Even When the Injured Worker, Who Had Received Workers’ Compensation Benefits, Successfully Sues His Employer (As Opposed to a “Stranger”) for His Injuries, the Workers’ Compensation Carrier Has a Lien Against the Recovery Pursuant to Workers’ Compensation Law 29(1)

The Third Department noted that, even though the worker who had received workers’ compensation benefits successfully sued his employer (as opposed to a third party) for his injuries, the workers’ compensation carrier still had a lien against the recovery (Workers’ Compensation Law 29(1)):

“When a claimant obtains recovery in a civil action for the same injuries that were the predicate for workers’ compensation benefits, the carrier has a lien against any recovery (see Workers’ Compensation Law § 29 [1]), even where the action is brought against an employer” … . Indeed, as the Court of Appeals has recently reaffirmed, “‘[Workers’ Compensation Law § ] 29, read in its entirety and in context, clearly reveals a legislative design to provide for reimbursement of the compensation carrier whenever a recovery is obtained in tort for the same injury that was a predicate for the payment of compensation benefits'” … . The Court reasoned that “[i]t would be unreasonable to read the statute as mandating a different result merely because the recovery came out of the pockets of a coemployee [or the employer] and not from the resources of a stranger” … . Ronkese v Tilcon N.Y., Inc., 2015 NY Slip Op 04908, 3rd Dept 6-11-15