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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Sheet Metal Division of Capitol District Sheet Metal, Roofing & Air Conditioning Contractors Ass'n v. Local Union 38 of the Sheet Metal Workers International Ass'n

The plaintiffs, a coalition of sheet metal contractor associations, filed a lawsuit against Local Union 38 and a related employer association, alleging violations of federal and state antitrust and labor laws. The core of the dispute was a collective bargaining agreement provision mandating that all sheet metal fabrication be performed within Local 38's geographical jurisdiction, which plaintiffs argued constituted an illegal trade barrier. Defendants countered that the provision was a lawful work preservation clause, protected under labor law exemptions. The court ultimately ruled that the challenged clause was neither a valid work preservation measure nor exempt from antitrust scrutiny. Consequently, the court granted the plaintiffs' motion for a declaratory judgment, declaring the provision void and unenforceable due to its violation of both the National Labor Relations Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act.

AntitrustLabor LawCollective Bargaining AgreementWork Preservation ClauseSherman ActNLRADeclaratory JudgmentTrade BarrierGeographic JurisdictionSecondary Boycott
References
31
Case No. 97 Civ. 6399
Regular Panel Decision

Sheet Metal Contract. Ass'n of Northern New Jersey v. Sheet Metal Workers'intern. Ass'n

The Sheet Metal Contractors Association (SMCA) sought to enjoin the reaffiliation of Local 22 and the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (SMWIA), alleging racial discrimination and fraudulent inducement, citing violations of federal and New Jersey law. This action is linked to prior court orders in the EEOC litigation (E.E.O.C. v. Local 638) that found unions, including Local 25 (a non-party to this case but involved in EEOC), engaged in discrimination and mandated remedial actions. SMCA contends the proposed reaffiliation would economically disadvantage Local 25 due to differing minority compositions and wage structures, thereby undermining compliance with existing anti-discrimination orders. Despite a special master's prior order barring reaffiliation, the defendants proceeded. The court ordered consolidation of this case with the EEOC litigation, finding common questions of law and fact, and declared the reaffiliation agreement invalid until a ruling on SMCA's preliminary injunctive relief motion.

Racial DiscriminationUnion ReaffiliationInjunctive ReliefConsolidation of ActionsCollective Bargaining AgreementSpecial Master FindingsAll Writs ActFederal Rules of Civil ProcedureCourt Orders ComplianceEconomic Disadvantage
References
15
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Pasqualini v. Sheet Metal Workers' National Pension Fund

This case involves principals of Zodiac Industries, Inc. (Carl, Ann, Frank Pasqualini, and Sarah Lido) who sued the Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund, the International, and Local 38 over pension service credits. The plaintiffs sought fifteen years of past service credit, which they claimed was promised to them to induce Zodiac to sign a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The Fund denied these credits, citing plan rules. The Court, however, found that 'extraordinary circumstances' warranted applying the principle of estoppel against the Fund. The court ruled in favor of the four owner-members, declaring them entitled to fifteen years of past service credit and ordering the Fund to reconsider their pension applications. Claims brought by other employees and against the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association and Local 38 were dismissed.

ERISAPension BenefitsPast Service CreditEstoppelCollective Bargaining AgreementUnion OrganizingContract EnforcementEmployee Benefit PlanFiduciary DutyDistrict Court
References
12
Case No. 2021 NY Slip Op 06975
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 14, 2021

WDF Inc. v. Vamco Sheet Metals, Inc.

The Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed an order from the Supreme Court, New York County, which granted plaintiff WDF Inc.'s motion for partial summary judgment on its breach of contract claim against Vamco Sheet Metals, Inc. WDF Inc. successfully demonstrated that Vamco Sheet Metals, Inc. breached their subcontract by failing to provide sufficient workers for the project. The court found Vamco Sheet Metals, Inc.'s arguments unavailing. Fidelity and Deposit Company Maryland was involved as a third-party defendant in the proceedings.

Breach of ContractSummary JudgmentSubcontract DisputeAppellate ReviewFailure to PerformJudicial AffirmationContract LawThird-Party ActionConstruction LawNew York Law
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In Re Puma & Sheet Metal Workers'intern. Ass'n

The petitioner, Thomas C. Puma, an owner-member of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association, Local Union # 137, sought a preliminary injunction to prevent his ouster from the Union. Puma attempted to change his membership status to 'financial core member' but the Union denied this and treated it as a voluntary withdrawal. After the NLRB declined to issue a complaint, Puma filed a petition in district court. The Union moved to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim, arguing Puma was not protected by LMRDA, failed to exhaust internal remedies, and his claims were preempted by the NLRA. The court denied the Union's motion to dismiss, finding jurisdiction under LMRDA and rejecting the preemption and exhaustion arguments. However, the court also denied Puma's motion for a preliminary injunction, citing a lack of demonstrated irreparable harm or likelihood of success on the merits.

LMRDAUnion MembershipPreliminary InjunctionOwner-Member RightsFinancial Core MemberUnion ExpulsionDue ProcessLabor LawJurisdictionNLRA Preemption
References
10
Case No. 15 Civ. 7543 (NSR)
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 22, 2017

Safe Step Walk in Tub Co. v. CKH Industries, Inc.

