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Case Law Database

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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

LeFever v. Stultz

Plaintiff Kleon M. LeFever and defendant Ralph Stultz, both assistant general counsel at North American Philips Corporation, were involved in an incident in 1977. Stultz, intoxicated, lost balance and fell, dragging LeFever, who severely injured his right eye. LeFever received workers' compensation benefits. Subsequently, LeFever sued Stultz, whose answer included a Workers' Compensation Law defense. Special Term initially granted LeFever's motion to strike this defense. The appellate court found that Special Term erred, concluding there is a triable issue of fact regarding whether Stultz was acting in the course of his employment, despite his intoxication. Therefore, Stultz's Workers' Compensation Law defense is reinstated, and the plaintiffs' motion to strike is denied.

Workers' Compensation Law DefenseFellow Employee InjuryIntoxication at WorkCourse of EmploymentTriable Issue of FactMotion to Strike DefenseAppellate ReviewPersonal InjuryEmployer PremisesAccident at Work
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Smith v. LSI Lighting Services

A machine operator, referred to as claimant, sustained a head injury and became totally disabled after falling from a platform at work. The Workers' Compensation Board denied his claim for benefits, accepting the employer's defense that the injury resulted solely from intoxication. Evidence included a 0.218% blood alcohol content and medical records indicating alcohol abuse. The Board concluded that claimant's fall was due to intoxication, thereby overcoming the statutory presumption that the injury was not solely due to intoxication. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, finding substantial evidence to support the finding that intoxication was the sole cause of the claimant's injury.

Workers' Compensation AppealIntoxication DefenseBlood Alcohol ContentStatutory Presumption RebuttalSole Cause of InjuryAppellate Review StandardSubstantial EvidenceMedical Records EvidenceAlcoholism DiagnosisWorkplace Fall
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

People v. Natal

The People appeal an order from the Supreme Court, New York County, which set aside Natal's conviction for second-degree murder and mandated a new trial. Natal was convicted for fatally shooting Alphonse Suss after an altercation, claiming self-defense and accidental discharge, contradicting the prosecution's witness, Lewis Easterling. The trial court's decision to vacate the conviction was based on a finding of ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to adequately present an intoxication defense. However, the appellate court reversed this decision, reinstating Natal's conviction and sentence. The court found counsel's representation to be reasonably competent, emphasizing that the chosen defense strategy, consistent with Natal's own prior statements of self-defense and denial of intoxication, was not a "farce and a mockery of justice."

Ineffective assistance of counselMurder second degreeIntoxication defenseTrial strategyAccidental shootingSelf-defenseWitness testimonyAppellate reversalConviction reinstatementCriminal procedure
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Center for Constitutional Rights v. Department of Defense

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) initiated this Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Defense (DOD), FBI, and CIA, seeking the release of images and videos of detainee Mohammed al-Qahtani from Guantánamo Bay. While the DOD and FBI acknowledged possessing such records but withheld them, the CIA issued a Glomar response, neither confirming nor denying their existence. The Court ultimately denied CCR's motion for partial summary judgment and granted the Government's cross-motion for summary judgment. The decision cited national security concerns, including potential harm to military personnel, extremist recruitment, compromised intelligence efforts, and adverse impacts on international relations, as valid reasons for withholding the records and for the CIA's Glomar response under FOIA Exemption 1.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)National SecurityClassified InformationGuantánamo BayDetaineeMohammed al-QahtaniSummary JudgmentFOIA ExemptionsGlomar ResponseIntelligence Collection
References
26
Case No. 04-CR-156
Regular Panel Decision

United States v. Taveras

Defendant Humberto Pepin Taveras faces a homicide trial where the government seeks the death penalty for the killings of two associates during a drug trafficking dispute. Senior District Judge Jack B. Weinstein addresses the admissibility of a self-defense claim, emphasizing heightened protections for defendants in capital cases and allowing more leeway for evidence favoring the defendant. The defense intends to establish self-defense through witness statements suggesting the victims, José Rosario and Carlos Madrid, had threatened Pepin and his family. The prosecution disputes this, arguing Pepin deliberately sought out and murdered the victims, thereby precluding a self-defense claim as he initiated the confrontations. The court ultimately rules that Pepin will be permitted to argue self-defense, and related evidence will be allowed, with a self-defense instruction to the jury contingent on sufficient proof being presented.

