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

Case No. M2004-00647-COA-R3-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 15, 2005

Yvonne N. Robertson v. Tennessee Board of Social Worker Certification and Licensure

The Tennessee Board of Social Worker Certification and Licensure appealed a Chancery Court decision that had set aside the Board's two-year license revocation of Yvonne N. Robertson. Robertson, a licensed clinical social worker, had her license revoked for engaging in a prohibited 'dual relationship' with a client. The Chancery Court ruled that the Board's sanctions were an abuse of discretion and arbitrary, partly due to the Board's consideration of Robertson's 1982 felony forgery conviction. The Court of Appeals of Tennessee reversed the Chancery Court's decision, determining that the Board was authorized to review its prior records and that the imposed sanction was both warranted in law and justified in fact. Consequently, the Board's original order of revocation was reinstated.

Social Worker CertificationLicense RevocationDual RelationshipUnethical ConductAdministrative LawJudicial ReviewStandard of ReviewProfessional EthicsAppellate Court DecisionTennessee Law
References
26
Case No. 15-25-00064-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 17, 2025

Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners v. Katherin Youniacutt and Tammy Thompson

This reply brief argues for the dismissal of claims against the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners. The appellants contend that the plaintiffs failed to establish a protected liberty interest in becoming licensed health care workers, distinguishing the case from Patel v. Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation. They assert that Texas Occupations Code section 108.052, which bars individuals with violent felony convictions from health care licenses, is rationally related to protecting public safety and is not an unconstitutional burden. Furthermore, appellants argue that the legislative process itself provided adequate procedural due course, negating the need for individual hearings. The brief also dismisses equal rights claims, stating that the Legislature rationally created distinct licensing requirements for different professions based on their varied roles.

Texas LawOccupational LicensingSocial WorkersHealth Care ProfessionalsViolent FeloniesDue Course ClauseEqual RightsSovereign ImmunityJurisdictionAppellate Law
References
65
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 03, 1967

Holloway v. Board of Examiners

The petitioner, a school social worker, initiated an Article 78 proceeding to compel the respondent to provide copies of medical and other reports that led to an unsatisfactory rating in an examination for a Supervisor of School Social Workers license. The Supreme Court, Kings County, initially dismissed the petition. However, the appellate court reversed this judgment, granting the petition to the extent of directing the respondent to furnish the reports to a physician designated by the petitioner, rather than directly to the petitioner. The case was remanded to the Special Term for further proceedings, including a determination on allowing the petitioner more time to appeal the unsatisfactory rating.

Article 78 CPLRLicense ExaminationSchool Social WorkerMedical ReportsDisclosureAdministrative AppealUnsatisfactory RatingAppellate ReversalRemandPhysician Disclosure
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Reitman v. Mills

Petitioner's license to practice as a certified social worker was revoked in 1988 after pleading guilty to sodomy in the second degree. Following probation, he sought restoration of his license, citing rehabilitation efforts. Despite a peer subcommittee's recommendation for restoration, the Committee on the Professions and the Board of Regents recommended denial, a decision upheld by the Commissioner of Education. Petitioner's CPLR article 78 proceeding challenging this denial was dismissed by the Supreme Court. On appeal, the judgment was affirmed, with the court finding no abuse of discretion given the gravity of the offense, the petitioner's admitted ongoing struggles with sexual attraction to adolescent males, and concerns regarding public safety, especially as he intended to operate a private practice from his home.

License RestorationProfessional MisconductSodomyFelony ConvictionRehabilitationPublic SafetyJudicial ReviewAdministrative DiscretionSocial WorkerAppellate Affirmation
References
5
Case No. 2019 NY Slip Op 01015 [169 AD3d 1479]
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 08, 2019

Matter of Monroe County Fedn. of Social Workers, IUE-CWA Local 381 v. Stander

The Appellate Division, Fourth Department, dismissed a CPLR article 78 proceeding commenced by the Monroe County Federation of Social Workers. Petitioner sought to compel Hon. Thomas A. Stander, a retired Supreme Court Justice, to render a judgment in an underlying special proceeding. The petition was found untimely, filed in August 2018, beyond the four-month statute of limitations from the December 2017 refusal of demand. Additionally, it was jurisdictionally defective due to a lack of personal jurisdiction over the respondent. Finally, the court concluded the petition was without merit, as mandamus relief is an extraordinary remedy for mandatory, not discretionary, acts, and the respondent's "decision and order" was deemed a judgment from which petitioner failed to appeal.

