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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

C.E.L. Lumber, Inc. v. Roberts

The petitioner, a contracting business, was hired to convert a two-family house into a community residence in Franklin County. A Department of Labor inspection found the petitioner was paying employees less than prevailing wages for public works projects, initially advising residential rates. Later, the Department asserted the higher general construction rate applied, withholding funds and assessing a $6,260 underpayment plus interest. A subsequent hearing upheld the general rate and deemed the underpayment willful, imposing a $750 civil penalty and 10% punitive interest. This court affirmed the applicability of the general wage rate, but annulled the $750 civil penalty and reduced the interest rate to 6%, finding no evidence of willful underpayment given the petitioner's immediate compliance and lack of prior violations. The matter was remitted for further proceedings consistent with the modification.

Public Works ProjectPrevailing WageUnderpaid WagesCivil PenaltyLabor Law § 220CPLR Article 78Community ResidenceGeneral Construction RateResidential Construction RateWillful Underpayment
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Otis Eastern Service, Inc. v. Hudacs

This CPLR article 78 proceeding reviewed a determination by the respondent regarding the petitioner's alleged failure to pay prevailing wages and wage supplements to 28 workers at the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center project. The petitioner argued that workers were properly classified as general laborers and welder helpers, while the respondent contended they should be classified as intermediate laborers under the Laborers’ Union Local 17 Agreement. The Hearing Officer initially sided with the petitioner, but the respondent rejected this, finding willful underpayments. The court affirmed the respondent's determination, concluding it was supported by substantial evidence and that the finding of willfulness was justified.

Prevailing WageWage SupplementsWorker ClassificationLabor LawCPLR Article 78Willful UnderpaymentUnion ContractsJudicial ReviewAdministrative DeterminationSubstantial Evidence
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 21, 1992

Saitanis Enterprises, Inc. v. Hines

The petitioner initiated a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to challenge a determination by the New York State Department of Labor. The Department of Labor's determination, dated January 21, 1992, found that the petitioner failed to pay prevailing wages and supplements to its employees in violation of Labor Law § 220. The court confirmed the Department of Labor's determination, finding that the record supported the finding of underpayment and that the calculation of underpayment was supported by substantial evidence. The court also deemed the petitioner's argument regarding worker classification as untimely, noting that challenges to prevailing wage rate schedules must be made within four months of receipt. Consequently, the proceeding was dismissed on the merits, with costs.

prevailing wagesunderpaymentDepartment of Laborcredibility determinationsworker classificationtimeliness of challengeadministrative agencysubstantial evidencelabor law violationjudicial review
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Agency Construction Corp. v. Hudacs

This case concerns a general contractor (Petitioner) who challenged a determination by the Commissioner of Labor regarding prevailing wage violations. The Petitioner, having subcontracted a public works project to Rock Hill Construction, was held liable when Rock Hill failed to pay prevailing wages and supplements to its employees. An administrative hearing found Rock Hill guilty of underpayments and submitting false payroll records. The Commissioner adopted recommendations for repayment, interest, and penalties. The Petitioner sought review, questioning employee classifications, hours worked, and the assessed amounts. The court confirmed the Commissioner's determination, finding it was supported by substantial evidence, and dismissed the petition.

prevailing wagespublic workssubcontractor liabilitywage underpaymentfalse payroll recordscivil penaltyinterest assessmentjob classificationemployee testimonysubstantial evidence
References
16
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Naftilos Painting & Sandblasting, Inc. v. Hartnett

Petitioners Naftilos Painting and Sandblasting, Inc. and Nick Margaritis d/b/a Atlas Maintenance Company sought judicial review of respondent's determinations. The respondent had found that petitioners willfully failed to pay prevailing wages and supplements on Department of Transportation bridge projects. This court previously remitted the case for clarification of calculation methodology. Now, the court confirmed the determinations, finding substantial evidence for underpayments based on worker logs and engineer diaries. The court rejected petitioners' arguments concerning expired wage schedules, collective bargaining agreement liability, and worker classification. Findings of willfulness were also upheld.

Prevailing WageWage UnderpaymentLabor Law ViolationCPLR Article 78Judicial ReviewSubstantial EvidenceCollective Bargaining AgreementsWillful ViolationDepartment of TransportationHearing Officer Decision
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

TPK Construction Corp. v. Hudacs

The petitioner, TPK Const. Corp., challenged a Department of Labor determination finding it liable for failing to pay prevailing wages and supplements. While conceding underpayment and interest, TPK argued it was innocent, claiming its role was solely providing bonding for its joint venturer, Erie Coatings, Inc., which allegedly managed the project entirely. However, the record showed TPK's active involvement, including its president's presence on site and participation in contract discussions. Furthermore, TPK had a documented history of multiple prior prevailing wage violations, some deemed willful. The court found substantial evidence supported the Department of Labor's determination, concluding that TPK, as an experienced public works contractor, knew or should have known of the violations. The court affirmed the principle of joint and several liability for joint venturers and ultimately confirmed the Department's determination, dismissing TPK's petition.

