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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
Aug 02, 2013

National Integrated Group Pension Plan v. Dunhill Food Equipment Corp.

This case, filed under ERISA, involves the National Integrated Group Pension Plan and its Board of Trustees (Plaintiffs) seeking to collect withdrawal liability from Dunhill Food Equipment, Esquire Mechanical, Geoffrey Thaw, Sanford Associates, and Custom Stainless (Defendants). The core dispute revolved around whether the non-Dunhill defendants were part of a commonly controlled group at the time of Dunhill's withdrawal from the pension plan, and whether Geoffrey Thaw could be held personally liable through veil piercing. The court ruled that Dunhill, Esquire, and Thaw were jointly and severally liable for the withdrawal liability, attorney's fees, costs, interest, and liquidated damages, finding Thaw's complete domination and misuse of corporate funds justified piercing the corporate veil. However, the claims against Sanford and Custom Stainless were dismissed, as they were determined to have effectively dissolved prior to the withdrawal date, thus not being members of the controlled group.

ERISA LitigationMPPAA LiabilityPension WithdrawalCorporate Veil PiercingSummary Judgment MotionControlled Group LiabilityCorporate DissolutionPersonal LiabilityEmployee Benefits LawFiduciary Breach
References
48
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Reich v. Manhattan Boiler & Equipment Corp.

Joseph Kaban was injured in a 1972 automobile accident during employment. He received workers' compensation benefits, and he and his wife sued other parties, Thompson and Mazza, who then brought a third-party action against Kaban's employer, Manhattan Boiler & Equipment Corp. (Manhattan). Due to the insolvency of Thompson and Mazza, the Kabans' judgment went uncollected. In 1992, attorney Louis S. Reich, as an assignee, attempted to collect on the judgment from Manhattan using a Feldman-type loan agreement. The Court of Appeals, however, reversed the lower court's decision, ruling that applying the Feldman mechanism in cases where the third-party defendant is the plaintiff's employer directly conflicts with the public policy of workers' compensation exclusivity, which is the employee's sole remedy for workplace injuries. The Court dismissed the complaint, affirming that such arrangements cannot circumvent the limitations of an employer's liability for contribution.

Workers' Compensation ExclusivityThird-Party ActionContribution ClaimIndemnificationLoan AgreementSatisfaction of JudgmentEmployer LiabilityPublic PolicyStatutory InterpretationPersonal Injury
References
9
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Kalloo ex rel. Ulimited Mechanical Co. of NY, Inc. v. Unlimited Mechanical Co. of NY, Inc.

Plaintiffs Kevin Kalloo, Shahrazz Mohammad, and Clement Albertie sued Unlimited Mechanical Co. of New York, Inc. and its president, Nicholas Bournias, alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and New York Labor Law (NYLL). The plaintiffs claimed they were not paid appropriate overtime compensation for hours worked, uncompensated travel time, and, in Mr. Kalloo's case, unpaid wages for his last two weeks of employment. The court found Mr. Bournias individually liable as an employer under both acts and determined that Mr. Kalloo was an employee, not an independent contractor. The court concluded that the defendants failed to pay full overtime and straight time wages for hours worked and travel time, awarding substantial damages and liquidated damages to all three plaintiffs. Defendants' counterclaims for unjust enrichment against Mr. Albertie and tortious interference against Mr. Kalloo were denied.

Wage and Hour DisputeOvertime CompensationUnpaid Travel TimeFLSA ViolationsNYLL ViolationsEmployer ResponsibilityIndividual Employer LiabilityEmployee ClassificationDamages AwardLiquidated Damages
References
0
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Wolfe v. KLR Mechanical, Inc.

Plaintiff Malcolm Wolfe, a millwright employed by DLX Inc., was injured when he slipped on a threaded rod while working at defendant Irving Tissue, Inc.'s paper mill. Wolfe and his wife filed an action alleging negligence and violations of Labor Law §§ 200 and 241 (6) against Irving Tissue, Inc., Northeast Riggers & Erectors, Inc. (general contractor), and KLR Mechanical, Inc. (subcontractor). The Supreme Court granted summary judgment to all defendants, dismissing the complaint. On appeal, the court affirmed the dismissal of the Labor Law § 241 (6) claims against all defendants and the other claims against Northeast Riggers & Erectors, Inc. and KLR Mechanical, Inc. However, the court reversed the summary judgment granted to Irving Tissue, Inc. concerning common-law negligence and Labor Law § 200, finding that Irving retained control of the stairway and failed to establish a lack of constructive notice of the dangerous condition. The case was remitted for further proceedings against Irving Tissue, Inc.

Labor LawSummary JudgmentPremises LiabilityConstruction AccidentRoutine MaintenanceIndustrial CodeAppellate DivisionSpecial EmployeeConstructive NoticeDangerous Condition
References
21
Case No. 2024 NY Slip Op 00714 [224 AD3d 1364]
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 09, 2024

Triest v. Nixon Equip. Servs., Inc.