Self-defenseCapital punishmentHomicide trialEvidentiary rulesDrug traffickingDeath penaltyJury instructionsCriminal lawDue processReasonable doubt
References
45
Case No. 2012 WL 3756270
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 28, 2012

American Freedom Defense Initiative v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority

This case involves the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), a pro-Israeli advocacy group, challenging the Metropolitan Transit Authority's (MTA) refusal to display a political advertisement on buses. The ad, which called for support for Israel and opposition to Jihad, was rejected by the MTA for violating its 'no-demeaning standard,' which prohibits ads demeaning individuals or groups based on characteristics like religion or national origin. AFDI sought a preliminary injunction, arguing that the standard violated their First Amendment rights. The court found that the MTA's standard was content-based because it selectively prohibited demeaning speech only for certain protected characteristics, while allowing it for others. Consequently, the court granted AFDI's motion for a preliminary injunction, deeming the MTA's standard unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

First AmendmentFreedom of SpeechPolitical AdvertisingPublic Forum DoctrineDesignated Public ForumContent-Based RestrictionStrict ScrutinyPreliminary InjunctionMetropolitan Transportation AuthorityAdvertising Standards
References
40
Case No. 86 B 11270 (BRL)
Regular Panel Decision

Iles v. LTV Aerospace & Defense Co. (In Re Chateaugay Corp.)

This case is an appeal to the District Court concerning two proofs of claim filed in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding against LTV Aerospace and Defense Company. The bankruptcy court had disallowed and expunged these claims, filed by the "lies plaintiffs" (nine women employees/applicants) and the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), arguing that class proofs of claim are impermissible. The District Court reversed this decision, holding that class proofs of claim are permissible under the Bankruptcy Code. It also affirmed that the UAW was authorized to file claims on behalf of its members, both as a creditor in its own right and as an authorized agent. The court found that the legislative history and policy of the Bankruptcy Code support allowing class proofs of claim and that the UAW had properly identified claimants and followed filing requirements.

Bankruptcy LawClass ActionProofs of ClaimChapter 11 ReorganizationCreditor RightsDebtorGender DiscriminationCivil Rights Act of 1964Labor UnionAuthorized Agent
References
30
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Hornacek v. Zurich Insurance

This case addresses a dispute over discovery in a personal injury action arising from a December 14, 1974, automobile accident. The plaintiff, suffering from complete amnesia due to a severe head injury, sought to recover basic economic loss from his automobile insurer. The defendant insurer denied coverage, citing an exclusion for intoxication as an affirmative defense. Plaintiff moved under CPLR 3041 to compel the defendant to provide a bill of particulars detailing witnesses and documentary evidence supporting the intoxication defense. Defendant cross-moved to vacate or modify this demand, arguing the information was evidentiary. The court, recognizing the plaintiff's amnesia as a 'special circumstance,' granted the plaintiff's motion in part, ordering the defendant to disclose the requested information to ensure fairness and prevent surprise at trial, while denying the defendant's motion to vacate.

Bill of ParticularsAffirmative DefenseAmnesiaIntoxication ExclusionInsurance CoverageSpecial CircumstancesEvidentiary DisclosureCPLR 3041CPLR 3123Automobile Accident
References
9
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Peterson v. Barry, Bette & Led Duke, Inc.

The case involves a worker's fall through a roof, leading to a motion for summary judgment on liability by the plaintiff based on Labor Law § 240 (1). Defendants cross-moved for summary judgment on their 'recalcitrant worker' defense and for conditional indemnification against the third-party defendant, Wm. C. McCombs Company. The court addressed whether the facts supported the recalcitrant worker defense, which requires proof of a deliberate refusal to use available safety equipment. The court found a conspicuous lack of evidence for deliberate refusal, stating that unintentional failure or negligent omission would not support the defense against absolute liability under Labor Law § 240 (1). The court noted that workers were not expected to be tied on at all times and had to unhook for tasks. Therefore, the defendants failed to prove the crucial element of deliberate refusal, and their summary judgment motion on this defense was denied. The court granted partial summary judgment on liability for the plaintiff and granted defendants' motion for contractual indemnification from McCombs, determining McCombs was an agent by operation of law.

Labor Law § 240(1)Recalcitrant Worker DefenseSummary JudgmentAbsolute LiabilityConstruction AccidentFall from HeightSafety EquipmentDeliberate RefusalNegligent OmissionContractual Indemnification
References
36
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Joyce v. McKenna Associates, Inc.

This case involves an appeal by defendant third-party plaintiff McKenna Associates, Inc., from two orders issued by the Supreme Court, Westchester County. The plaintiff, an employee of B.J. Lang Roofing, suffered injuries and opted for workers' compensation benefits, which McKenna subsequently paid due to Lang's uninsured status under Workers' Compensation Law § 56. McKenna's motion to amend its answer to assert a Workers' Compensation Law defense against the plaintiff's action was denied. Conversely, the third-party defendant Lang's motion to amend its answer to assert the same defense against McKenna's third-party action and defendant Leventhal's cross-claims was granted. The appellate court affirmed both orders, concluding that McKenna's payment of benefits did not establish a new employment relationship with the plaintiff, and that Lang was properly permitted to assert the Workers' Compensation Law defense.

Workers' CompensationPersonal InjuryPleading AmendmentAffirmative DefenseGrave InjurySubcontractor LiabilityThird-Party ActionCross-ClaimsEmployer ImmunityAppellate Review
References
9
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