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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

Blue Cross & Blue Shield v. State Division of Human Rights

This decision vacates a previous order and remands the matter to the State Division of Human Rights for a hearing. The initial court had dismissed a complaint, finding New York's Human Rights Law pre-empted by ERISA regarding pregnancy disability benefits. The Court of Appeals remitted for reconsideration in light of Shaw v Delta Airlines, which clarified that pre-emption only applies when a state law prohibits practices lawful under federal law. The court noted that the discrimination, alleged in 1977, predated the federal prohibition against pregnancy discrimination (effective April 29, 1979). However, ERISA exempts plans maintained solely for complying with disability insurance laws. The record is unclear if petitioner's plan is a separate plan (where NY Human Rights Law would apply) or part of a larger employee benefit plan (where ERISA would control). Therefore, the case is remanded for a determination on this specific factual issue only.

ERISA Pre-emptionHuman Rights LawPregnancy DiscriminationDisability Benefits LawState Law Pre-emptionFederal Law ConflictRemittiturEmployee Benefit PlansJudicial RemandWorkers' Compensation Law Art 9
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 28, 1983

Schuck v. State Division of Human Rights

Local Union No. 3, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO, petitioned for annulment of an order by the Human Rights Appeal Board, which affirmed a determination by the Commissioner of the State Division of Human Rights. The Commissioner found that Local 3 discriminated against minority trainees by shunting them into a slower 'M' program, denying them the 'MIJ' shortcut to 'A' journeyman status, and providing an inferior training curriculum compared to regular apprentices, thus violating the Human Rights Law. The Commissioner issued cease and desist orders and specific directives regarding training and advancement, including a conditional provision for automatic 'A' journeyman status without examination. The Human Rights Appeal Board affirmed this determination. The court, upon judicial review, modified the order by deleting the directive that granted full 'A' journeyman status without further examination. Instead, the court mandated that affected individuals be afforded the opportunity to take the next scheduled 'A' examination, with appropriate preparatory instruction provided if needed. The rest of the Commissioner's order and determination were confirmed.

Human Rights LawEmployment DiscriminationMinority Training ProgramApprenticeshipJourneyman StatusLabor UnionAffirmative ActionNew YorkVocational TrainingEqual Opportunity
References
9
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Suffolk County Community College v. New York State Division of Human Rights

This case involves a proceeding initiated by Suffolk County Community College to review a determination by the New York State Division of Human Rights. The Division had previously found the college guilty of unlawful racially discriminatory practices and retaliation against an employee, awarding $50,000 in compensatory damages. The Division of Human Rights cross-petitioned to enforce this determination. Following a reversal and remittal by the Court of Appeals, the Appellate Division reviewed the matter. The court denied the branch of the cross-petition seeking to enforce the $50,000 compensatory damages award, finding it excessive due to insufficient evidence regarding the duration, severity, or consequences of the complainant's mental anguish related to racial discrimination. The determination was otherwise confirmed, and the case was remitted to the New York State Division of Human Rights for a new award of compensatory damages not exceeding $5,000.

Racial DiscriminationRetaliationCompensatory DamagesExcessive DamagesMental AnguishAdministrative Law ReviewHuman Rights LawAppellate ReviewRemittalSufficiency of Evidence
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Lewis v. Stewart's Marketing Corp.

A claimant sustained serious injuries in 1997 and was awarded workers' compensation benefits. In 2008, a dispute arose regarding the permanency and degree of disability, with conflicting medical reports submitted by the claimant (permanent total disability) and the employer (moderate partial disability). The Workers' Compensation Law Judge denied the employer's request to cross-examine the claimant and his physician, subsequently ruling that the claimant had a permanent total disability. Upon appeal, the Workers’ Compensation Board affirmed this decision. The appellate court reversed the Board's decision, emphasizing that denying the employer's timely request for cross-examination was improper, especially given the conflicting medical evidence, and remitted the matter for further proceedings.

Workers’ CompensationDisability AssessmentPermanent Total DisabilityIndependent Medical ExaminationCross-Examination RightsProcedural Due ProcessConflicting Medical EvidenceRemittalAppellate ReviewBoard Decision Reversal
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Pugliese v. Remington Arms, Inc.

The claimant, employed by Remington Arms, Inc. for over three decades, sought workers' compensation benefits, citing severe depression and anxiety stemming from alleged harassment and falsification of attendance records by a supervisor. Initially, a Workers' Compensation Law Judge denied further adjournments for an independent medical examination (IME) report and cross-examination of the treating psychologist, determining the depression to be an occupational disease. The Workers' Compensation Board subsequently modified this, reclassifying it as a compensable accidental injury. The employer and its carrier appealed, challenging the use of hearsay evidence, the preclusion of their IME report, and the denial of their right to cross-examine the claimant's treating psychologist. The appellate court found sufficient corroboration for the hearsay evidence and upheld the IME report's preclusion due to the carrier's delays. However, the court reversed the denial of cross-examination, stating that the absence of the IME report did not negate the carrier's right, especially given their dispute on causal relationship. Consequently, the case was reversed and remitted to the Workers' Compensation Board for further proceedings.

