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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

Maxwell v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance

This is an appeal concerning the award of counsel fees in a no-fault automobile accident case. The plaintiff appealed the Trial Term's decision denying an excess counsel fee award, which was initially granted at the statutory maximum. Plaintiff argued that the case involved novel issues related to an exclusion clause and the basis for disclaimer under No-Fault Law, warranting higher fees. The appellate court affirmed the Trial Term's decision, finding that the issues, while skillfully handled, were not sufficiently novel or unique to justify an excess fee under 11 NYCRR 65.16 (c) (8) (vii), as they relied on established contract law and statutory construction. The court also rejected the plaintiff's constitutional challenge regarding the impairment of contracts, clarifying that the fee limitation only applies to the insurer, not the client, and dismissed an ex parte communication claim as outside the record.

No-Fault BenefitsCounsel FeesExcess Fee AwardStatutory InterpretationContract Law PrinciplesConstitutional ChallengeImpairment ClauseAppellate DivisionInsurance RegulationsLegal Practice
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Travelers Indemnity Co. of Connecticut v. Mayfield

The Supreme Court reviewed an original mandamus proceeding where the trial court ordered Travelers Indemnity Company to pay the attorney's fees for claimant Aliene Reed in a workers' compensation suit. Travelers contended the trial court abused its discretion by requiring it to fund opposing counsel's fees without statutory or inherent authority. The Supreme Court agreed, finding no express statutory authorization for such fee-shifting and rejecting the argument for inherent judicial authority in this context. The Court concluded that compelling a party to advance the litigation costs of the opposition on an ongoing basis unfairly skewed the litigation process, rendering a remedy by appeal inadequate. Consequently, the writ of mandamus was conditionally granted, directing the trial court to vacate the order for Travelers to pay Reed's attorney's fees.

Workers' Compensation LawAttorney's FeesMandamus ReliefJudicial DiscretionFee-ShiftingIndigent RepresentationStatutory ConstructionInherent Judicial AuthorityAppellate ReviewDue Process Rights
References
14
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Sara Lee Corp. v. Bags of New York, Inc.

Sara Lee Corporation filed an action claiming defendants produced and sold counterfeit trademarked Coach Leatherware products, violating the Trademark Act of 1946. Following defendants' failure to respond, a default judgment was entered, and the court retained jurisdiction to determine damages. Despite court orders, seizures, and civil contempt findings, defendant Nabil Helou and his associated businesses persisted in their counterfeiting activities. The court, noting the defendants' willful infringement, efforts to mislead, and defiance of deterrence, awarded Sara Lee $750,000 in statutory damages and $46,045.63 in attorney fees and costs.

Trademark InfringementCounterfeitingStatutory DamagesAttorney FeesWillful InfringementDefault JudgmentInjunctive ReliefDeterrencePunitive DamagesCivil Contempt
References
15
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Buscher v. Bulldog Steel Products

Buscher, an injured worker, settled his workers' compensation claim with Texas General Indemnity (TGI). He and TGI then successfully pursued a third-party action against Bulldog Steel and Bobby Bryant, resulting in a $100,000 settlement, with TGI recouping its $49,000 subrogation interest and Buscher receiving $51,000. Buscher's attorney, Sam Chase, received a contingency fee from Buscher's portion but was denied a statutory attorney's fee from TGI's subrogation recovery by the trial court. Chase appealed, arguing his efforts benefited TGI by making the settlement possible. The appellate court agreed that Chase's services did benefit TGI to some extent, citing the statute requiring apportionment of fees when both claimant's and association's attorneys actively participate. Consequently, the judgment was reversed, and the case was remanded for the proper apportionment of attorney's fees.

Worker's CompensationAttorney's FeesSubrogationThird-Party ActionTexas LawInsurance CarrierSettlementLegal ServicesBenefitJudicial Discretion
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

People v. Herring

County Court granted Joseph F. Cawley enhanced assigned counsel fees under "extraordinary circumstances" according to County Law § 722-b, exceeding statutory limits. The County of Broome appealed, arguing a question of statutory construction regarding whether "foregoing limits" in § 722-b applied to hourly rates or only total amounts. The appellate court found this argument unpersuasive, viewing it as an attempt to appeal a discretionary award. Citing precedent, including Matter of Werfel v Agresta and Matter of Director of Assigned Counsel Plan of City of N. Y. (Bodek), the court affirmed that trial court orders on enhanced fees are administrative and not subject to appellate judicial review on the merits. Consequently, the appeal brought by the County of Broome was dismissed with costs.

Assigned Counsel FeesExtraordinary CircumstancesStatutory InterpretationAppellate JurisdictionJudicial DiscretionCounty Law 722-bAdministrative ReviewJusticiable ControversyHourly RatesFee Schedules
References
4
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re Headlee Management Corp.

