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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 21, 2008

Indemnity Insurance Co. of North America v. St. Paul Mercury Insurance

In this insurance coverage dispute, IICNA, Romano's excess insurer, sought reimbursement from St. Paul (Yonkers' insurer) and Yonkers (general contractor) for a $2 million payment made to settle an underlying personal injury suit involving Eugene Flood. Flood, a Yonkers employee, was injured due to a cable left by subcontractor Romano. IICNA settled the underlying action without St. Paul's consent, believing St. Paul's policy was primary and Yonkers was contractually obligated to indemnify. The court denied IICNA's claims, finding St. Paul was not bound by the non-consented settlement and had properly tendered defense to Romano. Furthermore, IICNA's subrogation claim against Yonkers was barred by the antisubrogation rule, as Yonkers was an additional insured under IICNA's policy.

Insurance CoverageReimbursementSubrogationAntisubrogation RuleAdditional InsuredIndemnification AgreementLabor LawSummary JudgmentAppellate ReviewSettlement Consent
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 11, 1989

In re the Arbitration Between St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance

St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company petitioned for a stay of arbitration sought by James D. Brown, Jr. and for a declaration that Richard Faulkner's vehicle was covered by Aetna Casualty & Surety Company's policy issued to Empire Preferred Commercial Operations. Faulkner, an Empire employee, was involved in an accident with Brown while driving his own car for business purposes, despite making a stop to pick up his son en route to a job inspection site. Brown made a claim against the uninsured motorist provision of his policy with St. Paul. The lower court found Faulkner's vehicle was used "in connection with" Empire's business, and this finding was upheld on appeal. The court concluded that picking up his son was not a deviation from employment. Therefore, the judgment granting St. Paul's petition and affirming Aetna's coverage for Faulkner's vehicle was unanimously affirmed.

Insurance CoverageAutomobile AccidentScope of EmploymentNon-Owned AutomobilesArbitration StayDeclaratory JudgmentEmployer LiabilityEmployee TravelBusiness Use of VehicleDeviation from Employment
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Tracey Road Equipment, Inc. v. Village of Johnson City

This case involves two appeals from orders and judgments of the Supreme Court in Broome County. Action No. 1 concerned Tracey Road Equipment, Inc.'s request for a declaratory judgment against the Village of Johnson City regarding insurance coverage for a street sweeper involved in an accident. The Supreme Court granted summary judgment to Johnson City, finding it not obligated to defend or indemnify Tracey Road, which was affirmed on appeal. Action No. 2 involved the Insurance Company of North America (INA) seeking a declaratory judgment against St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company, contending St. Paul was a coinsurer for Johnson City in the same accident. The Supreme Court denied INA's motion, but the appellate court reversed, declaring INA and St. Paul to be coinsurers and obligating St. Paul to pay half of Johnson City's defense and indemnification costs.

Insurance Coverage DisputeDeclaratory JudgmentSummary JudgmentLease Agreement InterpretationCoinsuranceVehicle LiabilityAppellate ReviewContractual IndemnityMotor Vehicle AccidentInsurance Policy Interpretation
References
5
Case No. GRO 27301, GRO 28637
Regular
Feb 11, 2008

HERMAN DENNLER vs. TIMEC CO., INC., ST. PAUL TRAVELERS, OPEN WAVES SYSTEMS, LUMBERMAN'S MUTUAL CASUALTY COMPANY

This Workers' Compensation Appeals Board opinion corrects a clerical error in a previous decision, specifically removing the incorrect statement that St. Paul Travelers was adjusted by Broadspire. The case involves two injuries sustained by Herman Dennler in 2002, with awards of permanent disability indemnity and future medical treatment granted against Timec Co., Inc. (insured by St. Paul Travelers) and Open Wave Systems (insured by Lumberman's Mutual Casualty Company). The correction clarifies that St. Paul Travelers was the insurance carrier for Timec Co., Inc. and was not adjusted by Broadspire.

Workers' Compensation Appeals Boardclerical errorreconsiderationaward correctionpermanent partial disabilitytemporary disability indemnitymedical treatmentattorney's feeslienTimec Co.
References
0
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Fulton Boiler Works, Inc. v. American Motorists Insurance

Fulton Boiler Works, Inc., filed an action against several insurance companies regarding defense and indemnification for thousands of asbestos claims. The court addressed multiple pending motions for summary judgment, focusing on the proper allocation of indemnity costs among the liable parties, Fulton's obligation for uninsured years, the applicability of equitable estoppel against insurers, and Travelers' specific obligations concerning notice of claims and disclaimers. The court ruled that a pro rata allocation of indemnity costs is appropriate, with Fulton liable for periods it was uninsured. Equitable estoppel was deemed inapplicable to bar insurers from seeking contribution, and Travelers was found to have received proper notice for many claims and is barred from disclaiming coverage due to untimely disclaimers. This order, along with a previous one, sets the 'ground rules' for resolving past, pending, and future asbestos claims.

