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Case Law Database

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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Matter of Williams v. Preferred Meal Systems

Claimant, a driver, suffered injuries to his right knee and back in 2009 while making a delivery, leading to an established workers' compensation claim. The claim was later amended to include consequential adjustment disorder, and the Workers' Compensation Board ultimately found that claimant had sustained a permanent total disability from May 2012 onward. The employer, workers’ compensation carrier, and policy administrator appealed this decision, arguing that further proof was needed regarding claimant's vocational and functional capacity. The court affirmed the Board's decision, holding that extensive evidence of vocational and functional capacity is not required when medical proof demonstrates a permanent total disability and inability to engage in any gainful employment, as benefits continue for life in such cases. The court found substantial evidence in the opinions of treating and independent medical examination orthopedists to support the finding of permanent total disability.

Workers' CompensationPermanent Total DisabilityWage-Earning CapacityMedical ProofVocational CapacityFunctional CapacityAppellate ReviewNew York LawDisability BenefitsClaimant Rights
References
4
Case No. 2021 NY Slip Op 07401
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 23, 2021

Matter of Carola B.-M. v. New York State Off. of Temporary & Disability Assistance

Petitioners Carola B.-M. and Tiara M. challenged the denial of their supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Orleans County Department of Social Services. The benefits were denied because they were deemed ineligible college students. The Appellate Division, Fourth Department, reversed this determination, holding that participation in the Adult Career and Continuing Education Services, Vocational Rehabilitation program (ACCES-VR) qualifies as a Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) program. This status exempts the students from certain SNAP eligibility requirements. The court found that the original determination was based on an unreasonable interpretation of relevant regulations, annulled the decision, granted the petition, and remitted the case for a calculation of retroactive benefits.

SNAP benefitscollege student eligibilityJob Training Partnership ActACCES-VRvocational rehabilitationCPLR article 78regulatory interpretationpublic assistancefood stampsAppellate Division
References
28
Case No. ADJ11184599, ADJ11184523
Regular
Feb 24, 2020

Gregory White vs. Sky 2 Collision Corporation, Illinois Midwest Insurance Company, Inc., National Casualty Company

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied Gregory White's petition for reconsideration of a $47\%$ permanent disability award. White argued he was permanently totally disabled due to vocational limitations, but the Board found substantial evidence supported his ability to benefit from vocational rehabilitation. The Board affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's finding that White was not permanently totally disabled and that his vocational expert's report was less persuasive than the defense vocational expert's. Issues regarding vocational costs were deferred pending a separate petition.

Cumulative traumaSpecific injuryLow back injuryLumbar spineBacterial infectionStreptoccocusLaminectomyPermanent disabilityVocational rehabilitationQualified injured worker
References
4
Case No. ADJ8287242, ADJ9662736, ADJ9662737, ADJ9662738, ADJ9662740, ADJ9662743, ADJ9662744, ADJ9662745, ADJ9662746, ADJ9662747, ADJ9662748
Regular
Jul 29, 2019

TOBIAS ZUCCO vs. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF STATE HOSPITALS, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case involves multiple workers' compensation claims by applicant Tobias Zucco against the California Department of State Hospitals. The initial decision found a $77\%$ permanent disability based on scheduled impairments, rejecting vocational experts' opinions of total disability. Applicant sought reconsideration, arguing for unapportioned permanent total disability. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinded the prior decision, and remanded the case to find $80\%$ permanent disability, incorporating a $20\%$ non-industrial apportionment to the vocational experts' findings of total disability. The Board found the vocational experts' conclusions supported overall permanent total disability, overriding the trial judge's credibility assessment.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPsychiatric TechnicianCumulative InjuryPermanent DisabilityVocational RehabilitationPermanent Total DisabilityAgreed Medical EvaluatorApportionmentCredibilityJoint Findings of Fact
References
0
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Smith v. New York State & Local Retirement Systems

Petitioner, a taxpayer services representative, sustained a back injury in March 1981 while lifting forms, leading to a decline in attendance and eventual termination in November 1989. She applied for accidental and ordinary disability retirement benefits, both of which were denied by the Comptroller. The accidental disability claim was denied because the incident was not deemed an 'accident' under Retirement and Security Law § 63. The ordinary disability claim was denied as untimely, having been filed approximately six months after her termination, exceeding the 90-day limit stipulated by Retirement and Social Security Law § 62. The Supreme Court dismissed the challenge to the ordinary disability denial due to untimeliness and transferred the accidental disability challenge to this Court. This Court confirmed the Comptroller's determination on both counts, rejecting the petitioner's estoppel argument regarding the untimely ordinary disability application and finding substantial evidence to support the finding that the injury did not constitute an 'accident' within the meaning of the relevant law, as it resulted from ordinary employment duties without an unexpected event.

