CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re Eastern District Repetitive Stress Injury Litigation

The defendants sought to transfer 78 repetitive stress injury (RSI) cases from the Eastern District of New York to districts where the claims arose, also seeking severance of individual claims. Over 450 RSI cases, involving over 1,000 plaintiffs against more than 100 equipment manufacturers, were initially consolidated in the Eastern District. However, the Second Circuit later vacated the consolidation orders, finding it an abuse of discretion due to lack of common facts and varying state laws. Relying on this guidance, the court granted transfer in 75 cases and denied it in three, citing factors such as convenience of parties and witnesses, judicial economy, and the public interest in local adjudication of local controversies. The court also ordered severance where necessary to facilitate transfer.

Transfer of VenueMultidistrict LitigationRepetitive Stress InjuryProducts LiabilityForum Non ConveniensSeverance of ClaimsConsolidation of CasesJudicial EconomyWitness ConvenienceChoice of Forum
References
16
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Brown v. Alos Micrographics Corp.

Claimant sought workers' compensation benefits after experiencing sexual harassment from a co-employee at Alos Micrographics Corporation, leading to stress and anxiety. The incidents included inappropriate comments and descriptions of dreams, causing the claimant to leave her job. Medical experts diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder causally related to the workplace harassment. The Workers' Compensation Law Judge and Board found a compensable injury and awarded benefits, a decision affirmed by the appellate court. The employer and its carrier appealed the finding of an accidental psychic injury, but the Board's determination was upheld due to substantial evidence and credible medical testimony.

Sexual HarassmentWorkplace StressPost-Traumatic Stress DisorderWorkers' CompensationAccidental Psychic InjuryPsychiatric InjuryAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceMedical TestimonyEmployment Dispute
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Amberger v. New York State Department of Correction

Claimant sought workers' compensation benefits for a mental injury allegedly sustained due to on-the-job stress and harassment by supervisors. A Workers’ Compensation Law Judge initially disallowed the claim, finding no proof of abnormal stress or employer bad faith. The Workers’ Compensation Board subsequently affirmed this decision twice, in January 2001 and March 2003. On appeal, the court affirmed the Board’s decisions, reiterating the requirement for claimants to demonstrate stress greater than that typically experienced by similarly situated workers. The court found substantial evidence supported the Board's conclusion that the claimant's stress was not beyond normal work environment levels.

Mental Injury ClaimOn-the-job StressWorkplace HarassmentCompensable Injury DenialAppellate AffirmationSubstantial Evidence ReviewWorkers' Compensation Board DecisionStress ThresholdNormal Work EnvironmentEmployer Liability
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Pinto v. Southport Correctional Facility

Claimant, a teacher at a maximum-security correctional facility, experienced severe head pains and disorientation, leading to a claim for workers' compensation benefits for work-related stress, depression, headaches, and memory loss. The Workers’ Compensation Board disallowed the claim, finding the presumption of work-related injury rebutted and concluding that the stress experienced was not greater than that usually encountered in his work environment. On appeal, the court affirmed the Board’s decision to deny the claim on the merits. While the court disagreed with the Board's finding that the claim was barred by Workers’ Compensation Law § 2 (7) due to personnel decisions, it upheld the Board's alternate basis for denial, stating that the claimant failed to show the stress was beyond what similarly situated workers experienced.

Workers' CompensationStress-related injuryMental injuryCausationPresumption of injuryRebuttal of presumptionPersonnel decisionWork environmentCorrectional facilityTeacher
References
14
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Keane v. New York State Electric & Gas Co.

Claimant filed for workers' compensation benefits due to a psychic injury with physical symptoms, alleging harassment and excessive work stress. The employer contested, arguing the injury resulted from a lawful personnel decision excluded by Workers’ Compensation Law § 2 (7). The Workers’ Compensation Board found a causally related psychic injury from excessive work stress and awarded benefits. The employer and its insurance carrier appealed. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, finding substantial evidence supported the finding that the injury was caused by ongoing work-related stress exceeding normal levels, thus constituting a compensable mental injury.

