CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Frazer v. Additional Personnel, Inc.

Additional Personnel, Inc., an employer, appealed a Workers' Compensation Board decision from December 30, 1982. The Board had affirmed the proper cancellation of the employer's workers' compensation insurance policy by the State Insurance Fund, effective June 1, 1980, due to unpaid premiums. The employer was consequently uninsured when an accident occurred on November 20, 1980. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, finding that the State Insurance Fund had properly followed cancellation procedures and that a subsequent payment by the employer did not retroactively restore coverage. The court also dismissed the employer's procedural objections regarding the record.

Workers' CompensationInsurance CancellationPremium PaymentUninsured EmployerEstoppelAppellate ReviewAdministrative ProcedurePolicy LapseNew York LawState Insurance Fund
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Mandel v. United States Office of Personnel Management

Michael Mandel sued the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and two individual defendants, McCann and Crandell, alleging violations of the Privacy Act. The lawsuit stemmed from OPM's disclosure of Mandel's employment records to his former supervisors during an appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), where Mandel challenged OPM's negative suitability determination for federal employment due to alleged falsification of records. Mandel moved for summary judgment, arguing OPM's disclosure was unlawful and caused him emotional distress and pecuniary loss, while defendants cross-moved, asserting a 'routine use' exception and lack of causation. The court denied Mandel's motion and granted the defendants' cross-motion, ruling that the disclosure fell within the Privacy Act's 'routine use' exception. Furthermore, the court found Mandel failed to establish a causal connection between the disclosure and his claimed adverse effects, concluding that his own falsification of documents was the cause. Finally, the claims against the individual defendants were dismissed as the Privacy Act does not permit suits against individuals.

Privacy ActSummary JudgmentRoutine Use ExceptionFederal EmploymentSuitability DeterminationMSPB AppealFalsification of DocumentsInformation DisclosureAdverse EffectCausal Connection
References
17
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Witkowich v. Suny Alfred State College

The claimant, a former Chief of University Police for Alfred State College, appealed two decisions by the Workers’ Compensation Board. He filed claims for workers’ compensation benefits alleging recurrence of PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, and anxiety, as well as exacerbation of pre-existing psychological conditions following his termination. The Workers’ Compensation Law Judge and a subsequent Board panel denied the applications, citing Workers’ Compensation Law § 2 (7), which bars compensation for mental injuries directly resulting from lawful, good faith personnel decisions. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board’s decisions, finding no due process violations and concluding that the Board's determination was supported by substantial evidence, as the termination was deemed a lawful personnel decision and the claimant failed to prove his workplace stress was extraordinary.

Mental InjuryPTSD RecurrenceAnxietyIrritable Bowel SyndromeTerminationLawful Personnel DecisionEmployer Good FaithDue ProcessSufficiency of EvidencePreexisting Condition Exacerbation
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Moglia v. Sullivan County Head Start, Inc.

This memorandum decision addresses the defendants' motion for summary judgment concerning whether Sullivan County Head Start, Inc. acted "under color of law" in discharging the plaintiff, a key issue for a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The Court referenced prior decisions, specifically Morse v. North Coast Opportunities, Inc. and Nail v. Community Action Agency of Calhoun County, which established that despite extensive federal funding and regulation, Head Start personnel decisions are not made under color of law. This is because federal and state officials lack sufficient control over personnel actions, and Head Start programs do not perform traditionally exclusive governmental functions. Consequently, the court found that Sullivan County Head Start is not a governmental entity for constitutional litigation purposes, granting the defendants' motion for summary judgment and dismissing the plaintiff's pendant State law claims without prejudice.

Summary JudgmentColor of Law42 U.S.C. § 1983Head Start ProgramGovernmental EntityPersonnel DecisionsState ActionFederal FundingDismissal Without PrejudiceBivens Claim
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Mattoon v. New York State Department of Labor

Claimant, an agency services representative with the Department of Labor, ceased employment in December 1993 due to work-related stress causing depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Her claim for workers’ compensation benefits was denied by the Workers’ Compensation Board, which found that her inability to cope with work resulted from lawful, good-faith personnel decisions by the employer, as per Workers’ Compensation Law § 2 (7). Claimant appealed, contending that the Board's determination was unsupported by substantial evidence and that her reassignment to a stressful position was not in good faith. The court affirmed the Board's decision, concluding that the employer's actions constituted a lawful personnel decision undertaken in good faith.

Workers' CompensationPsychic InjuryWork-Related StressDepressionPTSDAnxietyLawful Personnel DecisionGood FaithJob ReassignmentAppeal
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 28, 1997

Claim of Dockum v. Syroco, Inc.