Disability Retirement BenefitsAccidental DisabilityOrdinary DisabilityUntimely ApplicationEstoppel Against GovernmentWork-Related InjuryBack InjuryDefinition of AccidentOrdinary Employment DutiesSubstantial Evidence Review
References
16
Case No. ADJ8903652
Regular
Nov 30, 2017

Deric Hobson vs. BECHTEL GROUP, INC.

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration, amending the original award to find applicant permanently totally disabled (100% permanent disability). This decision overturned the trial judge's finding of 88% permanent disability, accepting the applicant's argument that his admitted Valley Fever injury rendered him unemployable. The Board found persuasive the vocational expert's opinion that the applicant's chronic pain, fatigue, and concentration issues made him unemployable and not amenable to vocational rehabilitation, despite the defense's vocational expert's opposing view. The case was returned for a new award reflecting 100% permanent disability.

Valley FeverCoccidiomycosiscumulative traumapermanent total disabilityvocational expertAMA GuidesWhole Person Impairmentsemi-sedentary workactivities of daily livingvocational rehabilitation
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Matter of Franklin v. New England Motor Freight

Claimant, a tractor-trailer truck driver, suffered work-related back injuries in 2012 and 2013, leading to disability benefits. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge initially determined a 75% loss of wage-earning capacity, factoring in vocational considerations. However, the Workers' Compensation Board reduced the award, ruling that vocational factors are not applicable for temporary disability determinations. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, emphasizing that Workers’ Compensation Law § 15 (5-a) does not permit consideration of vocational factors for temporary partial disabilities, reserving such considerations for the duration of permanent partial disability benefits.

Workers' Compensation LawWage-earning capacityTemporary partial disabilityPermanent partial disabilityVocational factorsAppellate reviewBack injuryTractor-trailer truck driverInjury recurrenceCompensation rate
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Cowley v. Berryhill

Plaintiff appeals the Commissioner of Social Security's denial of disability benefits. The District Court affirmed the Commissioner's decision, upholding the Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) finding that the plaintiff was not disabled under the Social Security Act. The court found that the ALJ properly assessed medical opinions from a treating therapist and a consulting psychologist, giving appropriate weight and providing sufficient explanations. The ALJ's determination of the plaintiff's residual functional capacity (RFC) and the vocational expert's testimony regarding suitable alternative employment were also supported by substantial evidence. Consequently, the plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings was denied, and the Commissioner's cross-motion was granted.

Disability BenefitsSocial Security ActAdministrative Law JudgeMedical Opinion AssessmentResidual Functional CapacityVocational Expert TestimonyMental Health ImpairmentsAsthmaBipolar DisorderMajor Depressive Disorder
References
13
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 15, 2012

Hamzik v. Office for People with Developmental Disabilities

Plaintiff John J. Hamzik sued the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and several individual employees, alleging discrimination based on sex, age, and disability, as well as equal protection, due process, and retaliation claims under federal and state laws, including Title VII, ADEA, and ADA. Defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint, and plaintiff cross-moved to file a second amended complaint. The District Court, finding that many claims were barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity or failure to exhaust administrative remedies, and that the remaining claims failed to state a plausible cause of action, granted the defendants' motion to dismiss. All federal claims were dismissed with prejudice, the cross-motion was denied as futile, and the remaining state law claims were dismissed without prejudice.

DiscriminationRetaliationDue ProcessEqual ProtectionTitle VIIADEAADAEleventh Amendment ImmunityAdministrative ExhaustionMotion to Dismiss
References
50
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 29, 2015

Matter of Rosales v. Eugene J. Felice Landscaping

The case involves an appeal by an employer and its workers’ compensation carrier from a Workers’ Compensation Board decision. The Board affirmed a WCLJ ruling that the claimant, a landscaper injured in 2010, sustained a permanent partial disability and a 90% loss of wage-earning capacity. The WCLJ had considered various vocational factors, including the claimant's age, limited English skills, and low education, to determine a 10% wage-earning capacity and a $300 weekly benefit rate. The employer argued that vocational factors should not be used to determine wage-earning capacity for computing the compensation rate in permanent partial disability cases. However, the appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, distinguishing permanent from temporary disabilities and concluding that vocational factors are appropriately considered under Workers’ Compensation Law § 15 (5-a) when fixing wage-earning capacity in permanent partial disability cases without actual earnings, especially when the injury contributed to the loss.

permanent partial disabilitywage-earning capacityvocational factorsWorkers' Compensation Law § 15benefit durationcompensation ratephysical impairmentback surgerylimited English skillseducational background
References
10
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