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

Case No. Nos. 56 & 58
Regular Panel Decision
May 21, 2020

Matter of Seawright v. Board of Elections / Matter of Hawatmeh v. State Board of Elections

The New York Court of Appeals addressed two consolidated cases, *Matter of Seawright* and *Matter of Hawatmeh*, to resolve a departmental split regarding the interpretation of Election Law filing deadlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. In *Seawright*, the Appellate Division, First Department, had excused a candidate's belated filing of a cover sheet and certificate of acceptance due to COVID-19 related illness and quarantine, deeming it not a fatal defect. Conversely, in *Hawatmeh*, the Appellate Division, Third Department, found a candidate's late filing of a certificate of acceptance to be a fatal defect despite pandemic circumstances. The Court of Appeals reversed the *Seawright* decision and affirmed the *Hawatmeh* decision, holding that Election Law § 1-106 (2) mandates strict compliance with filing deadlines. The Court concluded that the failure to timely file constitutes a fatal defect that courts cannot excuse, even under unique or extenuating circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing that it is the legislature's role to fashion exceptions to the law. Dissenting judges argued for a more flexible interpretation based on legislative intent behind pandemic-related laws and prior Election Law reforms, allowing for substantial compliance during the unprecedented health crisis.

Election LawCOVID-19 PandemicFiling DeadlinesFatal DefectStrict ComplianceBallot AccessJudicial DiscretionLegislative IntentAppellate Division ConflictQuarantine Requirements
References
39
Case No. CV-23-0719
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 26, 2024

In the Matter of the Claim of Bruce Matter

Claimant Bruce A. Matter, an account executive for Google Inc., sustained a traumatic brain injury in October 2021 after being struck by motorized bicycles while returning from an employer-encouraged "Happy Hour" event. The employer and its carrier disputed the claim, arguing the accident did not arise out of or in the course of employment. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge initially disallowed the claim, but the Workers' Compensation Board reversed, finding a causal nexus due to the employer's derived benefit from the event and the altered travel risks it entailed. The Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, affirmed the Board's decision, concluding that substantial evidence supported the finding that the employer benefited from the claimant's participation and that the event altered his usual travel, increasing the risk of injury.

Accidental InjuryCourse of EmploymentCausal NexusSpecial Errand DoctrineDual-Purpose DoctrineEmployer BenefitOff-Premises AccidentTraumatic Brain InjuryHappy Hour EventWork-Related Activity
References
13
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re the Arbitration between Kyne & Molfetas

This case involves an appeal from an order confirming an arbitration award, which was subsequently reversed and remanded to Special Term. The court mandated a hearing to determine two critical aspects: first, whether the arbitration contract was formed between the petitioner labor union and the respondent as an individual or on behalf of a corporate entity; and second, whether the respondent received due notice of the arbitration. The decision emphasizes that the court, not the arbitrator, must decide on the existence of a valid contract and proper notice. Furthermore, even if these conditions are met, the matter must be remanded to the arbitrator to clarify the ambiguity of the award, which directed payments to unidentified individuals, rendering it imperfectly executed and not a final and definite award as required by the Civil Practice Act.

ArbitrationContract ExistenceNotice RequirementAmbiguity in AwardRemandSpecial TermLabor UnionRespondent IdentityCivil Practice ActProcedural Reversal
References
4
Case No. 2018 NY Slip Op 06625
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 04, 2018

Matter of Kenneth J. v. Lesley B.

The Appellate Division, First Department, reversed a Family Court order that suspended all visitation and contact between a father, Kenneth J., and his child. The Family Court had granted summary judgment to the mother, Lesley B., without a hearing. The Appellate Division found this improper, emphasizing that modification of custody or visitation requires a hearing, except in emergencies. The court further ruled that the Family Court improperly considered unsworn, uncertified, and hearsay reports and letters from mental health services and therapists, which were inadmissible and did not justify the drastic measure of suspending parental contact. The matter was remanded, and the father's petitions for enforcement and modification were restored, along with the mother's petition.

Family LawCustodyVisitationSummary JudgmentDue ProcessIn Camera InterviewAdmissibility of EvidenceHearsayForensic EvaluationChild's Best Interests
References
6
Case No. No. 14
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 26, 2020

The Matter of the Claim of Sandra L. O’Donnell v. Erie County

Claimant Sandra L. O’Donnell, an employee of Erie County, received a Workers’ Compensation Board award for loss of post-accident earnings due to a permanent partial disability. Employer Erie County and its carrier challenged this, arguing O’Donnell failed to show efforts to find work. The Workers’ Compensation Board initially upheld the award, applying a discretionary inference from Matter of Zamora v New York Neurologic Assoc., but later admitted a departure from its administrative precedent. The New York Court of Appeals reversed the Appellate Division's decision, remitting the case. The Court clarified that while the 2017 amendment to WCL § 15 (3) (w) eliminated post-classification labor market attachment obligations, it did not alter pre-classification requirements. The matter is remanded for the Board to explain its rationale and any departure from its established precedent.

Workers' Compensation LawPermanent Partial DisabilityLoss of Wage-Earning CapacityLabor Market AttachmentInvoluntary RetirementAdministrative PrecedentStatutory InterpretationRemandNew York Court of AppealsWCL Section 15(3)(w)
References
15
Case No. 2022 NY Slip Op 00809 [202 AD3d 469]
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 08, 2022

Matter of Brooklyn Legal Servs. v. New York City Taxi & Limousine Commn.

