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

Case No. CA 10-02269
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 29, 2011

ELLICOTT GROUP, LLC v. STATE OF NEW YORK EXECUTIVE DEPT.

This case addresses an appeal concerning the authority of the State of New York Executive Department Office of General Services (OGS) to mandate a prevailing wage clause in a lease agreement with Ellicott Group, LLC, for privately owned property. OGS had adopted a policy requiring prevailing wages for certain work, even if it did not meet the technical definition of 'public work' under the Labor Law. The Supreme Court, Erie County, had granted summary judgment to Ellicott Group, LLC, concluding that OGS lacked statutory authority and violated the separation of powers doctrine. The Appellate Division affirmed this judgment, holding that OGS, as an administrative body, usurped the legislative function by enacting a policy defining when prevailing wages should be paid, a role reserved for the Legislature.

Prevailing Wage LawLabor Law Article 8Labor Law Article 9Public WorkLease AgreementExecutive AuthorityLegislative FunctionSeparation of PowersAdministrative LawDeclaratory Judgment
References
14
Case No. 2021 NY Slip Op 00461
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 28, 2021

Matter of Executive Cleaning Servs. Corp. v. New York State Dept. of Labor

Executive Cleaning Services Corporation and Cef Saiz, the petitioners, challenged a determination by the Commissioner of Labor, alleging they failed to pay prevailing wages for cleaning services provided to the Ossining Public Library. The Department of Labor initiated an investigation following an employee complaint and concluded that the contract was subject to the prevailing wage provisions of Labor Law article 9. Petitioners argued the library was not a 'public agency' as defined by Labor Law § 230 (3), thus exempting their contract from prevailing wage requirements. The Appellate Division, Third Department, ultimately agreed with the petitioners, finding that despite its public function and ties to the school district, the Ossining Public Library does not fit the statutory definition of a public agency under Labor Law § 230 (3). Consequently, the Commissioner's determination was annulled, the petition granted, and the action for declaratory judgment severed and remitted to the Supreme Court.

Prevailing Wage LawLabor Law Article 9Public Agency DefinitionOssining Public LibraryEducation CorporationCPLR Article 78 ProceedingDeclaratory Judgment ActionBuilding Service ContractsSchool District Public LibraryAdministrative Law
References
18
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Ford v. Nassau County Executive

Anthony Ford, a pro se plaintiff, sued the Nassau County Correctional Center and the Nassau County Executive under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging his Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated by being forced to work as a "food cart worker" without pay while a pretrial detainee. Ford sought $2.5 million in damages. The court dismissed the claims against the Nassau County Executive due to lack of personal involvement. For the NCCC, the court acknowledged a "close question" regarding a policy but proceeded to the merits, ruling that required "housekeeping duties" for pretrial detainees, especially with compensation like extra food, do not constitute punishment or violate due process or Thirteenth Amendment rights. Furthermore, Ford suffered no actual damages because his subsequent guilty plea and sentence of time served encompassed the period of alleged forced labor, effectively curing any potential constitutional deprivation. Therefore, the defendants' motion for summary judgment was granted, and the case was closed.

Section 1983Civil RightsThirteenth AmendmentFourteenth AmendmentDue ProcessPretrial DetaineeForced LaborCorrectional FacilitySummary JudgmentCompensatory Damages
References
35
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Clark v. Cuomo

The plaintiff, chairman of the New York Republican State Committee, sought a preliminary injunction against Governor Mario M. Cuomo to stop the implementation of Executive Order No. 43, which established a state program for voter registration. The plaintiff argued the order was unconstitutional and illegal, violating the bipartisan mandate for voter registration and exceeding the Governor's authority by usurping legislative power. The court found the plaintiff likely to succeed on the merits, emphasizing that the New York Constitution vests control of voter registration and elections solely with the Legislature. The court ruled that the Governor lacked the authority to establish such a program, which invaded the legislative domain. Consequently, the motion for a preliminary injunction was granted, restraining the Governor from enforcing Executive Order No. 43.

Voter RegistrationExecutive Order ChallengeSeparation of PowersLegislative AuthorityGovernor's PowersPreliminary InjunctionConstitutional LawElection LawPublic PolicyJudicial Review
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Karam v. Executive Charge/Love Taxi

Claimant initiated a workers' compensation case, leading to a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge finding an employer-employee relationship with Executive Charge/Love Taxi. This finding was affirmed by the Workers’ Compensation Board, which rejected the independent contractor argument. Executive Charge/Love Taxi appealed this interlocutory decision. The appellate court, citing precedent from *Matter of Dubnoff v Feathers Sportswear*, determined that the Board's ruling on employment status was not a final or 'threshold legal issue' warranting immediate review. Consequently, the court dismissed the appeal, reinforcing the policy against piecemeal review of substantive issues in compensation cases.

