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

Case No. Nos. 56 & 58
Regular Panel Decision
May 21, 2020

Matter of Seawright v. Board of Elections / Matter of Hawatmeh v. State Board of Elections

The New York Court of Appeals addressed two consolidated cases, *Matter of Seawright* and *Matter of Hawatmeh*, to resolve a departmental split regarding the interpretation of Election Law filing deadlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. In *Seawright*, the Appellate Division, First Department, had excused a candidate's belated filing of a cover sheet and certificate of acceptance due to COVID-19 related illness and quarantine, deeming it not a fatal defect. Conversely, in *Hawatmeh*, the Appellate Division, Third Department, found a candidate's late filing of a certificate of acceptance to be a fatal defect despite pandemic circumstances. The Court of Appeals reversed the *Seawright* decision and affirmed the *Hawatmeh* decision, holding that Election Law § 1-106 (2) mandates strict compliance with filing deadlines. The Court concluded that the failure to timely file constitutes a fatal defect that courts cannot excuse, even under unique or extenuating circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing that it is the legislature's role to fashion exceptions to the law. Dissenting judges argued for a more flexible interpretation based on legislative intent behind pandemic-related laws and prior Election Law reforms, allowing for substantial compliance during the unprecedented health crisis.

Election LawCOVID-19 PandemicFiling DeadlinesFatal DefectStrict ComplianceBallot AccessJudicial DiscretionLegislative IntentAppellate Division ConflictQuarantine Requirements
References
39
Case No. CV-23-0719
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 26, 2024

In the Matter of the Claim of Bruce Matter

Claimant Bruce A. Matter, an account executive for Google Inc., sustained a traumatic brain injury in October 2021 after being struck by motorized bicycles while returning from an employer-encouraged "Happy Hour" event. The employer and its carrier disputed the claim, arguing the accident did not arise out of or in the course of employment. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge initially disallowed the claim, but the Workers' Compensation Board reversed, finding a causal nexus due to the employer's derived benefit from the event and the altered travel risks it entailed. The Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, affirmed the Board's decision, concluding that substantial evidence supported the finding that the employer benefited from the claimant's participation and that the event altered his usual travel, increasing the risk of injury.

Accidental InjuryCourse of EmploymentCausal NexusSpecial Errand DoctrineDual-Purpose DoctrineEmployer BenefitOff-Premises AccidentTraumatic Brain InjuryHappy Hour EventWork-Related Activity
References
13
Case No. 2025 NY Slip Op 03576 [239 AD3d 752]
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 11, 2025

Matter of Royal v. Royal

The case "Matter of Royal v Royal" involves an appeal by Albert Royal (father) against Mireille M. Royal (mother) regarding his retroactive child and spousal support obligations. The parties, married in 2014 with two children, separated in June 2018. In July 2018, the mother sought support. Subsequently, the father suffered significant injuries from a work accident and two motor vehicle accidents in late 2018 and 2019, rendering him unable to continue as a construction worker and leading him to receive public assistance after exhausting unemployment benefits. The Support Magistrate and Family Court used the father's 2018 income tax return to determine his support obligations for the period from July 2018 through December 2019, amounting to $48,200.22. However, the Appellate Division, Second Department, reversed this decision, finding that the 2018 income tax return did not accurately reflect the father's actual income during the period from November 2018 through December 2019 due to his injuries and inability to work. The matter was remitted to the Family Court, Kings County, for a recalculation of the father's income and, if appropriate, his retroactive support obligations for the specified period.

Family LawChild SupportSpousal SupportImputed IncomeRetroactive SupportIncome RecalculationParental Financial ObligationPersonal InjuryUnemployment BenefitsPublic Assistance
References
3
Case No. 2020-08759
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 14, 2021

Matter of Gurariy v. Zucker

The petitioner, Manya Gurariy, appealed a judgment denying her request for continuous personal care services covered by Medicaid. The Supreme Court had effectively denied her petition and dismissed her hybrid proceeding and action. The Appellate Division reviewed the determination and found that the New York State Department of Health's (DOH) denial was not supported by substantial evidence, given her severe physical limitations and frequent toileting needs documented in medical assessments and testimony. Consequently, the DOH's determination was annulled, and the matter was remitted to grant her application for continuous personal care services. The proceeding was dismissed against Michael P. Hein, as he was deemed an improper party.

Medicaid ServicesPersonal Care ServicesContinuous CareManaged Long-Term Care PlanFair HearingAdministrative DeterminationSubstantial EvidenceCPLR Article 78Declaratory ReliefAppellate Review
References
9
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

MATTER OF MERSON v. McNally

The Court of Appeals addresses whether a negative declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) can be issued for a Type I action, even when the project has been modified to accommodate environmental concerns. Reviewing two related cases, Matter of Merson v McNally and Matter of Philipstown Indus. Park v Town Bd., the Court examines a mining project by Philipstown Industrial Park, Inc. (PIP) in the Town of Philipstown, Putnam County. The Planning Board, acting as the lead agency, issued a negative declaration after PIP revised its plans in response to public and agency input regarding noise, traffic, and groundwater. The Appellate Division had annulled this declaration, viewing the modifications as impermissible 'conditioned negative declarations.' The Court of Appeals reversed, holding that such project adjustments, made through an open and deliberative process to mitigate potential adverse effects, are a legitimate part of SEQRA review and do not invalidate a negative declaration. The cases are remitted to the Appellate Division for consideration of unaddressed issues, including preemption.

