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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

Pardo v. Bialystoker Center & Bikur Cholim, Inc.

The plaintiff appealed two orders from the Supreme Court, New York County. The first order, dated September 12, 2002, and the second, dated February 27, 2003, had denied the plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment on liability under Labor Law § 240 (1) and precluded him from asserting Labor Law claims at trial concerning the alleged failure of defendants to secure a scaffold with "tie-ins." The appellate court modified the lower court's orders, vacating the provisions that barred the plaintiff from offering evidence regarding the defendants' alleged failure to use tie-ins. The court affirmed the orders in all other respects. It emphasized that under Labor Law § 240 (1), a plaintiff only needs to demonstrate that injuries were partially attributable to the defendant's failure to implement statutorily mandated safety measures to protect against elevation-related risks. The court also clarified that contributory negligence is irrelevant in such cases. The plaintiff's belated request to plead a violation of Industrial Code § 23-5.8 (g) was denied due to an unequivocal waiver of his Labor Law § 241 (6) cause of action.

Labor LawScaffold SafetySummary JudgmentElevation HazardsProximate CauseContributory NegligenceTie-insWorkplace AccidentStatutory Safety MeasuresAppellate Decision
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 20, 2006

Laura I.M. v. Hillside Children's Center

The case concerns infant plaintiffs who were sexually abused by Sergey Reznikov, a patient at Hillside Children’s Center, during unaccompanied weekend home visits. Reznikov had a documented history of pedophilia, for which he was admitted to Hillside. Plaintiffs sued Hillside, asserting liability for negligent failure to exercise professional judgment in allowing these home visits without properly assessing supervision capabilities. The Supreme Court granted summary judgment on liability for the plaintiffs, a decision which the appellate court affirmed. The affirmation was based on Hillside's failure to discuss supervision with Reznikov's mother and a social worker's omission to inform a psychiatrist of critical information regarding Reznikov's contact with the victims.

negligenceprofessional judgmentchild sexual abusetreatment facility liabilitypedophiliasupervision failurehome visit policysummary judgmentappellate affirmancephysician-patient privilege
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 12, 1990

Commissioners of State Insurance Fund v. Valenzano

The Commissioners of the State Insurance Fund initiated an action against Marcello Valenzano, doing business as ABC Contracting Co., for unpaid workers' compensation insurance premiums. The defendant failed to comply with discovery requests, leading to an order conditionally striking his answer and later, a default judgment. Defendant's pro se motion to vacate the default judgment, asserting non-receipt of documents and partial compliance, was denied by the IAS court. The court found service proper and noted the defendant's failure to demonstrate a meritorious defense. The appellate court affirmed the decision, finding the lower court acted within its discretion to strike the answer for willful failure to comply with discovery, considering the lack of reasonable excuse and meritorious defense.

Default JudgmentDiscovery SanctionsFailure to ComplyWorkers' Compensation InsuranceVacate JudgmentMeritorious DefenseService of ProcessAppellate ReviewCivil ProcedureSupreme Court
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 11, 2006

Lopez v. Gem Gravure Co.

The case concerns an appeal from an order that, upon renewal, vacated a prior grant of summary judgment dismissing a personal injury complaint against chemical manufacturers. The plaintiff alleged end-stage renal failure due to chemical exposure at work. The Supreme Court of Kings County initially denied the defendants' motion for summary judgment, finding a triable issue of fact regarding causation. The Appellate Division, Second Department, affirmed this decision, holding that the plaintiff's experts provided sufficient evidence to create a factual dispute on causation, rejected arguments regarding expert qualifications, and found the failure-to-warn claim not preempted by federal standards. The dissenting opinion argued for reversing and reinstating summary judgment, contending the plaintiff's experts lacked proper credentials and their theories of causation were scientifically unreliable and speculative.

Personal InjuryToxic TortSummary JudgmentCausationExpert TestimonyRenal FailureChemical ExposureOccupational MedicineAppellate ReviewCredibility
References
22
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

MacTaggart v. Gibbs & Cox. Inc.

