DOCS, finding sufficient evidence of fact disputes for these claims to proceed to trial.

Racial DiscriminationHostile Work EnvironmentRetaliationEmployment LawTitle VIICivil Rights ActSection 1981Section 1983Human Rights LawSummary Judgment Motion
References
83
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re Arbitration between New York State Department of Correctional Services & New York State Correctional Officers

This case involves an appeal from a Supreme Court order vacating an arbitration award. Petitioners, the Department of Correctional Services and Governor's Office of Employee Relations, challenged an arbitrator's decision to grant a correction sergeant, Charles Hannigan, approximately $4,000 in vacation and holiday accruals. The arbitrator had initially issued an award with a 45-day suspension for Hannigan and then retained jurisdiction to ensure "made whole" implementation. Petitioners argued the arbitrator exceeded his power by reopening the arbitration. The Supreme Court agreed and vacated the award, a decision affirmed by the appellate court. The appellate court found that the arbitrator's retention of jurisdiction and subsequent reopening of the award violated explicit limitations in the collective bargaining agreement.

Arbitration awardVacaturArbitrator's jurisdictionCollective bargaining agreementPublic employmentCorrection officerBack payEmployee benefitsWaiverScope of arbitration
References
21
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