The Matter of Brooklyn Legal Services v New York City Taxi & Limousine Commn. case, decided on February 8, 2022, by the Appellate Division, First Department, involved a petition to annul the denial of a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request. Petitioner sought disclosure of certain records from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) concerning driver fitness interview decisions to assess fairness in licensing determinations. The Supreme Court initially denied the petition. The Appellate Division reversed this judgment, ruling that the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) does not impose a blanket prohibition on all motor vehicle record disclosures, especially if personal information is redacted. The court found the record unclear on the feasibility of anonymizing the records and remanded the matter to Supreme Court for an in camera inspection to determine the extent of possible redaction and production. The court also denied attorneys' fees at this juncture.

Freedom of Information LawDriver's Privacy Protection ActPublic Records DisclosurePrivacy LawRedaction FeasibilityIn Camera ReviewAdministrative LawAppellate ReviewTaxi and Limousine CommissionArticle 78 Proceeding
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

MATTER OF MERSON v. McNally

The Court of Appeals addresses whether a negative declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) can be issued for a Type I action, even when the project has been modified to accommodate environmental concerns. Reviewing two related cases, Matter of Merson v McNally and Matter of Philipstown Indus. Park v Town Bd., the Court examines a mining project by Philipstown Industrial Park, Inc. (PIP) in the Town of Philipstown, Putnam County. The Planning Board, acting as the lead agency, issued a negative declaration after PIP revised its plans in response to public and agency input regarding noise, traffic, and groundwater. The Appellate Division had annulled this declaration, viewing the modifications as impermissible 'conditioned negative declarations.' The Court of Appeals reversed, holding that such project adjustments, made through an open and deliberative process to mitigate potential adverse effects, are a legitimate part of SEQRA review and do not invalidate a negative declaration. The cases are remitted to the Appellate Division for consideration of unaddressed issues, including preemption.

Environmental ReviewSEQRANegative DeclarationMined Land Reclamation LawType I ActionProject ModificationEnvironmental Impact StatementLead AgencyZoning LawAppellate Review
References
15
Case No. No. 29-30
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 21, 2022

In the Matter of the Claim of Thomas Johnson; In the Matter of the Claim of Joseph D. Liuni

This opinion addresses two appeals concerning Workers’ Compensation Law (WCL) § 15, specifically whether a schedule loss of use (SLU) award for a subsequent injury to a subpart of an enumerated body "member" must be reduced by a prior SLU award to a different subpart of the same member. The Court of Appeals holds that WCL § 15 (7) allows for multiple SLU awards for successive injuries to the same statutory body member, provided the claimant demonstrates that the second injury, considered by itself, caused an increased loss of use. The Court affirmed the Appellate Division's order in Matter of Johnson v City of New York, finding that claimant Thomas Johnson failed to provide sufficient evidence that his knee injuries caused a further loss of use of his legs beyond that addressed in a prior SLU award for hip injuries. Conversely, the Court reversed the Appellate Division's order in Matter of Liuni v Gander Mountain, remitting the case for further proceedings because claimant Joseph D. Liuni did provide evidence that his later shoulder injury caused a distinct increase in the loss of use of his arm separate from a prior elbow injury. The decision clarifies the application of WCL § 15 (7) regarding successive SLU awards and the burden of proof on claimants.

Workers' Compensation LawSchedule Loss of Use (SLU)Successive InjuriesBody Member ImpairmentOffset RulePrior Disability CompensationEarning CapacityStatutory InterpretationAppellate ReviewMedical Evidence
References
33
Case No. 2004 NY Slip Op 24217
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 06, 2004

Matter of Lahm v. Bloomberg

Richard K. Lahm, a former New York City police officer, sought accident disability retirement (ADR) due to stage III squamous cell carcinoma, which he claimed was environmentally induced by exposure to toxic debris at the World Trade Center site on September 11, 2001. His application for ADR was denied by the Board of Trustees of the Police Pension Fund, Article II, which instead granted him an ordinary disability retirement. Lahm petitioned the Supreme Court, New York County, under CPLR article 78, seeking to annul this determination. The court found that the Board of Trustees' denial of ADR, based on a tie vote and without medical evidence contradicting Lahm's experts who opined his cancer was aggravated by WTC exposure, lacked a rational basis. Consequently, the court annulled the Board's decision and granted Lahm's application for ADR, remanding the matter for recomputation of his retirement allowance.

Police Officer DisabilityAccident Disability RetirementOrdinary Disability RetirementWorld Trade Center ExposureCancer CausationLine-of-Duty InjuryCPLR Article 78Administrative Code § 13-252Board of Trustees Decision AnnulmentCausation Standard
References
7
Case No. 2018 NY Slip Op 07960
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 20, 2018

Matter of Juliette S. v. Tykym S.

This case involves an appeal by Juliette S. against Tykym S. concerning the dismissal of her petition to modify a custody and visitation order. The Family Court in New York County had dismissed the petition without a hearing. The Appellate Division, First Department, reversed this decision, stating that the Family Court erred by dismissing the petition solely based on an 'unfounded' child abuse letter, which was hearsay, and without allowing the mother to respond. The Appellate Division concluded that the mother's allegations of changed circumstances, including the children's expressed fear of the father, were sufficient to warrant a hearing to determine the child's best interests. The matter was remanded back to the Family Court for further proceedings.

Custody modificationvisitation rightschild's best interestsFamily Court proceduredue processhearsay evidencechanged circumstanceschild abuse allegationsparental rightsappellate review
References
3
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