Workers' CompensationEmployer-Employee RelationshipIndependent ContractorInterlocutory AppealAppellate ReviewJurisdictionPiecemeal ReviewBoard DecisionDismissed AppealWorkers' Compensation Board
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 05, 1980

Hospital Service Plan v. Warehouse Production & Sales Employees Union

The appellants, who are successors in interest to the original defendants, appealed an order from the Supreme Court, Queens County. The order denied their motion to compel the plaintiffs to execute a 'satisfaction piece' after the appellants paid the judgment with interest calculated at the New York rate. The appellate court affirmed the denial, holding that according to the principles of full faith and credit, the judgment from New Jersey required interest to be paid at the 8% New Jersey rate, not the 6% New York rate. Additionally, the appellants were deemed responsible for the Sheriff's levy costs because they failed to properly serve the Sheriff with a stay of execution, thereby necessitating the levy.

Judgment EnforcementFull Faith and CreditInterest RatesSheriff's LevySatisfaction PieceNew Jersey JudgmentNew York LawCivil ProcedureAppellate ReviewCourt Costs
References
2
Case No. ADJ2501619 (OAK 0286955)
Regular
Nov 10, 2008

JAMES BRADFORD vs. MCMILLAN BROS. ELECTRIC, INC., PACIFIC EAGLE INSURANCE CO./tpa SEABRIGHT INSURANCE CO.

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board vacated its prior order granting reconsideration and dismissed the defendant's petitions for reconsideration, removal, and stay of execution. The petition for reconsideration was dismissed as untimely because it was filed with the Appeals Board more than 25 days after the arbitrator's decision. The Board also lacked jurisdiction to grant the petition for removal or stay of execution, as these actions are not permitted for an arbitrator's decision in a Labor Code section 3201.5 carve-out case.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationPetition for RemovalPetition for Stay of ExecutionUntimely FilingLabor Code Section 3201.5Carve-out CaseArbitrator's DecisionJurisdictionAppeals Board Rule 10865
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Metro-North Commuter Railroad v. New York State Executive Department Division of Human Rights

Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company (petitioner) initiated a CPLR article 78 proceeding to challenge a determination by the New York State Division of Human Rights (respondent). The Division of Human Rights had previously adopted an Administrative Law Judge's decision to reinstate Louis Calderon (another respondent), who was dismissed by Metro-North after assaulting a coworker, and awarded him back pay and damages. Metro-North's termination of Calderon had been upheld by the Special Board of Adjustment. The court found that the ALJ erred in not being bound by the prior arbitration's conclusive finding of Calderon's violent conduct, violating the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel. Consequently, the court annulled the Division's determination, granted Metro-North's petition, and vacated the awards.

CPLR Article 78Executive LawNew York State Division of Human RightsAdministrative Law JudgeRailway Labor ActRes JudicataCollateral EstoppelEmployment TerminationWorkplace AssaultRacial Discrimination Claim
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Kelly v. New York State Executive Department

Defendant Albert E. Caccese, while serving as Chief Counsel and later Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), secured loans from his Commissioner Orin Lehman and a Regional Director (plaintiff) under the guise of gambling debts and real estate investments. Following an investigation by the State Inspector General revealing Caccese's practices, the plaintiff was demoted in 1991, incurring a $25,000 annual salary loss. The plaintiff initiated an action under 42 USC § 1983, asserting retaliatory demotion for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech by reporting Caccese's financial dealings with concessionaires. Defendants Lehman and Caccese sought summary judgment, attributing the demotion to budgetary constraints and plaintiff's subpar job performance, but the Supreme Court rejected their motions. The appellate court upheld the Supreme Court's decision, concluding that the plaintiff presented adequate evidence, including positive job evaluations, to establish a genuine dispute of material fact regarding whether his protected conduct was a substantial factor in his demotion.

Retaliatory demotionFirst Amendment free speechPublic employee rightsSummary judgment standardsGovernment ethicsWhistleblower allegationsOfficial misconductBudgetary defenseJob performance disputeAppellate review
References
12
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Railway Labor Executives' Ass'n v. Metro-North Commuter Railroad

The case concerns Metro-North's motion to vacate a previous injunction that prohibited it from implementing urinalysis drug screening for its employees at periodic and return-to-duty physical examinations. Metro-North argued that recent Supreme Court decisional law, specifically Consolidated Rail Corp. v. Railway Labor Executives’ Association (1989), reclassified such drug testing as a 'minor dispute' under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), placing it within the exclusive jurisdiction of an RLA adjustment board. The court found that Metro-North's position was 'arguably justified' by past practice of requiring urine and blood specimens and by collective-bargaining agreements authorizing medical examinations. Consequently, the court dissolved the August 16, 1988 injunction and denied the plaintiffs' requests for a new injunction compelling arbitration or restraining the drug-testing policy, as it lacked jurisdiction for such relief in a minor dispute not yet submitted to an adjustment board.

Railway Labor ActDrug TestingMinor DisputeMajor DisputeInjunction DissolutionCollective Bargaining AgreementUrinalysis ScreeningFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(5)Law of the Case DoctrineRes Judicata
References
27
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