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
Feb 06, 1998

Claim of Marillo v. Cantalician Center for Learning

The claimant, an Assistant to the Executive Director at the Cantalician Center for Learning, sought workers' compensation benefits due to mentally disabling emotional stress from work, citing increased responsibilities, financial issues, conflicts with superiors, and distress over the deaths of two children under the Center's care. The Workers' Compensation Board initially found the injury compensable, ruling it an 'accidental injury' stemming from undue work-related stress. The employer and its third-party administrator appealed, but the Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision. The court concluded that substantial evidence supported the finding that the claimant experienced greater than normal work-related stress and that the psychiatric condition was causally linked to employment, rejecting the appeal without costs.

Emotional StressMental DisabilityWork-Related AccidentCompensable InjuryAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidencePsychiatric TreatmentPanic AttacksTreating PhysiciansCausal Relationship
References
9
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Davis v. Drug & Hospital Employees Union — Local 1199

The claimant, president of an employer union, suffered a myocardial infarction on February 6, 1963. The Workmen's Compensation Board found this to be an accidental injury caused by emotional stress and strenuous work activities. The employer and its insurance carrier appealed, arguing against the finding of an accidental injury due to a lack of "eventful happening" or "unusual emotional stress." The court affirmed the Board's decision, emphasizing that unusual emotional stress and increased workload, including long hours, difficult negotiations, strikes, and court appearances, supported the finding of a compensable accident. Medical testimony also established a causative link between these activities and the infarction.

Myocardial InfarctionEmotional StressWork-Related InjuryDisability BenefitsWorkers' CompensationCausationUnusual StressUnion OrganizingIncreased WorkloadAppellate Division
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 19, 1969

Claim of Mulholland v. New York State Department of Public Works

The case involves an appeal by a claimant whose husband, an engineer for the New York State Department of Public Works, died from coronary arteriosclerosis after experiencing significant emotional stress. The stress stemmed from an upcoming experimental meeting and a dilemma regarding the falsification of inventory data to prevent dissipation of stockpiled goods. The appellant contended that this emotional strain was a causal factor in his fatal coronary occlusion. However, the Workmen’s Compensation Board denied benefits, a decision affirmed on appeal. The court ruled that the emotional strain described was not greater than the ordinary stress workers occasionally face, thus not qualifying as an accidental injury under the Workmen’s Compensation Law.

Emotional StressCoronary OcclusionWorkers' Compensation BenefitsAccidental Injury ClaimCausationEmployment-Related StressBoard Decision ReviewJudicial ReviewFatal InjuryWork-Related Death
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Hannon v. Ellicott Square Associates

This case concerns an appeal from a Workmen's Compensation Board decision filed November 22, 1974. The board had found that prolonged emotional stress and strain contributed to the death of a 50-year-old building manager, whose existing hypertensive cardiovascular disease was exacerbated by the stress. The stress stemmed from a portion of his building's cornice falling, leading to the manager's collapse and subsequent death from a massive intercerebral hemorrhage. Medical experts provided conflicting testimony regarding the causality between the emotional strain and death. However, the Board, exercising its fact-finding powers, accepted the opinion that the emotional strain was an unusual factor contributing to his fatal attack. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, concluding it was supported by substantial medical evidence and should not be disturbed.

emotional stresshypertensive cardiovascular diseaseintercerebral hemorrhageworkplace accidentmedical causalitycompensable deathWorkers' Compensation Lawsubstantial evidenceBoard decision affirmedcoronary heart disease
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of McMicking v. City of Niagara Falls

The case involves an appeal from a Workers’ Compensation Board decision denying occupational disease and death benefits to the claimant's decedent. The decedent, a former motorcycle policeman, suffered a cerebral concussion and fractures in 1979, and two heart attacks in 1980 and 1981, ultimately leading to his death. While the claimant's doctor argued a causal link between the decedent's stressful employment and coronary artery disease, the employer's cardiologist found no connection. The Workers' Compensation Board reversed an initial award, concluding that the decedent's work did not involve undue physical or emotional stress, a finding that was affirmed on appeal given the Board's authority to resolve conflicting medical opinions.

