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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

Claim of Falkouski v. City of Rensselaer Fire Department

Decedent, who held a paid position as an assistant fire chief and was also a volunteer firefighter, died from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm while at a fire. His surviving spouse filed claims under both the Workers’ Compensation Law and the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law. Initially, a workers' compensation law judge found the death causally related to volunteer duties, but the Workers’ Compensation Board reversed, determining that the decedent was acting in his paid capacity as an assistant fire chief, thus falling under the Workers’ Compensation Law. The claimant appealed this decision. The appellate court affirmed the Board's determination, citing substantial evidence that at the time of death, the decedent was engaged as a paid employee due to his duties, pay, and supervisory role, which were beyond those of a volunteer firefighter.

Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit LawWorkers' Compensation LawDeath benefitsCerebral aneurysmAssistant fire chiefEmployee vs. Volunteer statusSubstantial evidenceAppellate reviewSupervisory roleCausal relationship
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 11, 2003

Theodoreu v. Chester Fire District

In this personal injury action, volunteer firefighter James Theodoreu, along with other plaintiffs, appealed a Supreme Court order granting summary judgment to defendants Chester Fire District and Sugar Loaf Engine Company, Inc. The appellate court affirmed the dismissal, holding that the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law § 19 provides an exclusive remedy for injuries sustained in the line of duty, thereby barring claims against the fire district (as a political subdivision) and the fire company (due to an employer/employee relationship). Additionally, the defendant Witfield Architectural Group's cross-claims against the fire district and fire company were properly dismissed. This dismissal was based on Witfield's failure to demonstrate that the injured plaintiff suffered a "grave injury," a prerequisite for employer liability under Workers’ Compensation Law § 11 for contribution or indemnity.

Volunteer Firefighters Benefit LawExclusive Remedy ProvisionSummary JudgmentPersonal InjuryWorkers Compensation Law Section 11Grave InjuryEmployer LiabilityCross-claims DismissalAppellate AffirmationPolitical Subdivision
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Pierre v. Crown Fire Protection Corp.

This case involves appeals by Crown Fire Protection Corp. and PEM All Fire Extinguisher Corp. from a Supreme Court order denying their motions for summary judgment to dismiss a wrongful death complaint asserted against them. The New York City Transit Authority also cross-appealed the denial of its motion for summary judgment seeking to dismiss third-party complaints filed against it. The appellate court dismissed the appeals of Crown and PEM as withdrawn. Furthermore, the order was modified to grant the Transit Authority's cross-motion for summary judgment, thereby dismissing the third-party complaint of Crown Fire Protection Corp. The court determined that Crown's work, which involved delivery and installation of fire extinguisher devices, did not fall under the categories described in General Obligations Law § 5-322.1. Finally, the decision clarified that a recent amendment to Workers' Compensation Law § 11, which limits third-party suits against employers, would not be applied retroactively to pending actions.

Wrongful Death DamagesSummary Judgment DenialThird-Party IndemnificationGeneral Obligations Law ViolationsWorkers' Compensation AmendmentsStatutory Non-RetroactivityContractual IndemnityConstruction vs. InstallationAppellate ModificationDismissal of Appeals
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 09, 2004

Claim of Pache v. Aviation Volunteer Fire Co.

The Workers’ Compensation Board granted benefits to the widow of a fire chief who died of a heart attack, finding an implied contract of coverage under Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law § 30 (2) between Aviation Volunteer Fire Company and the City of New York. The City appealed, contending there was no evidence of FDNY Commissioner approval for such a contract and insufficient proof of its formation. The court affirmed the Board’s decision, holding that the City Charter provisions did not exclusively assign contracting authority to the Commissioner and that substantial evidence supported the Board's finding of an implied-in-fact contract, partly due to the City's failure to produce a knowledgeable employee. The court declined to consider a new argument regarding General City Law § 16-a.

Implied contractVolunteer Firefighters’ Benefit LawWorkers' Compensation BoardMunicipal liabilityFatal heart attackAppellate reviewStatutory interpretationCity CharterFire DepartmentContract formation
References
12
Case No. 2025 NY Slip Op 02101, 44 NY3d 45
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 10, 2025

Matter of Schulze v. City of Newburgh Fire Dept.

This case addresses whether the City of Newburgh Fire Department can be reimbursed from workers' compensation benefits for payments made to a disabled firefighter, Adam Schulze, under General Municipal Law § 207-a (2). Schulze, a retired firefighter with performance of duty (POD) disability retirement, received supplemental payments from the City and workers' compensation awards. The City sought reimbursement, arguing its General Municipal Law § 207-a (2) payments constituted "salary or wages" or "payments to an employee in like manner as wages" under Workers' Compensation Law §§ 30 (2) or 25 (4) (a). The Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of reimbursement, holding that General Municipal Law § 207-a (2) payments are pension supplements, not wages, and are made to retired individuals, not employees. The Court clarified that the proper statutory mechanism for the employer to reduce duplicative benefits is General Municipal Law § 207-a (4-a), which allows for the reduction of future General Municipal Law § 207-a (2) payments by the amount of workers' compensation awards.

