You are here: / / CARRIER’S APPLICATION TO REOPEN CLAIM WAS MADE WITHOUT REASONABLE...

CARRIER’S APPLICATION TO REOPEN CLAIM WAS MADE WITHOUT REASONABLE GROUNDS, PENALTY PROPERLY IMPOSED.

The Third Department determined the Workers’ Compensation Board found that the carrier’s application to reopen a claim was properly denied and a penalty was properly imposed:

The Board rationally concluded that proof that claimant failed to respond to the carrier’s request for job search information is insufficient to support a reopening of the claim … . The Board further concluded that, although a rejection of offers of employment, job search assistance or rehabilitative vocational services could be sufficient to reopen the claim, the letter written by the rehabilitation counselor did not constitute such an offer. Rather, the Board relied on language in a professional disclosure form that accompanied the letter, informing claimant that, following a vocational rehabilitation assessment of claimant, a vocational plan “may” be developed that “may include” counseling, job training and assistance returning to work. In light of the lack of any specific offers of employment, job training or assistance in returning to work in the rehabilitation counselor’s correspondence, the Board did not abuse its discretion by concluding that claimant’s rejection of the counselor’s services did not warrant a reopening of the claim … .

As to the penalty imposed, the Board may impose a penalty against a party who institutes or continues a proceeding in respect of a claim without reasonable ground (see Workers’ Compensation Law § 114-a [3] [i]), and the Board’s imposition of a penalty under this statute will not be disturbed if supported by substantial evidence … . The Board imposed the penalty based upon its finding that the counselor’s letter did not constitute an offer of employment or vocational services and, therefore, the carrier had “filed a request to reopen without the proper supporting documentation.” While the Board’s determination — that the rejection of the counselor’s services by claimant did not warrant a reopening of the claim — was not an abuse of discretion, we cannot say that substantial evidence supports the Board’s conclusion that, by relying on proof that the Board ultimately rejected, the carrier initiated the request to reopen the claim without reasonable grounds … . Matter of Andrews v Combined Life Ins., 2017 NY Slip Op 00360, 3rd Dept 1-19-17

 

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAW (CARRIER’S APPLICATION TO REOPEN CLAIM WAS MADE WITHOUT REASONABLE GROUNDS, PENALTY PROPERLY IMPOSED)

You might also like
In College Disciplinary Action, Victim Need Not Testify—Failure to Detail Factual Findings in Determination Violates Due Process
PLAINTIFF HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYER ASSUMED THE RISK OF BEING STRUCK WITH A BALL DURING A PRACTICE DRILL WHERE MULTIPLE BALLS WERE IN PLAY; TWO DISSENTING MEMORANDA (THIRD DEPT).
DESPITE RULING THAT NO EVIDENCE OF DEFENDANT’S REQUESTS TO TALK TO COUNSEL COULD BE PRESENTED, TWO TESTIFYING WITNESSES VIOLATED THAT RULING, BECAUSE THAT EVIDENCE CONFLICTED WITH THE DEFENSE STRATEGY A MISTRIAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DECLARED, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (THIRD DEPT).
THE RECORD WAS SILENT ON WHETHER DEFENDANT SIGNED THE WAIVER OF INDICTMENT IN OPEN COURT; DEFENDANT’S GUILTY PLEA WAS VACATED AND THE SUPERIOR COURT INFORMATION WAS DISMISSED (THIRD DEPT).
THE NINE YEARS OF PENSION CREDITS THE HUSBAND EARNED BEFORE THE MARRIAGE ARE HIS SEPARATE PROPERTY; HOWEVER THE MARITAL FUNDS USED TO PURCHASE THOSE CREDITS DURING THE MARRIAGE ARE SUBJECT TO EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION (THIRD DEPT). ​
BECAUSE IT WAS POSSIBLE THE STATE WOULD REFUSE TO INDEMNIFY DEFENDANT DOCTORS IN THIS MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ACTION BROUGHT BY A STATE PRISON INMATE, THE SIMILAR ACTION IN SUPREME COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED, BUT RATHER THE SUPREME COURT ACTION SHOULD BE STAYED PENDING THE OUTCOME IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS (THIRD DEPT).
THE SUPERIOR COURT INFORMATION WAS JURISDICTIONALLY DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT DID NOT INCLUDE AN OFFENSE CHARGED IN THE FELONY COMPLAINT OR A LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSE (THIRD DEPT).
THE WARRANTLESS SEARCHES OF CLOSED CONTAINERS WERE NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE ITEMS BEING IN DEFENDANT’S “GRABBABLE” AREA OR BY “EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES;” CONVICTION REVERSED (THIRD DEPT).

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2025 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

FAILURE TO TIMELY SERVE ONE OF CLAIMANT’S EMPLOYERS WAS A VALID BASIS... CARRIER’S REQUEST FOR AN ADJOURNMENT OF AN EXPEDITED PERMANENCY HEARING...