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

Case No. 03-14-00774-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 28, 2015

Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and Nicole Oria, in Her Official Capacity as Executive Director// Ellen Jefferson, D.V.M. v. Ellen Jefferson, D.V.M.// Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and Nicole Oria, in Her Official Capacity as Executive Director

This Amicus Curiae Brief is filed on behalf of Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit animal welfare organization. It opposes the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners' (the 'Board') enforcement actions against Ellen Jefferson, D.V.M., alleging these actions illegally expand the Board's jurisdiction beyond statutory limits and usurp animal welfare responsibilities delegated to the Texas Board of Health and municipalities. The brief argues the Board's actions violate both unambiguous statutory language and the Board's own rules, attempting to regulate animal welfare instead of merely licensing veterinarians. Best Friends contends that if unchecked, the Board's overreach will debilitate no-kill shelters and lead to an exponential increase in animal euthanasia in Texas.

Veterinary Licensing ActAnimal WelfareTexas Board of Veterinary Medical ExaminersJurisdiction DisputeNo-Kill SheltersRegulatory OverreachStatutory InterpretationAmicus CuriaeProperty RightsTexas Occupations Code
References
59
Case No. 03-08-00077-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 14, 2008

Mitz v. TEXAS STATE BD. OF VET. MED. EXAM.

This case involves a group of non-veterinarian equine dental practitioners and horse breeders (Appellants) challenging the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners' regulation of equine dentistry as unconstitutional. The Board had deemed these services, including teeth extraction and floating, as the practice of veterinary medicine, requiring a license. Appellants sought a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief, alleging violations of due course of law, monopoly prohibition, and equal protection provisions of the Texas Constitution. The trial court initially granted the Board's plea to the jurisdiction, citing failure to exhaust administrative remedies and primary agency jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals reversed, holding that Appellants were not required to exhaust administrative remedies as their claims involved purely constitutional challenges, over which the Board had neither exclusive nor primary jurisdiction. The court also found the case ripe for judicial review and that the practitioners had standing due to imminent enforcement actions and potential civil/criminal liability.

Constitutional ChallengeVeterinary Licensing ActEquine DentistryAdministrative RemediesPrimary JurisdictionExclusive JurisdictionDeclaratory JudgmentInjunctive ReliefRipeness DoctrineStanding Doctrine
References
19
Case No. 2017-08-1047
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 29, 2018

Parker, Donna v. Northgate Veterinary Hospital, LLC

Donna Parker, a kennel manager, sustained a head and shoulder injury after tripping at work. She was diagnosed with a displaced shoulder fracture and head contusions. Despite reporting ongoing headaches, memory loss, and confusion, her authorized physician, Dr. Grinspun, did not refer her to a neurologist. Ms. Parker sought neurological treatment through an expedited hearing, arguing the symptoms stemmed from her work injury. The Court, however, denied her request, stating that while her testimony was credible, she failed to provide sufficient expert medical proof to establish a likelihood of prevailing on the merits for entitlement to neurological treatment.

Workers' CompensationExpedited HearingNeurological TreatmentShoulder InjuryHead InjuryMedical NecessityExpert Medical ProofEmployee TestimonyMaximum Medical ImprovementCognitive Issues
References
5
Case No. M2010-01582-COA-R3-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 21, 2011

Kevin Cox, D.V.M. v. Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners

Kevin Cox, a licensed veterinarian, appealed an administrative decision by the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. The Board sanctioned Dr. Cox for improperly prescribing medications to farms without establishing a proper veterinarian-client-patient relationship. The Chancery Court affirmed the Board's decision. The Court of Appeals reviewed the Board's findings, concluding that there was substantial and material evidence to support the six violations related to prescribing medications without examination and sufficient follow-up. The court also found that the Board's decision was not arbitrary or capricious, rejecting arguments about insufficient notice and bias. The imposition of Type A sanctions was also upheld due to the knowing and willful nature of the violations and potential public health threats, affirming the decisions of both the Board and the Chancery Court.

Veterinary Medical EthicsPrescription PracticesAdministrative Law AppealProfessional MisconductVeterinarian-Client-Patient RelationshipStandard of CareDue ProcessSanctionsTennessee Court of AppealsRegulatory Board Decision
References
18
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re S. Children

This child protective proceeding was initiated by The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children against a father accused of sexually abusing his young son, Scott, in the presence of his older son, Jonathan. When Jonathan, an alleged eyewitness, became reluctant to testify in his father's presence, the petitioner requested his testimony be taken in camera. The court denied this application, citing the respondent's due process right to confront witnesses and finding insufficient evidence of a pathological impact on the child. The court emphasized the absence of statutory provisions for in camera testimony in such cases and suggested legislative consideration for future procedures to balance child protection with parental rights.