Plaintiff Safe Step Walk In Tub Co. sued Defendant CKH Industries, Inc. for non-payment of marketing fees. CKH counter-claimed, alleging violations of franchise laws, breach of agreements, unfair business practices, and fraud. Safe Step moved to dismiss CKH’s counter-claims. The court granted in part and denied in part the motion. It determined that the relationship between the parties could plausibly constitute a franchisor-franchisee relationship under the FTC Rule and various state laws, allowing certain counter-claims to proceed. However, claims under New York and Rhode Island's "Little FTC" Acts, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unfair competition were dismissed. The court also held that Tennessee law governs the contract disputes, while state franchise laws apply where Defendant's franchises are located. Additionally, the court found that oral modifications and part performance could sustain certain contract claims despite written-only modification clauses.

Franchise LawBreach of ContractUnfair CompetitionFraudMotion to DismissChoice of LawFederal Trade Commission ActState Franchise ActsPromissory EstoppelUnjust Enrichment
References
87
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Local Union No. 38, Sheet Metal Workers' International Ass'n v. Tripodi

Plaintiff Local Union No. 38, Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association, AFL-CIO (Local 38) sued defendant Anthony Tripodi for $21,000 under Section 301 of the Labor-Management Relations Act. Tripodi filed a counterclaim for damages exceeding $50,000, alleging Local 38 breached its duty of fair representation by failing to enforce a collective bargaining agreement after his layoff. Local 38 moved for partial summary judgment to dismiss the counterclaim, asserting it was filed beyond the applicable six-month statute of limitations, borrowed from Section 10(b) of the National Labor Relations Act. The court, applying precedent from DelCostello and Phelan, determined that Tripodi's claim accrued no later than April 1993, making his counterclaim, filed in January 1995, at least fourteen months late. Consequently, the court granted Local 38's motion, dismissing Tripodi's counterclaim.

Labor-Management Relations ActNational Labor Relations ActBreach of Duty of Fair RepresentationStatute of LimitationsSummary JudgmentCounterclaimUnionCollective Bargaining AgreementFederal Court
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 26, 1971

McLeod v. Sheet Metal Workers International Ass'n, Local Union 28

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) sought a temporary injunction against Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Local Union 28, AFL-CIO, alleging secondary boycott and jurisdictional dispute violations of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The dispute arose from a construction project in New York City where the respondent union's members refused to install air-conditioning fans, claiming the associated masonry casing work belonged to them, not to bricklayers represented by another union (Bricklayers Local 34). The court found reasonable cause to believe the respondent engaged in unfair labor practices by attempting to force contractors to cease business with LaSalla Mason Corporation and to reassign the plenum construction work. Citing potential irreparable injury to the general contractor Diesel Construction, the court concluded that the requested injunctive relief was just and proper. Consequently, a temporary injunction was issued to restrain the respondent's actions.

Labor LawNational Labor Relations ActTemporary InjunctionSecondary BoycottJurisdictional DisputeUnfair Labor PracticesConstruction IndustrySheet Metal WorkersBricklayers UnionContract Dispute
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Vullo v. Sheets (In Re Sheets)

The debtors, James and Irene Sheets, filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition and exempted their two pre-petition personal injury actions under New York State law. After the lawsuits settled post-petition, the trustee initiated an adversary proceeding to claim the proceeds as property of the bankruptcy estate. The court determined that because the personal injury actions were validly exempted from the estate at the commencement of the case, their proceeds did not subsequently become estate property. Citing legal precedent, the decision emphasized that exempted property and its resulting proceeds revert to the debtors' control, not the trustee's. Consequently, the trustee's application for a turnover order seeking these personal injury recoveries was denied.

Bankruptcy LawChapter 7 BankruptcyProperty ExemptionsPersonal Injury ProceedsBankruptcy EstateAdversary ProceedingTurnover OrderNew York Exemption LawDebtor RightsPost-Petition Settlements
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Cabrera v. A-To-Z Signs

Derek Cabrera was injured on September 18, 2012, while walking underneath a covered walkway at SUNY Purchase when a sign fell and struck him. He sued A-To-Z Signs, Inc., the installer, for negligence, alleging improper installation and use of an inadequate anchoring system. Due to sovereign immunity, Cabrera also filed a separate action against the State of New York (SUNY Purchase) in the Court of Claims. A-To-Z Signs, Inc. sought to have the jury apportion liability for Cabrera's injuries between itself and the State, citing CPLR 1601. Cabrera moved in limine to prevent this, arguing prejudice from the 'empty chair defense' as the State could not be joined in the Supreme Court action. The court, lacking Second Department precedent, followed the Third Department's reasoning in Artibee v Home Place Corp. The court ruled that A-To-Z Signs, Inc. could introduce evidence of the State's liability, and the jury would be charged on apportionment, with the State appearing on the verdict sheet, thereby denying Cabrera's motion in limine.

negligenceapportionment of liabilityCPLR 1601empty chair defensesovereign immunityState of New YorkCourt of Claimspersonal injurymotion in liminejoint tortfeasors
References
7
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