Mandamus to CompelCPLR Article 78Timeliness of ActionPersonal JurisdictionExtraordinary RemedyAppellate ProcedureJudgment EntrySpecial ProceedingSupreme Court JusticeRetired Justice
References
24
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

People v. Gans

This court opinion addresses whether a certified social worker can be qualified as an expert witness to provide testimony regarding a defendant's mental capacity to proceed and future competency. The defense sought to qualify Hillel Bodek, a certified social worker specializing in forensic clinical social work, as an expert witness for these purposes. The court meticulously reviewed the qualifications of clinical social workers, acknowledging their critical role in the diagnosis of mental disorders, including their involvement in the development of the DSM III. Despite statutory provisions in CPL article 730 outlining who may serve as psychiatric examiners, the court emphasized that other appropriately trained and experienced experts can also offer testimony on competence. Ultimately, the court ruled in the affirmative, concluding that certified social workers with demonstrated training and supervised clinical experience in diagnosis and capacity assessment are qualified to provide expert testimony on these crucial issues.

Expert Witness QualificationCertified Social WorkerMental Capacity AssessmentCompetency to ProceedForensic Mental HealthDiagnostic AssessmentPrognostic StatementsCriminal Procedure Law Article 730DSM IIINon-Medical Expert Testimony
References
13
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 18, 1991

In re Lenny McN.

The Family Court in Bronx County issued an order on November 18, 1991, directing the disclosure of a social worker's entire casework file to an intervenor-respondent. This social worker was called as a witness by the law guardian for the infants. The appellate court unanimously reversed this order, finding the social worker's testimony regarding prior file use too equivocal to support a wholesale waiver of confidentiality and work product privileges. The court emphasized the protection against disclosure of mental impressions of a party's representative, classifying a social worker employed by a law guardian as such a representative. The case was remanded for a continuation of the dispositional hearing, with further discovery limited unless the law guardian seeks to elicit an adverse expert opinion from the social worker.

Family LawDisclosureConfidentiality PrivilegeWork Product ImmunitySocial Worker TestimonyChild CustodyFamily Court ProceedingDiscovery LimitationsAppellate ReviewWaiver of Privilege
References
2
Case No. 03-03-00176-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 04, 2003

Texas Workers' Compensation Insurance Fund/Texas Workers' Compensation Commission and Leonard D. Watts v. Texas Workers' Compensation Commission and Leonard D. Watts/Texas Workers' Compensation Insurance Fund

This case involves a cross-appeal stemming from a workers' compensation claim by Leonard D. Watts, who sought lifetime income benefits for injuries sustained as a truck driver. The Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (appeals panel) initially reversed a hearing officer's decision and awarded Watts benefits, but this decision was later set aside by a Travis County district court. In this appeal, the Texas Workers' Compensation Insurance Fund (Texas Mutual) and the Commission challenged the district court's ruling. The Court of Appeals addressed arguments regarding the appeals panel's statutory authority for factual-sufficiency review and the interpretation of "issue" under the labor code, including legal doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court ultimately reversed the judgment of the district court, thereby affirming the decision of the Commission's appeals panel which granted Watts lifetime income benefits.

Workers' CompensationLifetime Income BenefitsAppeals Panel ReviewFactual SufficiencyStatutory AuthorityCross-AppealRes JudicataCollateral EstoppelCausationMaximum Medical Improvement
References
17
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Fortunato v. Workers' Compensation Board

The petitioner appealed two rulings: a Supreme Court judgment dismissing his CPLR article 78 application to compel the Workers’ Compensation Board to renew his license, and a subsequent order denying reconsideration. The Board had denied license renewal due to petitioner's failure to provide records, reapply, and demonstrate competency. The Appellate Division affirmed the Supreme Court's dismissal, ruling that the proceeding was time-barred by the four-month Statute of Limitations. Additionally, the court found that mandamus was not appropriate for a discretionary act and that the Board’s determination was not arbitrary or capricious.

License RenewalMandamusCPLR Article 78Workers' Compensation BoardStatute of LimitationsAdministrative LawJudicial ReviewArbitrary and CapriciousDiscretionary ActNonattorney Representative
References
15
Case No. 07-02-0169-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 14, 2003

Texas Workers' Compensation Commission v. Texas Workers' Compensation Insurance Fund

The Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (Commission) appealed a summary judgment that relieved the Texas Worker's Compensation Insurance Fund (Insurance Fund) of liability for workers' compensation benefits to Glenn Everett, the real party of interest. The Commission contended that the Texas Workers' Compensation Act abrogates the common law defense of election of remedies and that Everett did not make an election. Everett had previously settled a personal injury suit for $37,500 and later pursued a worker's compensation claim. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision, finding that the Act does not abrogate the election of remedies defense and that Everett made an informed choice to elect remedies by settling his claim after consulting with attorneys, thus barring his right to workers' compensation benefits.

Workers' CompensationElection of RemediesSummary JudgmentTexas Appellate CourtStatutory InterpretationCommon Law DefenseIndemnificationSettlement AgreementEmployee StatusInsurance Fund Liability
References
18
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