Child Protective ProceedingIn Camera TestimonyDue Process RightsRight to ConfrontationChild WitnessSexual Abuse AllegationsFamily Court ActWitness ReluctanceBalancing of InterestsExclusion of Respondent
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Kurz v. St. Francis Hospital

The defendants moved to preclude plaintiffs' expert testimony on causation or, alternatively, for a pretrial hearing regarding the plaintiff's vision loss. The plaintiff developed visual disturbances shortly after receiving Amiodarone intravenously following cardiac bypass surgery in 2008. Defendants argued a lack of scientific evidence linking short-term Amiodarone use to optic neuropathy, while the plaintiff's expert contended that rapid drug absorption could cause optic disc edema, a known side effect. Furthermore, the plaintiff highlighted medical records where defendant physicians themselves initially attributed the vision loss to the medication. The court, applying the Frye standard, determined that general causation—Amiodarone causing vision loss—is an established medical theory. It further ruled that the specific causation tests from Parker and Cornell, typically applied to toxic tort cases, were not strictly applicable here due to the distinct nature of medical malpractice. Consequently, the court denied the defendants' motion, finding an adequate foundation for the admissibility of the plaintiff's expert testimony, with any disputes regarding specific timing affecting only the weight of the evidence, not its admissibility.

Medical MalpracticeExpert TestimonyCausationAmiodaroneOptic NeuropathyVision LossMotion in LimineFrye StandardParker StandardCornell Standard
References
9
Case No. ADJ8075448
Regular
Oct 10, 2017

ALEX ROBLES vs. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY, UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration of a trial judge's award in favor of applicant Alex Robles against Southern California Gas Company (SCGC). SCGC sought reconsideration, asserting that crucial testimony was omitted from the trial record. The WCAB ordered transcription of all trial testimony to ensure a full and fair adjudication of SCGC's petition. This action was necessary to allow the Board further study of the factual and legal issues involved.

Petition for ReconsiderationFindings and AwardAOE/COEGoing and Coming RuleMinutes of HearingSummary of EvidenceTrial TestimonyWCAB Rule 10740Transcript TranscriptionElectronic Adjudication Management System
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Mitz v. Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners

A group of non-veterinarian equine dental practitioners and horse breeders, collectively 'Appellants,' sought declaratory judgment and injunctive relief against the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. They challenged the constitutionality of the Board's regulation of equine dentistry under the Veterinary Licensing Act. The trial court initially granted the Board's plea to the jurisdiction, abating the case due to failure to exhaust administrative remedies and primary agency jurisdiction. However, the appellate court reversed this decision, ruling that the Appellants were not required to exhaust administrative remedies before pursuing their constitutional claims. The court affirmed that the Board lacked exclusive or primary jurisdiction over constitutional challenges and that the case was ripe for judicial review, with the practitioners having established standing.

Constitutional LawAdministrative LawVeterinary Licensing ActEquine DentistryDeclaratory JudgmentInjunctive ReliefExhaustion of RemediesPrimary JurisdictionExclusive JurisdictionRipeness
References
20
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Cano v. Everest Minerals Corp.

This is a toxic tort case brought by fifty-three individuals and related claimants against defendants engaged in uranium mining and milling activities in Karnes County, Texas. Plaintiffs allege that exposure to ionizing radiation from uranium ore and its decay products caused their various cancers. The Court considered Defendants’ motion to exclude the expert testimony of Dr. Malin Dollinger, the Plaintiffs’ sole expert on specific causation. Dr. Dollinger's methodology, based on differential diagnosis and the linear no-threshold hypothesis, was found unreliable for determining specific causation. Consequently, the Court granted Defendants' motion to exclude Dr. Dollinger's testimony and subsequently granted summary judgment in favor of the Defendants, dismissing the case with prejudice due to Plaintiffs' lack of admissible proof on specific causation.

Toxic TortUranium MiningRadiation ExposureCancer CausationExpert TestimonyDaubert StandardSummary JudgmentSpecific CausationGeneral CausationEpidemiology
References
46
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Washington v. Montefiore Hospital

Claimant, a mechanical engineer, sustained a work-related injury and received initial workers' compensation benefits. The employer later contested further disability, leading to a Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) order for medical expert depositions, including one from the employer's expert, Robert Orlandi. Claimant's counsel objected to Orlandi's telephone deposition but failed to formally challenge the notice or raise a specific objection to the oath administration during the deposition. Orlandi's testimony, taken via telephone with the court reporter in New York and Orlandi in Connecticut, concluded that the claimant was no longer disabled. Both the WCLJ and the Workers' Compensation Board credited Orlandi's testimony, finding the claimant waived objections to the deposition's procedural irregularities. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, ruling that the claimant's failure to make a timely and specific objection to the oath's administration during the deposition constituted a waiver, thus allowing the Board to properly rely on Orlandi's evidence.

Workers' CompensationMedical TestimonyDeposition ProcedureWaiver of ObjectionCPLROath AdministrationDisability AssessmentAppellate ReviewExpert WitnessProcedural Irregularities
References
2
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