This appeal concerns the dismissal of an action for failure to prosecute for over five years. The plaintiffs' primary excuse for the delay was their involvement in another litigation concerning similar issues. However, the court found that the issues in the two cases were not identical, and a significant period of a year and a half elapsed after the conclusion of the prior litigation without any further action on the present case. The court also considered the prejudice to the defendant, noting the difficulty and impracticability of recouping extra costs from clients related to contracts completed between February 1944 and December 1945. Consequently, the court affirmed the dismissal of the action.

failure to prosecutedismissal of actionappellate reviewdiscretionary powerprejudice to defendantdelay in litigationstipulationsamended complaintnote of issueextra compensation
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 26, 2008

6085 Strickland Associates v. Whitmore Group, Ltd.

This case involves an action where the plaintiff sued insurance brokers for negligent failure to procure insurance. The plaintiff alleged that the Genstar policy, intended for a vacant property, should have remained active alongside the Sirius policy, which covered construction-related liabilities. The Genstar policy was cancelled due to unpaid premiums. The plaintiff contended that the brokers had a duty to reinstate the policy or procure replacement coverage. However, the court affirmed the denial of the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and granted the defendant brokers' cross-motion, finding no breach of duty. The plaintiff failed to pay the premium after receiving a cancellation notice, and there was no evidence of a specific request for the Genstar policy's renewal or concurrent operation with the Sirius policy. The brokers fulfilled their obligation by securing the Sirius policy.

Negligent failure to procure insuranceInsurance brokersSummary judgmentPolicy cancellationPremium nonpaymentConstruction insuranceLitigation costsDuty of brokerReplacement policyInsurance Law
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

United States v. Wilson

Petitioner Wayne Wilson filed a motion to vacate his conviction for conspiracy to distribute marijuana and attempted possession with intent to distribute, alleging six instances of ineffective assistance of counsel. His claims included failure to move to suppress post-arrest statements, failure to formulate a trial strategy, failure to review and investigate evidence, failure to discuss a plea offer, failure to call certain witnesses, and failure to effectively cross-examine government witnesses. The Court, presided over by Judge William F. Kuntz, II, denied the motion in its entirety. The Court found that counsel's performance was not deficient under the Strickland standard for any of the claims and that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate prejudice. Additionally, the Court denied Petitioner's request for an evidentiary hearing, concluding it was unnecessary given the existing record.

Ineffective Assistance of Counsel28 U.S.C. § 2255Motion to VacateCriminal ConvictionSixth AmendmentDrug ConspiracyMarijuana DistributionPlea BargainingTrial StrategyWitness Testimony
References
22
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Larabee v. Governor of the State

Members of the New York State Judiciary initiated a lawsuit against various State of New York officials, challenging the government's failure to increase judicial compensation since 1999. The plaintiffs asserted two causes of action: an unconstitutional diminishment of compensation due to inflation and a violation of the separation of powers doctrine through the practice of 'linkage' – tying judicial salary increases to legislative pay raises. The Supreme Court dismissed the first cause of action and all claims against the Governor, but granted summary judgment to the plaintiffs on the second cause of action, finding that linkage unconstitutionally abused power by depriving the Judiciary of compensation increases. This appellate court affirmed both Supreme Court orders, agreeing that legislative inaction did not constitute a direct diminishment of compensation but that the employed 'linkage' violated the separation of powers by subordinating the judicial branch to the political maneuvering of the executive and legislative branches. The dismissal of the Governor as a defendant was also affirmed.

Judicial CompensationSeparation of PowersLegislative ImmunityJudicial IndependenceConstitutional LawLinkage DoctrineInflation ImpactNew York State GovernmentBudgetary PoliticsAppellate Review
References
35
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Parmenter v. New York Telephone Co.

The Workers’ Compensation Board excused the claimant's failure to give timely notice of an ankle injury sustained on October 16, 1979. The claimant notified her employer on November 26, 1979, after receiving medical treatment. The board found that notice was given as soon as the claimant became aware of the nature and extent of her injury. Additionally, the employer had actual knowledge of the injury due to the claimant's obvious disability, causing no prejudice. The appellate court affirmed the board's decision, finding substantial evidence to support its findings.

Workers' CompensationNotice of InjuryTimely NoticeEmployer KnowledgePrejudiceAnkle InjuryBoard DecisionAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceExcused Failure
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Sasser v. Kelley

Petitioner Andrew Sasser, convicted of capital murder, sought federal habeas corpus relief due to ineffective assistance of counsel during his sentencing phase. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the case, requiring a determination of whether Sasser was ineligible for the death penalty due to intellectual disability (an Atkins claim) and consideration of four claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. This Court focused on three ineffective assistance claims: failure to prepare for the sentencing phase, failure to obtain a timely psychological evaluation, and failure to meaningfully consult with a mental health professional. The Court found that trial counsel's failure to conduct a thorough investigation, timely obtain a psychological evaluation, and meaningfully consult with a qualified mental health professional constituted ineffective assistance. Consequently, postconviction counsel's failure to raise these claims was also deemed ineffective, excusing procedural default. The petition for habeas corpus relief was granted.

Ineffective assistance of counselHabeas corpusDeath penaltyIntellectual disabilityProcedural defaultAtkins claimSentencing phaseMitigation evidencePsychological evaluationMental health expert
References
26
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