Workers' CompensationPsychic InjuryWork StressHarassmentPersonnel DecisionCausationMedical EvidenceAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceMental Injury
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Novak v. St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital

The claimant, a registered nurse, filed for workers' compensation benefits alleging psychiatric injuries (insomnia, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and severe social phobia) resulting from harassment by colleagues and supervisors following her wrongful termination and reinstatement. The Workers' Compensation Board denied the claim, ruling that the stress-related mental injuries stemmed from a lawful disciplinary proceeding, specifically a six-month suspension, rather than a compensable injury under Workers’ Compensation Law § 2 (7). The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's determination. The court found that the claimant's work-related stress was not greater than that experienced by similarly situated workers and that the exacerbation of her mental injuries originated from a good-faith personnel decision, not from hostile interactions with coworkers upon her return to work. The decision also noted the claimant's history of receiving medical treatment for psychiatric conditions prior to the alleged workplace incidents.

Workers' CompensationPsychiatric InjuryMental InjuryWork-Related StressDisciplinary ActionPersonnel DecisionGood Faith Employer ActionHarassmentTerminationReinstatement
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

O'Neil v. Roman Catholic Diocese

A student worker at St. Ephrem’s Church (the plaintiff) experienced sexual harassment from a visiting priest. After a particularly egregious incident, she informed other parish priests who promptly referred her to law enforcement. The plaintiff subsequently sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and St. Ephrem’s Church for sexual harassment, negligence, negligent hiring, and negligent supervision, arguing they should have known of the priest's propensity. The Supreme Court, Kings County, granted summary judgment to the Diocese defendants, dismissing the plaintiff's claims, finding they lacked actual or constructive knowledge. The appellate court affirmed this decision, concluding that the defendants met their burden in demonstrating no prior knowledge of the visiting priest's conduct and acted diligently once informed.

Sexual HarassmentHostile Work EnvironmentNegligenceNegligent HiringNegligent SupervisionSummary JudgmentEmployer LiabilityConstructive KnowledgeDiscriminationNew York City Human Rights Law
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Curley v. Allstate Insurance

Claimant appealed a Workers' Compensation Board decision denying benefits for a psychiatric disability, which claimant attributed to sexual harassment by a coworker. The employer addressed the issue as a personality conflict. The Board, resolving conflicting testimonies, found no sexual harassment and concluded that the claimant's stress was not beyond that of a normal work environment. The court affirmed the Board's determination, finding substantial evidence to support its conclusion that no accidental injury occurred, despite a treating psychologist's diagnosis.

Workers' CompensationPsychiatric DisabilitySexual HarassmentWorkplace StressAccidental InjuryBoard DecisionAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceFactual DisputeTreating Psychologist
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Miles v. State Insurance Fund

Claimant sought workers’ compensation benefits for work-related stress resulting from a demotion and reassignment of duties. The Workers’ Compensation Board denied the claim, determining that the demotion was lawful and the employer's poor handling of the situation did not constitute bad faith under Workers’ Compensation Law § 2 [7]. Claimant appealed, asserting that the stress stemmed from the employer's pattern of harassment, humiliation, and conspiracy, rather than a lawful personnel decision. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, concluding that the issue of good faith was a factual matter for the Board and that the record contained substantial evidence to support its findings.

Workers' CompensationStress ClaimDemotionPersonnel DecisionEmployer ConductBad FaithHarassmentFactual IssueAppellate ReviewSubstantial Evidence
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 28, 2000

Claim of Charlotten v. New York State Police

Claimant, a State Trooper since 1981, filed a claim in 1996 for mental injury due to 'multiple stressors on the job.' The Workers’ Compensation Board denied the claim, concluding that the work-related stress did not constitute a compensable accident, as it was not greater than that usually occurring in a normal work environment. Claimant appealed, citing stressors such as investigating gruesome traffic fatalities, perceived harassment and racial discrimination by supervisors, job transfers, and an incident where other Troopers allegedly laughed at him. The Board's determination was supported by substantial evidence, finding no proof of discrimination or harassment, and concluding that the other incidents were typical for a State Trooper. The decision of the Workers' Compensation Board was affirmed.

Mental injuryWork-related stressState TrooperWorkers' Compensation BoardCompensable accidentFactual issueSubstantial evidenceAppellate reviewEmployment conditionsJob stressors
References
7
Showing 1-10 of 900 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational