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

Case No. 2014 NY Slip Op 06377
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 25, 2014

National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA v. 221-223 W. 82 Owners Corp.

The Appellate Division, First Department, reversed a Supreme Court order, granting National Union Fire Insurance Company's motion for summary judgment against JRP Contracting, Inc. The court declared that National Union had no duty to defend or indemnify JRP in an underlying personal injury action. National Union successfully argued that the plaintiff's alleged injuries (ligament and meniscal tears) were not "grave injuries" under Workers' Compensation Law § 11. Additionally, National Union's policy contained an exclusion for "liability assumed under a contract," further absolving it from the contractual indemnification claim. JRP's claim of prejudice due to National Union's withdrawal from defense was also rejected, as National Union had expressly reserved its rights.

Summary JudgmentGrave InjuryWorkers' Compensation LawDuty to DefendDuty to IndemnifyInsurance Policy ExclusionContractual IndemnificationPersonal InjuryAppellate Review
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Betal Environmental Corp. v. Local Union Number 78

In this labor action, Plaintiff Betal Environmental Corporation sued Local Union 78 for unfair labor practices under the LMRA and York Hunter Construction, Inc. for breach of contract. The court denied Betal’s claims against Local 78, finding no causal link between the union's actions and Betal's injury. However, the court granted Betal’s breach of contract claim against York, ruling that York improperly terminated Betal's subcontract and failed to compensate it under the contract's termination for convenience clause. York was ordered to pay Betal $16,000 in compensatory damages plus prejudgment interest, but lost profits were denied as they were excluded by the contract.

Labor Management Relations ActUnfair Labor PracticesSecondary BoycottJurisdictional DisputeBreach of ContractSubcontracting AgreementLabor Harmony ProvisionInformational PicketingCompensatory DamagesPrejudgment Interest
References
24
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Mayes v. Local 106, International Union of Operating Engineers

The case involves plaintiff George A. Mayes suing Local 106, International Union of Operating Engineers, and its officers for alleged discrimination in job referrals and denial of rights under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). The defendants counterclaimed, seeking expenses incurred from Mayes' "baseless charges" against union members James Tommaney and Dan Lewis, citing violations of the Union's constitution and state law tort and breach of contract claims. Mayes moved for summary judgment, arguing good faith in filing charges under LMRDA and lack of court jurisdiction over the counterclaims. The court found material factual disputes regarding Mayes' motives, asserting jurisdiction over the counterclaims under 29 U.S.C. § 185. It also determined that the tort and breach of contract claims were sufficiently pleaded, thereby denying Mayes' motion for summary judgment and allowing the counterclaims to proceed.

Labour LawUnion DisputeSummary JudgmentCounterclaimsLMRDAFree SpeechUnion ConstitutionJurisdictionTort ClaimsBreach of Contract
References
13
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Washington Heights-West Harlem-Inwood Mental Health Council, Inc. v. District 1199, National Union of Hospital & Health Care Employees, RWDSU

This case involves a dispute between District 1199, National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, and Washington Heights-West Harlem-Inwood Mental Health Council, Inc. The union sought to enforce an arbitration award requiring the Council to rehire and provide back pay to an employee, Edward Lane. The Council cross-moved to vacate the award, arguing that no valid collective bargaining agreement with an arbitration clause existed between the parties. Although the parties had acted under the terms of a proposed agreement for a period, including processing some grievances and wage increases, no formal, signed contract had ever been executed. Citing recent appellate court decisions emphasizing contract formalism over implied intent, the District Court granted the Council's motion to vacate the arbitration award and denied the union's motion to enforce it, concluding that without a signed agreement, there was no contractual duty to arbitrate.

Arbitration AwardSummary JudgmentContract FormationCollective BargainingLabor DisputeContract FormalismVacation of AwardEnforcement of AwardMeeting of the MindsFederal Court
References
23
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Pizer v. Trade Union Service, Inc.

The plaintiff, as president of a labor union, initiated an action seeking to obtain a roster of the union membership from an independent trade newspaper. The defendant, currently possessing the list, was instructed by the union's secretary-treasurer not to release it to the plaintiff due to an internal union dispute concerning the plaintiff's authority and alleged personal use of the list. The defendant's contract with the union did not explicitly provide for such delivery. The Special Term had previously granted a temporary injunction compelling the defendant to surrender the list. However, the appellate court reversed this decision, stating that a mandatory injunction pendente lite is an extraordinary measure justified only in unusual situations to maintain the status quo, which was not the case here given the sharp factual dispute. The court denied the motion and emphasized the need for a speedy plenary trial.

Labor Union DisputeTemporary InjunctionMandatory InjunctionPendente LiteTrade NewspaperMembership RosterUnion FactionsAuthority DisputeAppellate DivisionReversal
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re the Arbitration of Controversies between Central Aviation & Marine Corp. & International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers

This case concerns a motion by a Union to compel arbitration based on an alleged collective bargaining agreement dated August 8, 1962. The Employer opposes arbitration, contending no valid contract was formed. Affidavits from both sides presented conflicting accounts of negotiation authority and intent, particularly regarding John F. Riley's power to bind the Employer. The National Labor Relations Board had previously found the August 8, 1962 document to be a collective bargaining contract for bar purposes in a separate decertification hearing. However, the District Court, finding the N.L.R.B. order not res judicata and based on the parties' conduct post-August 8, 1962, concluded that no collective bargaining agreement was entered into. Consequently, the Union's motion was denied and the Employer's cross-petition dismissed.

ArbitrationCollective Bargaining AgreementContract ValidityLabor UnionEmployer-Employee RelationsNational Labor Relations Board (NLRB)NLRB OrderDecertification PetitionAuthority to ContractGood Faith Bargaining
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Gerber v. Amalgamated Transit Union Division 580

The plaintiff was fired by CNY Centro, Inc. and filed a grievance which the defendant union failed to arbitrate within the stipulated time. The plaintiff sued the union alleging negligence, breach of collective bargaining agreement, and fraudulent misrepresentation. The union moved to dismiss, arguing federal preemption and a six-month statute of limitations. The court held that it had jurisdiction over unfair representation claims in state courts. It applied the six-month federal statute of limitations to the negligence and breach of contract claims, finding them time-barred. However, the court applied New York's six-year statute of limitations for fraudulent misrepresentation, finding that claim timely.

Unfair RepresentationStatute of LimitationsFederal PreemptionLabor DisputesGrievance ArbitrationCollective Bargaining AgreementFraudulent MisrepresentationState Court JurisdictionNational Labor Relations ActDuty of Fair Representation
References
17
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

NECA Ins., Ltd. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co.

Plaintiff NIL Insurance Ltd., a reinsurance company, initiated a diversity action against National Union Fire Insurance Co. and Buchanan Management Company. NIL sought recovery for moneys paid in connection with a personal injury settlement by National Union and punitive damages, alleging negligence, bad faith, and breach of contract related to settlement discussions and payment. National Union and Buchanan moved to compel arbitration of these claims. The court granted National Union's motion, finding that the reinsurance agreement's arbitration clause broadly covered all disputes, including those concerning negligence and recklessness, which could be established within arbitration. The action was dismissed without prejudice, pending the outcome of the arbitration.

ReinsuranceArbitration ClauseContract InterpretationNegligence ClaimsBad FaithBreach of ContractSettlement DisputesFederal JurisdictionMotion to Compel ArbitrationDismissal Without Prejudice
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Yonkers Electric Contracting Corp. v. Local Union No. 3, International Brotherhood Electrical Workers'

This case involves a dispute between Yonkers Electric Contracting Corporation and Local Union No. 3 International Brotherhood Electrical Workers’ AFL-CIO regarding a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and its arbitration clause. The Union filed a grievance alleging violations of hiring provisions, but failed to adhere to the PLA's multi-step grievance procedure. A New York Supreme Court judge had previously stayed arbitration due to the Union's procedural non-compliance. Subsequently, the Union initiated a new grievance concerning the same alleged violations and sought to compel arbitration in federal court after removing the case from state court. The federal court, presided over by Judge McMahon, determined it lacked subject matter jurisdiction under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, as the federal action effectively sought to review or overturn the prior state court decision. The court found the new grievance concerned issues "inextricably intertwined" with the prior state court ruling. Consequently, the federal court granted Yonkers Electric's motion to remand the case back to the New York Supreme Court.

Rooker-Feldman doctrineSubject Matter JurisdictionRemandArbitration AgreementProject Labor AgreementGrievance ProcedureFederalismState Court Judgment ReviewLabor Management Relations ActCollateral Attack
References
13
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

International Union of Operating Engineers Local Union No. 17 v. Swank Associated Co.

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local Union No. 17, initiated an action to compel arbitration against Swank Associated Company, Inc., following a labor grievance. Swank removed the case to federal court and filed a third-party action against Local 210, arguing the matter constituted a jurisdictional dispute not subject to arbitration. The court, presided over by Magistrate Judge Schroeder, examined the collective bargaining agreement to determine the arbitrability of the dispute. It concluded that while an arbitrator could determine if the issue was a jurisdictional dispute, they could not resolve it on the merits if it was found to be jurisdictional. Consequently, the plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings was denied, and the grievance was directed to arbitration solely to ascertain whether it constituted a jurisdictional dispute under the agreement.

Labor LawArbitration AgreementJurisdictional DisputesCollective BargainingLabor Management Relations ActFederal CourtPleadings MotionContract InterpretationArbitrabilityUnion Rights
References
6
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