Spinelli v. Cricket Valley Energy Center

206 A.D.3d 1427

172 N.Y.S.3d 133

In the Matter of the Claim of Michael SPINELLI, Claimant,

v.CRICKET VALLEY ENERGY CENTER, Respondent,andAmerican Zurich Insurance Company, Appellant.

Workers’ Compensation Board, Respondent.

533829

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York.

Calendar Date: May 26, 2022

Decided and Entered: June 23, 2022

Law Firm of Mary J. Mraz, Albany (Mary J. Mraz of counsel), for appellant.

Letitia James, Attorney General, New York City (Nina M. Sas of counsel), for Workers’ Compensation Board, respondent.

Before: Garry, P.J., Lynch, Aarons, Reynolds Fitzgerald and Ceresia, JJ.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Lynch, J. Appeal from a decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board, filed December 1, 2020, which ruled that claimant did not violate Workers’ Compensation Law § 114–a.

In February 2019, claimant was injured when a piece of plywood he was handing to a coworker fell, striking claimant's right shoulder and forearm. Claimant thereafter established a workers’ compensation claim for injuries to his right shoulder,

neck and right forearm, as well as a consequential injury to his left shoulder, and he was awarded benefits. In May 2020, the employer's workers’ compensation carrier raised the issue of claimant's violation of Workers’ Compensation Law § 114–a, but declined to make any offer of proof at that time. Following a hearing, the Workers’ Compensation Law Judge, among other things, found that there was a violation in that claimant misrepresented material facts by failing to disclose prior injuries, and imposed mandatory and discretionary penalties. Upon review, however, the Workers’ Compensation Board rescinded that part of the Workers’ Compensation Law Judge's decision finding a violation of Workers Compensation Law § 114–a and imposing penalties. The carrier appeals.

We affirm. Workers’ Compensation Law § 114–a (1) provides that a claimant will be disqualified from receiving workers’ compensation benefits "[i]f for the purpose of obtaining compensation ..., or for the purpose of influencing any determination regarding any such payment, [he or she] knowingly makes a false statement or representation as to a material fact" (see Matter of Reyes v. H & L Iron Works Corp., 203 A.D.3d 1426, 1426–1427, 165 N.Y.S.3d 621 [2022] ). "An omission of material information may constitute a knowing false statement or misrepresentation" ( Matter of Sanchez v. US Concrete, 194 A.D.3d 1287, 1288, 148 N.Y.S.3d 533 [2021] [internal quotation marks, brackets and citations omitted]; see Matter of Ortiz v. Calvin Maintenance, 199 A.D.3d 1211, 1212, 158 N.Y.S.3d 312 [2021] ). "Whether a claimant has violated Workers’ Compensation Law § 114–a is within the province of the Board, which is the sole arbiter of witness credibility, and its decision will not be disturbed if supported by substantial evidence" ( Matter of Sanchez v. US Concrete, 194 A.D.3d at 1288, 148 N.Y.S.3d 533 [internal quotation marks and citations omitted]; see Matter of McGee v. Johnson Equip. Sales & Serv., 184 A.D.3d 935, 937, 124 N.Y.S.3d 497 [2020] ).

Here, claimant reported to the doctors that his past medical history included left knee surgery and a broken right wrist, but he denied having prior pain or problems with his right shoulder, right forearm or neck. When questioned about various right shoulder and neck injuries sustained at work in 2016, in two motor vehicle accidents in 2015 and 2010 and a falling incident at home in 2011, claimant testified that he,...