DepressionAnxietyWorkplace HarassmentAttendance Records FalsificationIndependent Medical ExaminationIME Report PreclusionRight to Cross-ExaminationHearsay EvidenceCorroborating EvidenceOccupational Disease
References
11
Case No. ADJ1880658
Regular
Feb 09, 2011

CLAIRE COATS vs. STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The applicant sought reconsideration of a WCJ's decision that denied her motion to strike a permanent disability rating and denied her request for cross-examination of the rater. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, finding that the applicant was improperly denied her due process right to cross-examine the rater. The Board rescinded the WCJ's decision and returned the case to the trial level for a new WCJ to conduct further proceedings and issue a new decision, allowing consideration of the applicant's other contentions. This procedural error regarding the cross-examination right necessitated the remand.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardClaire CoatsState Compensation Insurance FundFindings and Award and OrderSenior Claims AdjusterIndustrial InjuryPermanent DisabilityMotion to StrikeCross-examinationRater
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 17, 2004

Claim of Patterson v. Empire Blue Cross & Blue Shield

The claimant sustained physical and psychological injuries on September 11, 2001, during the evacuation of her workplace at World Trade Center Tower One in Manhattan. In March 2003, the employer moved to discontinue benefits, arguing that claimant no longer had a work-related disability. A Workers’ Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) ordered depositions of medical experts. Claimant’s attorney failed to appear for the deposition of the employer’s orthopedic expert. Consequently, the WCLJ ruled that the claimant waived her right to cross-examine the expert and found no further work-related disability after May 12, 2003. The Workers’ Compensation Board affirmed this decision, which the claimant subsequently appealed. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board’s determination, citing substantial evidence supporting the finding of no further disability and concluding that the WCLJ did not abuse its discretion in denying an adjournment for cross-examination.

Workers' CompensationDisabilityMedical Expert TestimonyWaiver of Cross-ExaminationAdjournmentAppellate ReviewSeptember 11World Trade CenterNew York StateWorkers' Compensation Board
References
7
Case No. 2024 NY Slip Op 00844 [224 AD3d 1079]
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 15, 2024

Matter of Cross v. New York State Dept. of Corr. & Community Supervision

Brenda Cross, the claimant, established a workers' compensation claim for knee and ankle injuries from a 2020 work accident. The employer's carrier required her to use contracted providers for diagnostic testing. After an approved MRI for her right ankle was performed by a non-contracted provider, the carrier objected to payment. The WCLJ and Workers' Compensation Board sided with the carrier but found claimant not responsible for the bill. Cross appealed, but the Appellate Division, Third Department, dismissed the appeal, ruling that Cross lacked standing as she was not aggrieved, since she was not responsible for the medical bill and any dispute over reimbursement rates was between the provider and the carrier.

Workers' Compensation ClaimMedical Bill DisputeDiagnostic TestingContracted ProvidersStanding (Law)Aggrieved PartyAppeal DismissedWorkers' Compensation Board DecisionAppellate DivisionMedical Reimbursement
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Emanatian v. Saratoga Springs Central School District

The case involves a claimant, a school food service worker, who sustained injuries on March 7, 2001, allegedly when her right leg gave out at work. While an initial medical report suggested the injury was due to snow removal, later opinions from an orthopedist and a carrier-retained physician linked it to the work incident. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) established the claim for benefits without sworn testimony or cross-examination. The employer and carrier appealed the Workers' Compensation Board's affirmation of this decision, arguing they were denied the right to develop the record and cross-examine the claimant and medical experts due to conflicting injury histories. The court reversed the Board's decision, agreeing that the carrier was entitled to these procedural rights, and remitted the matter for further proceedings consistent with its decision.

Workers' Compensation ClaimRight to Due ProcessEvidentiary HearingCross-Examination RightsMedical Opinion ConflictAppellate ReversalCase RemittalCausation in Injury ClaimsEmployer/Carrier RightsProcedural Error
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Carr v. Cairo Fire District

Claimant, a volunteer firefighter, sustained a right hand fracture and subsequently developed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve compression, which his treating physician and a first independent medical examination (IME) linked to his work injury. The employer's workers' compensation carrier disputed the claim after a second IME found no carpal tunnel syndrome. During a Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ) proceeding, the WCLJ amended the claim to include consequential injuries without taking sworn testimony or allowing the carrier to cross-examine the claimant or his treating physician. The Workers’ Compensation Board affirmed this decision. On appeal, the court reversed, holding that the carrier was improperly denied its right to present testimony and cross-examine the treating physician, thereby prejudicing the employer. The matter was remitted for further proceedings.

Workers' CompensationVolunteer FirefighterCarpal Tunnel SyndromeUlnar Nerve CompressionIndependent Medical ExaminationRight to TestimonyCross-ExaminationProcedural Due ProcessEvidentiary HearingAppellate Review
References
3
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