This memorandum decision addresses a Chapter 7 trustee's motion to disgorge interim Chapter 11 professional fees. The trustee sought disgorgement due to the administrative insolvency of the Chapter 7 estate, which would prevent pro rata distribution to Chapter 11 administrative claimants if interim payments were retained. Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge Cecelia G. Morris denied the motion. The court concluded that the Bankruptcy Code, specifically §§ 726(b) and 330(a)(5), does not provide statutory authority to compel disgorgement of interim fees solely based on administrative insolvency upon conversion. It further determined that § 105(a) cannot be used to create such a remedy when the Code already provides specific provisions for fee recovery.

BankruptcyChapter 7Chapter 11Professional FeesDisgorgementAdministrative InsolvencyInterim FeesConverted CaseBankruptcy Code Section 726(b)Bankruptcy Code Section 330(a)(5)
References
25
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Discover Property & Casualty Insurance Co. v. Tate

Justice Sandee Bryan Marion offers a concurring and dissenting opinion concerning the award of attorney's fees under Section 408.221 of the Texas Worker’s Compensation Act. She dissents from the majority's view, asserting that the Legislature intended for the trial court, not a jury, to determine attorney's fees, citing specific statutory language and precedent that grant discretion to the court. Conversely, she concurs with the judgment that the case should be remanded, emphasizing the claimant's right to a full evidentiary hearing when the reasonableness and necessity of attorney's fees are disputed. She argues that summary dispositions based solely on affidavits are insufficient for contested facts and stresses the importance of sworn testimony and cross-examination.

Attorney's Fees AwardStatutory InterpretationTrial Court DiscretionJury DeterminationPlenary Evidentiary HearingReasonableness and Necessity of FeesTexas Labor Code Section 408.221Appellate ProcedureCross-examinationAffidavit Evidence
References
14
Case No. 2022-08-0195
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 02, 2022

Evans, Antron v. Family Dollar Stores, Inc.

Mr. Antron Evans requested a panel of psychiatrists, attorney's fees, and payment of a medical bill following a store robbery where he sustained a head injury. Family Dollar, the employer, contended he was not entitled to a psychiatric panel without a referral from an authorized physician, disputed the medical bill, and denied wrongfully denying the claim for attorney's fees. The Court denied Mr. Evans's requests for a psychiatric panel and payment of the emergency room bill, citing the statutory requirement of a panel physician's referral for psychiatric services and lack of proof for the medical bill. However, the Court granted his request for attorney's fees due to Family Dollar's five-month delay in timely initiating medical benefits. Additionally, Family Dollar was referred to the Compliance Program for potential penalties concerning the late filing of the First Report of Injury and the untimely provision of a panel of physicians.

Workers' CompensationMedical Benefits DenialAttorney's Fees GrantEmployer PenaltiesExpedited HearingPsychiatric ReferralStatutory InterpretationLate Claim ProcessingFirst Report of Injury DelayPost-Traumatic Stress
References
6
Case No. 2022 NY Slip Op 05964 [209 AD3d 596]
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 25, 2022

Pirozzo v. Laight St. Fee Owner LLC

Plaintiff Paul Pirozzo sought summary judgment on his Labor Law § 240 (1) claim against defendants Laight Street Fee Owner LLC, Laight Street Fee Owner II LLC, and Sciame Construction, LLC, which was granted by the Supreme Court. The Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed this decision. The plaintiff established a prima facie case by demonstrating that the scaffold he was working on collapsed without an apparent reason. The defendants' arguments that the plaintiff was the sole proximate cause, either by failing to lock scaffold pins or remaining on the scaffold while it was moved, were deemed unavailing. The court noted that these actions, even if proven, would amount to comparative negligence, which is not a defense to a Labor Law § 240 (1) claim, and there was no evidence of specific instructions to the plaintiff that were disobeyed.

Summary judgmentLabor Law § 240 (1)Scaffold collapseSole proximate causeComparative negligenceWorkers' compensation Form C-2Hearsay objectionPersonal knowledgeRecalcitranceAppellate Division
References
9
Case No. 03-27303
Regular Panel Decision
May 14, 2004

In Re Ambotiene

Richard J. McCord, as Chapter 7 trustee for Aldona Ambotiene, sought attorneys' fees and costs from Grand Street Realty, LLC and its counsel due to their obstruction of the Trustee's efforts to inspect the Debtor's assets. The Landlord repeatedly refused access to the premises, forcing the Trustee to file a motion to compel. The Court found that the Landlord and its counsel did not act in good faith and caused the Trustee to incur unnecessary expenses in fulfilling his statutory and fiduciary duties. Consequently, the Court granted the Trustee an award of $6,987 in attorneys' fees and $166.79 in costs, totaling $7,253.79, to be paid jointly and severally by the Landlord and its counsel.

Attorneys' FeesCosts AwardedChapter 7 BankruptcyTrustee DutiesCreditor ObstructionSanctionsBankruptcy Code Section 105Good Faith RequirementAsset InspectionFiduciary Duty
References
33
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