Prevailing WageLabor LawWillful ViolationJoint VentureCPLR Article 78Administrative ReviewUnderpayment of WagesContractor LiabilityPublic WorksAppellate Review
References
17
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Murphy's Disposal Services, Inc. v. Gardner

The petitioners, Murphy's Disposal Services, Inc. and its owner Michael J. Evereth, initiated a CPLR article 78 proceeding to challenge a determination that they willfully failed to pay prevailing wages. Their contracts with the Town of Colonie for waste collection did not always include prevailing wage schedules, and they initially relied on a 1996 Department of Labor opinion letter. However, the 2004 contract specified prevailing wages, and a Department investigator informed Evereth in 2006 that the opinion letter was incorrect. Despite this, petitioners continued to underpay their employees. Following an audit and hearing, a willful underpayment of approximately $70,000 was found. The Court confirmed this determination, asserting that knowledge or imputed knowledge of a violation suffices for a finding of willfulness, and dismissed the petitioners' arguments.

Prevailing wagewillful underpaymentLabor LawCPLR article 78waste collectionpublic contractsadministrative reviewemployee compensationDepartment of Laborbuilding service work
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 22, 2015

Claim of Barrett v. New York City Department of Transportation

The case involves an appeal from a Workers’ Compensation Board decision regarding a claimant injured in a 2011 work-related motor vehicle accident. A WCLJ classified the claimant with a permanent partial disability and a 25% loss of wage-earning capacity, ruling that he would be entitled to 250 weeks of benefits if his full wages ceased. The Board affirmed this, leading the employer to appeal, arguing that the claimant's current full wages meant a 100% wage-earning capacity, rendering the 25% loss finding unlawful. The court affirmed the Board’s decision, distinguishing between 'loss of wage-earning capacity' (fixed, for benefit duration) and 'wage-earning capacity' (fluctuating, for weekly rates).

Workers' CompensationPermanent Partial DisabilityWage-Earning CapacityLoss of Wage-Earning CapacityBenefit DurationAppellate ReviewStatutory InterpretationMotor Vehicle AccidentNew York Workers' Compensation BoardDisability Classification
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 03, 2000

Claim of Lesperance v. Gulf Oil Co.

The claimant, a former truck driver for Gulf Oil Company, developed bilateral torn rotator cuffs, diagnosed in September 1991, while working part-time for Susse Chalet. The Workers' Compensation Board ruled the condition an occupational disease, fixing the disablement date as September 3, 1991, and attributed it to employment with both Gulf and Susse Chalet, allowing Susse Chalet to pursue apportionment. The current appeal concerns the Board's decision from April 3, 2000, which established the claimant's average weekly wage based solely on employment with Susse Chalet. The claimant argued that due to the disease's degenerative nature and long employment with Gulf, wages from both employers should be considered for the average weekly wage. However, the Board's decision to base the average weekly wage solely on Susse Chalet employment was affirmed, citing Workers' Compensation Law provisions that define wage and average weekly wage based on employment at the time of injury and absence of provisions for successive employers.

Average Weekly Wage CalculationOccupational Disease ApportionmentDate of DisablementSuccessive Employment WagesRotator Cuff InjuryWorkers' Compensation Law InterpretationDegenerative DiseaseStatutory DefinitionsConcurrent Employment DistinctionBoard Decision Appeal
References
0
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

New York State Restaurant Ass'n v. Commissioner of Labor

This case involved a CPLR article 78 proceeding initiated by an employer association to challenge a determination by the Industrial Board of Appeals (IBA). The IBA had confirmed a minimum wage order from the Commissioner of Labor, which increased the cash wage for food service workers. The petitioner argued that the Commissioner lacked authority to set a wage lower than legislatively mandated and was constrained in considering other factors. The court converted the proceeding to a direct appeal and affirmed the IBA's determination, concluding that Labor Law § 655 (5) prohibits setting a cash wage less than that specified in Labor Law § 652 (4). The court found the petitioner's arguments without merit.

Minimum WageFood Service WorkersLabor Law InterpretationStatutory AuthorityWage Board ReviewIndustrial Board of AppealsCommissioner of LaborCPLR Article 78 ConversionJudicial Review of Agency ActionEmployer Association Appeal
References
6
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