Paul Triest, an employee, sustained injuries while unloading a loaner alignment jack from a van owned by Nixon Equipment Services, Inc. Triest initiated a Labor Law and common-law negligence action. The Appellate Division, Fourth Department, determined that the Supreme Court correctly dismissed the Labor Law § 240 (1) claim, as the incident did not involve an elevation-related risk under the statute. However, the court erred in dismissing the Labor Law § 200 and common-law negligence claims, finding unresolved factual issues regarding Nixon Equipment Services, Inc.'s control over the work and whether Triest was a volunteer. Consequently, the order was modified to reinstate these two causes of action.

Labor Law §240(1)Labor Law §200Common-Law NegligenceSummary JudgmentWorkplace InjuryElevation-Related RiskControl of WorkVolunteer StatusAppellate ReviewPersonal Injury
References
18
Case No. 2017 NY Slip Op 08460 [156 AD3d 404]
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 05, 2017

Clavin v. CAP Equipment Leasing Corp.

The Appellate Division, First Department, reversed a Supreme Court order, dismissing third-party claims for common law indemnification, contribution, and contractual indemnification. The court found that the plaintiff did not sustain a 'grave injury' as defined in Workers' Compensation Law § 11, making common law indemnification and contribution claims unsustainable against the employer. The claim for contractual indemnification was deemed unenforceable under General Obligations Law § 5-322.1, as it would indemnify CAP Rents for its own potential negligence. Additionally, the claim for failure to procure insurance was dismissed because the reservation contract did not expressly and specifically require Schiavone to name CAP Rents as an additional insured. CAP Equipment Leasing Corporation was also found to lack standing to enforce the contract.

indemnificationcontributiongrave injuryWorkers' CompensationGeneral Obligations Lawcontractual indemnificationinsurance procurementadditional insuredsummary judgmentnegligence
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 15, 2012

RCN Telecom Services of New York, LP v. Frankel

This case involves petitioners challenging a ruling that their backup power equipment is assessable as real property and contesting tax assessments on that equipment. The petitioners argued that the equipment should not be considered real property under Real Property Tax Law § 102 (12) (f) because it falls under an exception for movable machinery or equipment. They also contended that the equipment should be exempt as telecommunications equipment and that assessments were void due to lack of timely notice. The court modified the lower court's decision, declaring that the backup power equipment is assessable as real property and that the assessments are not nullities for lack of notice.

real propertytax assessmentbackup power equipmentpower generating apparatusmovable machinerytelecommunications equipmentRPTLstatutory interpretationsummary judgmentNew York
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 03, 1997

Delio v. Percom Equipment Rental Corp.

Cono Delio, Jr., an employee of Perez Interboro Asphalt Co., sustained personal injuries during employment from a dump truck rented from Percom Equipment Rental Corp. The plaintiffs sued Percom, alleging negligent maintenance. The Supreme Court denied Percom's motion for summary judgment, citing that Perez Interboro's Workers’ Compensation immunity did not shield Percom. However, the appellate court reversed the decision, determining that Perez Interboro was responsible for vehicle maintenance under its rental agreement with Percom. The plaintiffs failed to provide sufficient evidence of negligence by Percom, leading to the granting of summary judgment and dismissal of the complaint.

Personal InjuryNegligenceSummary JudgmentRental AgreementVehicle MaintenanceAppellate ReversalThird-Party ActionEmployer LiabilityKings CountyDump Truck Accident
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Maldonado v. Olympia Mechanical Piping & Heating Corp.

The plaintiffs, former employees of Olympia Mechanical Piping & Heating Corp., initiated an action to recover unpaid wages and supplemental benefits under Labor Law § 220, alleging they were paid below the prevailing rate for public works projects. The Supreme Court, Kings County, initially dismissed several causes of action, including breach of contract, quantum meruit, unjust enrichment, and suretyship, for failure to state a cause of action, and denied the plaintiffs' cross-application to serve a second amended complaint. On appeal, the higher court affirmed the dismissals of the various causes of action. However, the appellate court modified the original order by granting the plaintiffs' cross-application for leave to serve a second amended complaint, citing the absence of prejudice to the defendant and the potential merit of the plaintiffs' claims.

Labor LawPrevailing WageBreach of ContractQuantum MeruitUnjust EnrichmentMotion to DismissCPLR 3211(a)(7)Leave to AmendAppellate ReviewPublic Works
References
18
Case No. 2015 NY Slip Op 06776 [131 AD3d 1002]
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 16, 2015

Emanuel v. MMI Mechanical, Inc.

The Appellate Division, Second Department, reviewed an appeal concerning an action for personal injuries. The court dismissed the appeal from an intermediate order, as it merged into the final judgment. The main issue was whether the Supreme Court correctly granted summary judgment to defendants MMI Mechanical, Inc., Lester Starr, Wartburg Lutheran Home for the Aging, and Wartburg Nursing Home, Inc., based on collateral estoppel. The Appellate Division affirmed the judgment, concluding that the defendants had established their entitlement to summary judgment by demonstrating that the issue of whether the plaintiff sustained a work-related injury had already been decided in a Workers' Compensation Board proceeding and was identical to the issue in the current action. The plaintiffs failed to raise a triable issue of fact or show lack of a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue previously.

collateral estoppelsummary judgmentpersonal injuryworkers' compensation boardappellate reviewjudgment affirmeddismissalwork-related injuryissue preclusionappellate procedure
References
5
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