Occupational DiseaseDeath BenefitsCausally Related DisabilityCoronary Artery DiseaseHeart AttackPolice EmploymentWork-Related StressConflicting Medical EvidenceWorkers' Compensation Board DecisionAppellate Review
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Ornstein v. New York City Health & Hospitals Corp.

This case addresses the viability of claims for emotional and psychological injury, specifically AIDS phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder, following an HIV exposure. The plaintiff, a nurse, was accidentally pricked by a contaminated needle and subsequently developed severe emotional distress. The Supreme Court had allowed her claims for post-traumatic stress disorder to extend beyond the established six-month limitation for AIDS phobia. However, this appellate court reversed that decision, ruling that all related emotional damages must adhere to the six-month period, based on the scientific consensus regarding the likelihood of HIV infection detection.

AIDS PhobiaHIV ExposureEmotional DistressPost-Traumatic Stress DisorderNegligent Infliction of Emotional DistressSix-Month Limitation RuleMedical ConsensusObjective StandardNeedle Stick InjuryWorkers' Compensation Psychiatrist
References
19
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
Jan 06, 1988

Claim of Bilow v. Town of Chateaugay

Claimant's husband, Andrew Bilow, suffered a fatal heart attack while operating a bulldozer for the Town of Chateaugay Highway Department under close supervision. Initially, a Workers' Compensation Law Judge denied benefits, ruling no causal relationship. However, the Workers' Compensation Board reversed, relying on an impartial cardiologist, Dr. John Filippone, who opined that emotional stress from the work activity aggravated Bilow's pre-existing cardiac condition, causing his death. The employer appealed, questioning the inference of emotional stress without direct evidence. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, confirming that a medical opinion with a supporting hypothesis constitutes substantial evidence and that the Board could reasonably infer stress from the circumstances, thereby upholding the finding of a causal relationship.

Workers' Compensation AppealFatal Heart AttackCausal RelationshipEmotional StressPre-existing Cardiac PathologyMedical OpinionSubstantial EvidenceWorkers’ Compensation Board ReversalEmployer AppealOccupational Stress
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Kaliski v. Fairchild Republic Co.

Claimant, an employee of Fairchild Republic Company, experienced emotional distress and anxiety depression after two arguments with a co-worker, Martha White. The arguments involved disparaging racial remarks and taunts about claimant's infertility. Claimant filed for workers' compensation benefits, which were initially disallowed by a Workers' Compensation Law Judge. However, the Workers' Compensation Board reversed this decision, finding the claim compensable, stating that White's statements constituted "more than the usual irritations". The employer appealed, arguing the stress was not beyond normal work environment stress. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, ruling that the determination of stress level is a factual issue for the Board and that ample evidence supported the Board's finding that the remarks were exceptional. The court also noted that claimant's pre-existing sensitivity or anxiety did not undermine the decision, as the encounters could precipitate a latent condition or aggravate a preexisting emotional instability.

Emotional DistressWorkplace HarassmentCo-worker DisputeAccidental Injury ClaimPsychic InjuryPre-existing Emotional InstabilityCausationSubstantial Evidence ReviewWorkers' Compensation AppealInfertility Taunts
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 01, 2006

Sanchez v. City of New York

The Supreme Court, New York County, denied plaintiffs’ motion to vacate a settlement pertaining to an infant plaintiff's emotional injuries. The appellate court unanimously affirmed this denial. Plaintiffs, including the infant's guardian, claimed they only discovered the true extent of the infant's emotional injuries, including post-traumatic stress syndrome, in the summer of 2005 following an examination by a social worker. However, the court found that these psychological injuries were known from the case's inception in 2001 and were appropriately considered when the settlement was agreed upon in December 2004. Evidence, including a 2001 psychiatric evaluation, confirmed the infant's diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder prior to the settlement agreement.

Settlement DisputeInfant's RightsPost-Traumatic Stress DisorderVacating SettlementCompromise OrderPsychological HarmSearch Warrant ExecutionAppellate AffirmationParental GuardianJudicial Discretion
References
2
Showing 1-10 of 915 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