Banish v. Warren Cnty. Sheriff's office

2022 NY Slip Op 05570

In the Matter of the Claim of James Banish, Appellant, v. Warren County Sheriff's Office, by and through Warren County Self Insurance Plan, Respondent. Workers' Compensation Board, Respondent.

Nos. 534171, 534534

Supreme Court of New York, Third Department

October 6, 2022

Calendar Date: September 13, 2022

Law Firm of Alex Dell, PLLC, Albany (Edward Obertubbesing of counsel), for appellant.

Lemire & Higgins, LLC, Malta (Christopher R. Lemire of counsel) for Warren County Sheriff's Office, respondent.

Before: Garry, P.J., Egan Jr., Clark, Fisher and McShan, JJ.

FISHER, J.

Appeals (1) from a decision of the Workers' Compensation Board filed March 31, 2021, which ruled that claimant did not sustain a causally-related injury to his left shoulder and denied his claim for workers' compensation benefits, and (2) from a decision of said Board, filed August 11, 2021, which denied claimant's application for reconsideration and/or full Board review.

In August 2019, claimant, a patrol officer for the self-insured employer, filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits stemming from injuries to his jaw and head that occurred when he was assaulted by an individual while on duty. After his case was established for certain injuries, claimant later requested that his claim for benefits be amended to include a causally-related injury to his left shoulder based upon, in part, proof that he had been granted General Municipal Law § 207-c benefits for said injury. Following various proceedings, a Workers' Compensation Law Judge (hereinafter WCLJ) found, as is pertinent here, that claimant did not sustain a causally-related injury to his left shoulder and disallowed the claim. The Board affirmed, adopting the WCLJ's findings and decision, and claimant's subsequent application for reconsideration and/or full Board review was denied. Claimant appeals.

We affirm. An injury is compensable only where it "aris[es] out of and in the course of employment" (Workers' Compensation Law § 2 [7]; see Workers' Compensation Law § 10 [1]; Matter of Brennan v New York State Dept. of Health, 159 A.D.3d 1250, 1251 [3d Dept 2018]). As the party seeking benefits, "[a] claimant bears the burden of establishing, by competent medical evidence, a causal relationship between an injury and his or her employment" (Matter of Kotok v Victoria's Secret, 181 A.D.3d 1146, 1147 [3d Dept 2020] [internal quotation marks and citations omitted]; see Matter of Richman v New York State Workers' Compensation Bd., 199 A.D.3d 1216, 1217 [3d Dept 2021]). This factual determination is "within the province of the Board and such decision will not be disturbed if supported by substantial evidence" (Matter of Devis v Mountain States Rosen LLC, 157 A.D.3d 1148, 1149 [3d Dept 2018]; see Matter of De La Cruz v Aufiero Painting Indus. Inc., 185 A.D.3d 1330, 1330-1331 [3d Dept 2020]).

Claimant testified that he injured his left shoulder while attempting to place restraints on an uncooperative, disorderly individual during the underlying incident. Despite this account of events, claimant failed to include his asserted left shoulder injury in his initial claim for benefits and did not seek medical attention for his shoulder injury until five months following the incident. Further, claimant's emergency room medical reports from the day of the incident reveal no concerns or complaints regarding his shoulder. Moreover, although claimant submitted the reports of his treating medical providers in support of his claim, both indicate that his left shoulder pain began several years prior to the underlying incident and neither provide an opinion as to causation. Dominic Belmonte, a physician who evaluated claimant on behalf of the employer, opined that, based upon his review of claimant's medical records and a physical examination, claimant's left shoulder injury was not causally-related to the underlying incident. In view of the foregoing, as substantial evidence supports the Board's conclusion that claimant did not sustain a causally- related injury to his left shoulder, that conclusion will not be disturbed (see Matter of Richman v New York State Workers' Compensation Bd., 199 A.D.3d at 1217-1218; Matter of Sbuttoni v FOJP Serv. Corp., 179 A.D.3d 1234, 1235 [3d Dept 2020]).

We are unpersuaded by claimant's contention that the Board's decision must be reversed for failure to address his argument that his claim should be amended to include a left shoulder injury based upon his prior award for benefits under General Municipal Law § 207-c. Contrary to claimant's assertions, the record reflects that the WCLJ considered this argument by relying upon claimant's related supplemental memorandum in rendering its determination. Further, in adopting the WCLJ's findings and decision, the Board explicitly noted claimant's argument as to General Municipal Law § 207-c before determining that the record nevertheless supported the denial of his claim. Despite claimant's contentions to the contrary, no lengthy analysis as to...