Asbestos LiabilityInsurance Coverage DisputeIndemnity AllocationSummary JudgmentEquitable EstoppelNotice ProvisionsDisclaimer of CoveragePro Rata AllocationInjury-in-factComprehensive General Liability Policy
References
23
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance v. Rea Express, Inc.

This appeal addresses whether workmen's compensation payments for injuries sustained before a Chapter XI proceeding are administrative costs under Section 64a(l) of the Bankruptcy Act. The plaintiff, St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co., a surety, made these payments on behalf of the debtor in possession, REA, and sought reimbursement with priority. The Bankruptcy Court ruled in favor of St. Paul, categorizing these as administrative expenses, but the District Court reversed this decision. The District Court held that such pre-petition compensation liabilities are ordinary provable debts under Section 63a(6) and not administrative costs, which are intended for liabilities incurred during the administration period to preserve the estate. Equitable considerations cannot override the strict priorities outlined in Section 64a, and the surety, having been paid to assume the risk, suffers no inequity.

Chapter XIBankruptcy ActCosts of AdministrationWorkmen's CompensationSuretySubrogationPriority ClaimsPre-petition LiabilitiesDebtor in PossessionEquitable Considerations
References
13
Case No. 06 Civ. 3994(DC)
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 14, 2007

BRENTWOOD PAIN & REHABILITATION SERV. v. Allstate Ins. Co.

The case examines whether Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) charges fall under the same discounted fee schedule rules as x-rays for multiple body parts under New York's no-fault auto insurance law. Plaintiffs, MRI service providers, contested the application of Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) Radiology Ground Rule 3 to MRIs, arguing the rule specifically mentions only x-rays. Defendant insurance companies, supported by interpretations from the Department of Insurance (DOI) and WCB, asserted the rule's applicability to MRIs. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted summary judgment to the insurers, deferring to the agencies' "rational" and "reasonable" interpretation. The court concluded that applying the discount rule to MRIs aligns with the No-Fault Law's objectives to control costs and prevent fraud, thus denying the providers' motions.

No-Fault InsuranceMRIX-rayFee ScheduleRadiologyWorkers' Compensation BoardDepartment of InsuranceAgency DeferenceStatutory InterpretationSummary Judgment
References
25
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Travelers Insurance v. Nory Construction Co.

Plaintiff Travelers Insurance Company initiated a subrogation action against Nory Construction Co., Inc. to recover over $3.5 million paid to satisfy a judgment against its insured, the State of New York, following a construction accident. Travelers sought common-law indemnification, arguing Nory was entirely at fault, including amounts paid beyond its policy limits. Nory countered that Travelers could not recover voluntary payments, and the claim was barred by the antisubrogation rule and untimely disclaimer. The court denied Travelers' motion for summary judgment due to insufficient evidence regarding Nory's sole fault. Ultimately, the court granted Nory's motion for summary judgment, concluding that Travelers' overpayment, made without legal compulsion or Nory's request, constituted a voluntary payment and was therefore not recoverable under equitable subrogation principles.

SubrogationIndemnificationInsurance Policy LimitsAntisubrogation RuleVoluntary Payment DoctrineSummary Judgment MotionConstruction LawWorkers' Compensation InsuranceCommercial General LiabilityUmbrella Policy
References
48
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 01, 1981

State v. New Hampshire Merchants Insurance

This case involves cross-appeals concerning insurance coverage for a State employee, David L. Sinnamon, after an accident. The Attorney-General defended Sinnamon when New Hampshire Merchants Insurance Company, Inc. and Travelers Indemnity Company both refused to provide coverage, despite a prior ruling establishing their respective primary and secondary duties to defend. The State then commenced an action seeking reimbursement for legal fees incurred. Initially, summary judgment was granted against Merchants but dismissed against Travelers due to perceived lack of contractual privity. The appellate court modified this decision, concluding that both insurers breached their independent duty to defend Sinnamon, thus granting summary judgment on liability against both companies and remanding for a damages hearing.

Insurance CoverageDuty to DefendSummary JudgmentCross AppealsReimbursement of Legal FeesPublic Officers LawState Employee DefenseBreach of ContractAppellate ReviewDeclaratory Judgment
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Surdam v. Vance

A Vermont resident, injured in an Ulster County, New York accident while working, received workers' compensation benefits under Vermont law from St. Paul Property & Liability Insurance Company. She later settled a personal injury action in New York, and St. Paul claimed a lien on the settlement for benefits paid. The Supreme Court granted the plaintiff's motion to annul the lien. However, the Appellate Division reversed, ruling that the Supreme Court lacked personal jurisdiction over St. Paul because service of motion papers by mail was insufficient to initiate an action or special proceeding.

Workers' Compensation LienPersonal JurisdictionService of Process by MailInterstate Conflict of LawsVermont Workers' Compensation ActNew York CPLRSettlement ProceedsAppellate ReviewMotion to Annul LienInsurance Carrier Rights
References
4
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