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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

Curran v. International Union, Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers

Plaintiff, an employee of Carborundum Company, suffered a partial hand amputation in a "rubber roll" machine accident on March 8, 1979. He sued his unions, International Union, Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers, AFL-CIO, and Abrasive Workers, Local 8-12058, Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers International Union, alleging state law negligence for failing to safeguard him from dangers and a federal claim for breaching their duty of fair representation. The unions moved for summary judgment, arguing federal law preempts the negligence claim and they did not breach their duty of fair representation. The court granted the unions' motion regarding the negligence claim, ruling that a union's duty to its members, arising from a collective bargaining agreement, is governed exclusively by federal law and does not include a duty of care. However, the court denied the motion regarding the breach of fair representation claim, finding sufficient facts and allegations to infer that the unions may have discharged their duty in an arbitrary, perfunctory manner or in bad faith, thus leaving triable issues of fact.

Union LiabilityDuty of Fair RepresentationNegligence ClaimFederal PreemptionCollective Bargaining AgreementSummary Judgment MotionLabor LawWorkplace AccidentSafety and Health CommitteeArbitrary Union Action
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Jackson v. New York City Department of Transportation

The claimant, who sustained work-related injuries on December 20, 2011, retained Joel Fredericson as a licensed representative. Fredericson initially received a $2,450 fee in 2012. After further proceedings and an award of $202,689.44 to the claimant, Fredericson applied for an additional fee of $28,000 for 61 hours of work. The Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) subsequently awarded Fredericson $10,700. Fredericson appealed this to the Workers’ Compensation Board, requesting an increase to $16,500. The Board, however, reduced his fee to $450, citing an insufficient and inaccurate fee application (form OC-400.1) with significant discrepancies compared to his earlier submission. This court affirmed the Board's decision, emphasizing the Board's broad discretion in approving counsel fees and upholding the reduction due to the severe deficiencies in Fredericson's fee application.

Fee DisputeAttorney FeesRepresentative FeesWorkers' Compensation LawBoard DiscretionFee ApplicationForm OC-400.1Counsel FeesAppellate ReviewSchedule Loss of Use
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Kaynard v. Transport Workers Union

The Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board sought a temporary injunction against the Transport Workers Union of America (T.W.U.) and Local 504 for alleged unfair labor practices involving a proscribed strike against Triangle Maintenance Corporation due to a jurisdictional dispute. The dispute arose when Triangle, a new cleaning contractor at John F. Kennedy Airport, planned to replace existing T.W.U. represented cleaning workers with a new crew under a different union (32B, which later disclaimed the work). The T.W.U. encouraged a strike to retain jobs for its members. The court, presided over by District Judge Weinstein, denied the injunction, reasoning that the dispute was a traditional economic struggle to retain jobs, not a jurisdictional dispute as defined by section 8(b)(4)(D) of the National Labor Relations Act, especially since there was no conflict between rival unions claiming the same work at the time the picketing began.

Labor LawNational Labor Relations ActJurisdictional DisputeUnfair Labor PracticesTemporary InjunctionStrike ActionEconomic DisputeEmployer-Union RelationsCollective BargainingWork Assignment Dispute
References
20
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Regan v. Ohio Barge Line, Inc.

Plaintiffs Rishe and Regan sued District 50, United Mine Workers of America, and eight individual representatives, alleging a breach of a collective bargaining agreement for condoning their wrongful discharge and termination of employment without proper cause. The original complaints, based on diversity of citizenship, were dismissed. Amended complaints asserted jurisdiction under Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act and Section 102 of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. The court denied District 50's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, finding a valid cause of action under Section 301. However, the motion of the individual Representatives to dismiss was granted, as Section 301(b) precludes enforcing judgments against a labor organization's members individually.

Labor Management Relations ActLabor Management Reporting and Disclosure ActCollective Bargaining AgreementWrongful DischargeUnion Duty to EnforceJurisdictionMotion to DismissLabor Organization LiabilityIndividual Representative LiabilityBreach of Contract
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re the Arbitration between Ass'n of Uptown Converters, Inc. & Wholesale & Warehouse Workers Union

This case concerns an application for an injunction to stay action related to the designation of employer representatives for a security fund. The fund, contributed to by employers in contractual relations with Wholesale & Warehouse Workers Union, Local 65, provides employee benefits. Following the Taft-Hartley Law, which mandates equal representation in fund administration, trustees devised an election method for employer representatives. The petitioner employer association, dissatisfied with this method, demanded arbitration. The petitioner sought an injunction to halt the election process until arbitration concluded. The court, presided by Pecora, J., denied the application, citing a lack of legal warrant for such a procedure in a special arbitration proceeding and finding no irreparable injury would result from the election proceeding.

labour lawinjunctionarbitrationTaft-Hartley Actemployee benefitssecurity fundunion administrationemployer representationCivil Practice Actprocedural law
References
1
Case No. 2020 NY Slip Op 00338 [179 AD3d 1337]
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 16, 2020