Environmental ReviewSEQRANegative DeclarationMined Land Reclamation LawType I ActionProject ModificationEnvironmental Impact StatementLead AgencyZoning LawAppellate Review
References
15
Case No. No. 29-30
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 21, 2022

In the Matter of the Claim of Thomas Johnson; In the Matter of the Claim of Joseph D. Liuni

This opinion addresses two appeals concerning Workers’ Compensation Law (WCL) § 15, specifically whether a schedule loss of use (SLU) award for a subsequent injury to a subpart of an enumerated body "member" must be reduced by a prior SLU award to a different subpart of the same member. The Court of Appeals holds that WCL § 15 (7) allows for multiple SLU awards for successive injuries to the same statutory body member, provided the claimant demonstrates that the second injury, considered by itself, caused an increased loss of use. The Court affirmed the Appellate Division's order in Matter of Johnson v City of New York, finding that claimant Thomas Johnson failed to provide sufficient evidence that his knee injuries caused a further loss of use of his legs beyond that addressed in a prior SLU award for hip injuries. Conversely, the Court reversed the Appellate Division's order in Matter of Liuni v Gander Mountain, remitting the case for further proceedings because claimant Joseph D. Liuni did provide evidence that his later shoulder injury caused a distinct increase in the loss of use of his arm separate from a prior elbow injury. The decision clarifies the application of WCL § 15 (7) regarding successive SLU awards and the burden of proof on claimants.

Workers' Compensation LawSchedule Loss of Use (SLU)Successive InjuriesBody Member ImpairmentOffset RulePrior Disability CompensationEarning CapacityStatutory InterpretationAppellate ReviewMedical Evidence
References
33
Case No. CA 11-01225
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 15, 2012

BOARD OF ED. OF DUDEE CENTRAL, MTR. OF

This case involves an appeal from a judgment concerning disciplinary charges against a tenured teacher, Douglas Coleman, by the Board of Education of Dundee Central School District. An initial Hearing Officer's award, which included a six-month suspension and continued health benefits, was challenged by the Board. The Supreme Court partially granted the Board's petition, vacating the dismissal of six specifications and the order for continued health benefits, and remitted the matter for further consideration. On remittal, the Hearing Officer reimposed the same penalty based on an erroneous legal interpretation regarding counseling memoranda. The Supreme Court then vacated this penalty and remitted the matter to a different hearing officer for penalty imposition. The Appellate Division affirmed both judgments of the Supreme Court, holding that counseling memoranda are not disciplinary actions and that the Hearing Officer exceeded authority by ordering continued health benefits during suspension.

ArbitrationTeacher DisciplineSchool BoardEducation LawCounseling MemorandaJudicial ReviewPenaltyHealth Insurance BenefitsAppellate DivisionNew York Law
References
23
Case No. 532311
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 09, 2021

In the Matter of the Claim of Katherine King

Katherine King appealed a Workers' Compensation Board decision denying her reduced earnings awards after June 22, 2014. King sustained a work-related back injury in 2006 while employed by the Department of Corrections and concurrently as a waitress and baker, leading to reduced earnings awards based on her cumulative average weekly wage. She ceased working for the Department in 2014 due to an unrelated disability and had not worked since. The Board affirmed a Workers' Compensation Law Judge's ruling that there was no basis to continue awards, as her retirement was unrelated to her disability and she failed to show reattachment to the labor market. The Appellate Division reversed and remitted the matter, finding the Board's reasoning incomplete regarding lost wages from her restaurant job and the need to demonstrate reattachment to the labor market, especially considering the 2017 amendment to Workers' Compensation Law § 15 (3) (w).

Reduced EarningsPermanent Partial DisabilityWorkers' Compensation BoardLabor Market AttachmentConcurrent EmploymentCausally Related Lost WagesDisability RetirementAppellate ReviewRemittal
References
5
Case No. 534485
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 17, 2022

In the Matter of the Claim of William Grimaldi

Claimant William Grimaldi sustained work-related injuries in 2007 and 2008. The Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) initially erred in calculating the payment rate for the 2007 claim, leading to a prior appeal where this Court remitted the matter for re-computation based on the claimant's average weekly wage at the time of the 2007 injury for awards made after December 23, 2013. In a May 2021 decision, the Board correctly applied the rate but limited its application to a specific period and reduced counsel fees. While claimant's subsequent appeal of this May 2021 decision was pending, the Board, on its own motion, reviewed and amended its decision in June 2022. The amended decision directed that all continuing awards for the 2007 claim be paid at the rate based on the 2007 earnings and granted the full requested counsel fees. As the Board's subsequent decision rendered the appeal moot, this Court dismissed the appeal and assessed costs against the Workers' Compensation Board for the expenses incurred by the claimant in perfecting an unnecessary appeal.

Workers' CompensationAppellate ReviewMootnessWage Earning CapacityPayment RateAverage Weekly WageCounsel FeesBoard ReconsiderationCosts on AppealPermanent Partial Disability
References
8
Case No. 2021 NY Slip Op 02391 [193 AD3d 932]
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 21, 2021

Matter of Zamir F. (Ricardo B.)

The Administration for Children's Services appealed an order from the Family Court, Kings County, which had dismissed petitions alleging that Ricardo B. neglected Zamir F. through sexual abuse and derivatively neglected his other children, Elijah B., Jordan B., Jeremiah B., and Messiah B. The Appellate Division, Second Department, reversed the Family Court's order. It found that the petitioner had sufficiently established neglect and derivative neglect by a preponderance of the evidence, concluding that the testimony of the petitioner's child sexual abuse expert reliably corroborated Zamir's out-of-court statements. The court also determined that the Family Court had erred in its credibility assessment, particularly in preferring the father's expert's testimony. The matter was remitted to the Family Court for a dispositional hearing and the issuance of a dispositional order.

Child NeglectSexual AbuseDerivative NeglectFamily Court Act Article 10Corroboration of Child StatementsExpert TestimonyCredibility AssessmentAppellate ReviewParental DutiesRisk of Harm
References
8
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