Workers' CompensationFirefighter DisabilityGeneral Municipal LawRetirement BenefitsReimbursementPension SupplementsStatutory InterpretationNew York State LawCourt of AppealsPublic Employment
References
18
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In Re the Arbitration Between Johnson City Professional Firefighters Local 921 & Village of Johnson City

This case addresses whether a 'no-layoff' clause in a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the Village of Johnson City and its firefighter union was subject to arbitration. The Village abolished six firefighter positions citing budgetary necessity, leading the Johnson City Professional Fire Fighters, Local 921 IAFF, to file a grievance and seek to compel arbitration. The Court of Appeals reversed lower court decisions that had compelled arbitration. The court held that the no-layoff clause was not arbitrable because it failed to explicitly, unambiguously, and comprehensively protect against job abolition due to budgetary reasons. The term 'layoff' was deemed ambiguous and undefined within the CBA, rendering the dispute non-arbitrable on public policy grounds, thereby granting the Village's application to stay arbitration.

ArbitrationCollective Bargaining AgreementNo-Layoff ClausePublic PolicyBudgetary StringenciesJob SecurityMunicipal EmploymentContract InterpretationUnion GrievanceFirefighters
References
5
Case No. 2016 NY Slip Op 00977 [136 AD3d 824]
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 10, 2016

Matter of Long Beach Professional Firefighters Assn., Local 287 v. City of Long Beach

Jay Gusler, a lieutenant in the City of Long Beach Fire Department and a member of Long Beach Professional Firefighters Association, Local 287, was demoted to firefighter. This demotion followed a disciplinary proceeding presided over by Robert L. Douglas, as per a settlement agreement between the City and the Association. The appellants (Gusler and the Association) initiated a CPLR article 78 proceeding to challenge the demotion, arguing Douglas lacked authority under the City Code. The Supreme Court, Nassau County, dismissed the proceeding. The Appellate Division, Second Department, affirmed this decision, finding that the City and Association could negotiate a collective bargaining agreement allowing demotion, and Douglas acted within the authority granted by their settlement agreement.

DemotionFirefightersCollective Bargaining AgreementSettlement AgreementDisciplinary ProceedingsArticle 78 ProceedingArbitrator AuthorityCity CodePublic EmploymentAppellate Review
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Elander v. Pleasantville Fire District

The case concerns a 16-year-old claimant who was injured on October 26, 1984, while responding to a fire alarm as a member of the Pleasantville Junior Corps, part of the Pleasantville Fire Department in Westchester County. The central legal question was whether the claimant was entitled to benefits under the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefits Law as an active member of the department. The Workers’ Compensation Board concluded that the Junior Corps, formed by the Pleasantville Board of Fire Commissioners, was an additional fire company whose members performed duties consistent with active firefighters, thereby qualifying the claimant as an active member under Town Law § 176-b for benefit eligibility. The court affirmed this determination, also rejecting the argument that the Junior Corps fell under General Municipal Law § 204-b as a youth program. Costs were awarded to the Workers’ Compensation Board.

Volunteer FirefightersJunior CorpsFire DepartmentBenefits EligibilityWorkers’ CompensationMinorInjury ClaimFire ServiceStatutory InterpretationAppellate Review
References
0
Case No. 2018 NY Slip Op 03356 [161 AD3d 855]
Regular Panel Decision
May 09, 2018

Matter of City of Long Beach v. Long Beach Professional Fire Fighters Assn., Local 287

The City of Long Beach (petitioner) appealed an order denying its petition to stay arbitration and granting the Long Beach Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 287's (respondent) cross-motion to compel arbitration. The dispute arose after the City laid off firefighters and hired paramedics, setting the paramedics' terms of employment unilaterally. The union filed a grievance and demand for arbitration. The Supreme Court denied the City's petition and granted the union's cross-motion. On appeal, the Appellate Division, Second Department, held that arbitration of the claim regarding firefighter layoffs violated public policy, citing Civil Service Law § 80 (1) which grants public employers nondelegable discretion over staffing. However, the court found no public policy precluding arbitration of claims related to the paramedics' terms of employment, as permitted by the collective bargaining agreement. Therefore, the order was modified to grant the City's petition to stay arbitration of the layoff claim and deny the union's cross-motion to compel arbitration of that claim, while affirming the rest of the order.

ArbitrationCollective Bargaining AgreementPublic PolicyFirefighter LayoffsParamedics EmploymentCivil Service LawManagement PrerogativeTaylor LawAppellate ReviewLabor Dispute
References
15
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 27, 2001

Van Wert v. Schaghticoke Volunteer Fire Department

Decedent, a volunteer fire chief, died in an explosion while burning scrap fireworks material. The material was supplied by Alonzo Firework Display, Inc. for a joint training session with the Schaghticoke Volunteer Fire Department, which decedent headed. The Workers’ Compensation Board ruled that his death occurred in the course of his volunteer firefighter duties, entitling his claimant wife to benefits under the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law. The appeal challenged this determination, arguing that decedent was acting in the course of his employment for a private employer, Alonzo Firework Display, Inc., at the time of his death. The court found substantial evidence to support the Board's determination that decedent was acting as a firefighter, as the activity was part of a training session and he received no compensation from Alonzo for the disposal. Therefore, the Board's decision was affirmed.

Volunteer FirefighterWorkers' CompensationDeath BenefitsCourse of EmploymentTraining SessionScrap FireworksExplosionFire ChiefSchaghticokeAlonzo Firework Display
References
5
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