Matter of Fernandez v. REICO Intl. Realty

Misael Fernandez filed a discrimination complaint against REICO International Realty under Workers' Compensation Law § 120, alleging retaliatory discharge after claiming workers' compensation benefits. He was initially represented by a law school graduate from Mobilization for Justice, Inc., and the Workers' Compensation Law Judge awarded counsel fees, which the Board later rescinded, citing 12 NYCRR 302-1.6 which precludes fees for law intern representation. On appeal, the Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the general preclusion of fees for law school graduates. However, the court found that Fernandez's legal representative became an admitted attorney mid-representation on July 17, 2017. Consequently, the court modified the Board's decision, ruling that counsel fees should be awarded for services rendered after the representative's admission to the bar, and remitted the matter to the Board for further proceedings consistent with this finding.

Workers' CompensationDiscrimination ClaimRetaliatory DischargeCounsel FeesLaw School Graduate RepresentationLegal FeesAttorney AdmissionAppellate ReviewBoard Decision ModificationRemand
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 18, 1991

In re Lenny McN.

The Family Court in Bronx County issued an order on November 18, 1991, directing the disclosure of a social worker's entire casework file to an intervenor-respondent. This social worker was called as a witness by the law guardian for the infants. The appellate court unanimously reversed this order, finding the social worker's testimony regarding prior file use too equivocal to support a wholesale waiver of confidentiality and work product privileges. The court emphasized the protection against disclosure of mental impressions of a party's representative, classifying a social worker employed by a law guardian as such a representative. The case was remanded for a continuation of the dispositional hearing, with further discovery limited unless the law guardian seeks to elicit an adverse expert opinion from the social worker.

Family LawDisclosureConfidentiality PrivilegeWork Product ImmunitySocial Worker TestimonyChild CustodyFamily Court ProceedingDiscovery LimitationsAppellate ReviewWaiver of Privilege
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Pasqualini v. Sheet Metal Workers' National Pension Fund

This case involves principals of Zodiac Industries, Inc. (Carl, Ann, Frank Pasqualini, and Sarah Lido) who sued the Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund, the International, and Local 38 over pension service credits. The plaintiffs sought fifteen years of past service credit, which they claimed was promised to them to induce Zodiac to sign a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The Fund denied these credits, citing plan rules. The Court, however, found that 'extraordinary circumstances' warranted applying the principle of estoppel against the Fund. The court ruled in favor of the four owner-members, declaring them entitled to fifteen years of past service credit and ordering the Fund to reconsider their pension applications. Claims brought by other employees and against the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association and Local 38 were dismissed.

ERISAPension BenefitsPast Service CreditEstoppelCollective Bargaining AgreementUnion OrganizingContract EnforcementEmployee Benefit PlanFiduciary DutyDistrict Court
References
12
Case No. 2018 NY Slip Op 08227
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 29, 2018

Matter of Kelly v. New York State Workers' Compensation Bd.

In 2006, claimant Grace Kelly established a workers' compensation claim for an occupational disease. The State Insurance Fund (SIF) repeatedly sought to transfer liability to the Special Fund for Reopened Cases, which was denied by Workers' Compensation Law Judges. The Workers' Compensation Board affirmed these denials and assessed $500 penalties against both SIF and its counsel, Walsh and Hacker, for filing an application for review without reasonable grounds. Walsh and Hacker appealed the penalty imposed against them to the Appellate Division, Third Department. The Appellate Division found insufficient evidence to support the Board's finding that Walsh and Hacker's application lacked reasonable grounds, and therefore reversed the penalty against them, modifying and affirming the Board's decision.

PenaltiesAppellate ReviewSpecial Fund for Reopened CasesWorkers' Compensation Law § 25-aWorkers' Compensation Law § 114-aAttorney SanctionsAdministrative LawBoard DecisionJudiciary Law § 431
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

McLeod v. Local 140, Bedding, Curtain & Drapery Workers Union, United Furniture Workers

The Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) sought a temporary injunction against Local 140, a labor union, under Section 10(l) of the National Labor Relations Act. The dispute arose after Sealy, Inc. revoked a franchise, leading to the discharge of employees from Sealy Brooklyn. These former employees, represented by Local 140, began picketing a Sealy New York showroom, demanding their jobs back. The NLRB petitioner argued that an object of the picketing was to force recognition of Local 140 as a bargaining agent, constituting an unfair labor practice under 29 U.S.C.A. § 158(b)(7)(C). However, the court found insufficient evidence to conclude that recognition was the primary objective of the picketing. Instead, it determined that the main purpose was to pressure Sealy to rehire the discharged employees. Therefore, the court denied the motion for a preliminary injunction.

Labor LawNational Labor Relations BoardTemporary InjunctionPicketingUnion OrganizingUnfair Labor PracticeSection 10(l)Recognition PicketingCollective Bargaining AgreementEmployee Discharge
References
6
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