CLAIMANT PARTICIPATED IN THE CLEAN UP AFTER THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACK ON 9-11 AND WAS THEREFORE ENTITLED TO WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BENEFITS UNDER ARTICLE 8-A (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing (modifying) the Workers’ Compensation Board, determined that some of the World Trade Center clean-up activities of the claimant qualified for benefits pursuant to Workers’ Compensation Law article 8-A:

“Workers’ Compensation Law article 8-A was enacted to remove statutory obstacles to timely claims filing and notice for latent conditions resulting from hazardous exposure for those who worked in rescue, recovery or cleanup operations following the [WTC] September 11th, 2001 attack” … . * * *

… [W]e find, in light of the liberal construction afforded to Workers’ Compensation Law article 8-A, that claimant’s activities of assisting with clearing the area — which notably was located within the statutorily-defined WTC site — in order for the emergency vehicles to access Ground Zero had a tangible connection to the rescue efforts. As such, the Board’s determination that claimant did not participate in the rescue [*3]effort operations to qualify under Workers’ Compensation Law article 8-A is not supported by substantial evidence … . Matter of Liotta v New York State Unified Ct. Sys., 2024 NY Slip Op 02237, Third Dept 4-25-24

Practice Point: Article 8-A of the Worders’ Compensation Law was enacted to cover rescue and other worker’s who responded to the World Trade Center attack on 9-11. Here claimant participated in clean-up activities to keep the area clear for emergency vehicles and was therefore entitled to benefits pursuant to article 8-A.