The claimant, an electrician, was suspended pending discharge for allegedly failing to follow supervisor instructions. Shortly after this incident, he attempted suicide. He subsequently filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits based on injuries sustained from the suicide attempt. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge initially found in favor of the claimant, but the Workers' Compensation Board later reversed, concluding that the claim was barred by Workers’ Compensation Law § 2 (7) because the discharge was a good-faith personnel decision, and the injury was solely mental. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, holding that physical complications resulting from a suicide attempt are not compensable if the attempt itself is not compensable under § 2 (7), and that the employer's personnel decision was lawful and undertaken in good faith.

Workers' CompensationSuicide AttemptMental InjuryPersonnel DecisionGood FaithDischargeCausal RelationshipWorkers' Compensation Law § 2 (7)Physical ComplicationsAppellate Review
References
3
Case No. ADJ7348149
Regular
Mar 18, 2019

CELINE ROUYA vs. SAVE MART SUPERMARKETS, CORVEL CORPORATION

The applicant appeals the WCJ's decision denying injury to psyche and other body parts, arguing the WCJ erred by not addressing her harassment claim and finding the personnel actions were in good faith. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to further study the issues, noting discrepancies in witness testimony and insufficient medical opinions on causation. The case is returned to the WCJ for further proceedings to develop the record, including obtaining clarified medical opinions on causation and further testimony. The dissenting commissioner would affirm the WCJ's decision, finding the personnel actions were legal and non-discriminatory, and applicant's harassment claims were not supported by objective evidence.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardCeline RouyaSave Mart SupermarketsCorvel CorporationADJ7348149ReconsiderationPsychiatric InjuryPharmacy TechnicianHarassmentNational Origin
References
5
Case No. 2018 NY Slip Op 08599
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 13, 2018

Matter of Kearns v. Decisions Strategies Envt.

Peter Kearns, an ironworker, sought workers' compensation benefits for illnesses allegedly caused by toxic exposure while monitoring trucks at the World Trade Center site post-9/11. He filed a claim and registered his participation under Workers' Compensation Law § 162. While a Workers' Compensation Law Judge initially established his claim, the Workers' Compensation Board reversed, deeming the claim untimely and his truck-monitoring activities not qualifying as "rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations" under WCL § 161(1). The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, finding substantial evidence supported the conclusion that Kearns' duties were akin to routine security work and lacked a direct or tangible connection to the specified operations, thus denying coverage under WCL article 8-A.

Workers' Compensation LawWorld Trade Center Operations9/11 Related IllnessScope of EmploymentStatutory InterpretationAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceOccupational DiseaseTimeliness of ClaimRescue, Recovery, Cleanup Operations
References
4
Case No. ADJ10544667
Regular
Nov 15, 2019

NEREYDA VARGAS vs. WELLS FARGO BANK NORTH AMERICA, OLD REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration of a decision finding no industrial psychiatric injury. The Board found the original decision failed to conduct the multi-level analysis required by *Rolda v. Pitney Bowes, Inc.* concerning actual employment events and lawful, good faith personnel actions. The case is returned to the trial level for further development and analysis to determine if actual employment events predominated the injury and if any lawful personnel actions were a substantial cause. The Workers' Compensation Judge must specifically address all alleged events, medical evidence, and potential inconsistencies in the Qualified Medical Evaluator's reports.

psychiatric injurycumulative traumaRolda analysispredominant causelawful personnel actionnondiscriminatorygood faithactual events of employmentpredicate eventsmedical evidence
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 01, 2004

Claim of Pace v. Concepts in Wood of CNY, Inc.

This case involves an appeal from an amended decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board, filed on April 1, 2004. The Board's decision had ruled that the claimant sustained a compensable injury and was entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The appellate court reviewed the claimant’s procedural arguments against the Board's decision, ultimately rejecting them as unfounded. Key points addressed included the authority of a reconstituted three-member Board to issue an amended decision reversing itself, which the court affirmed by referencing relevant Workers’ Compensation Law sections. Furthermore, the court dismissed the claimant's concerns regarding the staleness of reports from an independent medical examiner, clarifying that unlike treating physicians, independent medical examiners are not subject to statutory or regulatory requirements for routine progress reports. Consequently, the amended decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board was affirmed.

Workers' CompensationBoard Decision AppealProcedural ArgumentsAmended DecisionIndependent Medical ExaminerMedical ReportsStalenessCompensable InjuryNew York LawStatutory Interpretation
References
6
Showing 1-10 of 23,173 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational