In a contentious hearing, LOMAD prevailed proving that a claimant voluntarily retired, effectively removing herself from the labor market and the claimant’s subsequent part-time job did not support any claim for reduced earnings. The claimant, who worked at a...
Blog Posts
Claim Disallowance With Unanimous Medical Opinion Giving Causal Relationship
This was a controverted claim for chemical exposure for an accident which occurred in 2019. The claimant was working as a bus driver and alleged that she was exposed to fuel additives somehow coming out of the heating vents, and that she has been subject to repeat...
Employers Do Not Have to Prove Prejudice by Late Notice, but it Certainly Doesn’t Hurt To Do So!
Workers’ Compensation Law § 18 provides that the claimant must give written notice of an injury to his employer within 30 days of the accident. However, the statute further provides that the failure to give timely written notice may be excused by the Board if it finds...
The Claimant’s Burden: Proving the Causal Relationship of an Injury
In the case of Patrick Feeney, WCB G2489270, we recently had a victory in front of Judge Snyder Haas on the issue of causal relationship of the claimant’s left shoulder and elbow injuries. This is an established claim per an Amended Proposed Conciliation Decision for...
Social Media and Fraud – You’d Be Surprised What People Post!
When we talk about surveillance, we’re usually talking about investigators staking out a claimant, taking videos, trying to catch them doing something outside their restrictions. It’s an incredibly useful and important tool in our arsenal, especially when it comes to...
Never Give In! Disallowance Win!
We got a win disallowing a right shoulder claim in a 01/18/2020 established claim for the upper back and neck. The claimant’s C-3, filed approximately 3 weeks later, listed the right shoulder as a claimed injury. The right shoulder MRI showed bursitis and a partial...
An “Interesting” IME Development
We recently handled a claim in which we were attempting to get a finding of 50% degree of disability with regard to temporary rates in the record. Our IME had given an opinion of 50% based on her examination, but the treating physician had consistently opined 100%....
Section 44: Not Even a Portion of Liability For The Occupational Disease
The claim was established for occupational disease to the bilateral hands and ankles and the claimant, a landscaper, was ultimately awarded a loss of use of 15% for the hands and 10% for the ankles. In an attempt to invoke Section 44 apportionment, the carrier on...
When Do Work From Home Accidents Occur in the Scope and Course of Employment?
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers still require their employees to work from home. However, most employers likely do not realize the implications this responsible decision can have on potential workers’...
Thoughts on Thinking: A Strange Title About Practicing Law
Listening to the news earlier today, I heard a talking-head explain she was a member of a law firm which she also described as a “Think Tank.” Now, this lawyer’s firm had strong political ties as well as, I’m sure, a practice focused on cases with political import. ...
May 2021
-
Labor Market Attachment and Retirement
May 24, 2021 -
Claim Disallowance With Unanimous Medical Opinion Giving Causal Relationship
May 17, 2021 -
Employers Do Not Have to Prove Prejudice by Late Notice, but it Certainly Doesn’t Hurt To Do So!
May 10, 2021 -
The Claimant’s Burden: Proving the Causal Relationship of an Injury
May 3, 2021
April 2021
-
Social Media and Fraud – You’d Be Surprised What People Post!
April 26, 2021 -
Never Give In! Disallowance Win!
April 19, 2021 -
An “Interesting” IME Development
April 12, 2021 -
Section 44: Not Even a Portion of Liability For The Occupational Disease
April 5, 2021
March 2021
February 2021
-
Occupational Disease Claims after Matter of Pinnacle Industries II, LLC (2019 NY Wrk Comp G2020587)
February 22, 2021 -
No Further Causally Related Disability Due to Intervening Unrelated Accident
February 15, 2021 -
Independent Contractor or Employee
February 8, 2021 -
No Error of Law or Fact In An Application For Full Board Review
February 1, 2021
January 2021
-
Fraud in the Family – Claimant Doing Other Work while Receiving Comp Benefits
January 25, 2021 -
How Change in Conditions for Classified Claimants Changed Drastically
January 19, 2021 -
Success with WCL Section 18
January 11, 2021 -
Doubling Down – 2 Hearing Loss Claims for the Same Claimant Denied on the Same Day
January 4, 2021
2020
-
Successful Disallowance!
July 26, 2020 -
Another Win for The Law Offices of Melissa A. Day!
July 22, 2020 -
A Win for The Law Offices of Melissa A. Day
July 21, 2020
2019
-
Melissa A. Day, Esq. invited to join Buffalo Business First Leadership Trust
July 30, 2019 -
Claimant’s conviction of unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine does not amount to a violation under WCL 114-a.
May 31, 2019 -
Amendments to 2017 not retroactive if PPD claimant was not attached to labor market
May 31, 2019 -
LWEC & Incontinence
May 28, 2019 -
A New Quest Begins
May 21, 2019
2018
-
Appeals Inventory and Forms
December 17, 2018 -
Review of Workers Compensation Board Schedule Loss of Use Frequently Asked Questions and New Permanency Forms
December 17, 2018 -
Proposed Changes Submitted Seeking to Expand the Board’s Legal Internship Program
May 25, 2018 -
You’re claiming what?!?
May 25, 2018 -
New SLU Guidelines Presentation by the Board
May 23, 2018 -
United States Supreme Court is Considering a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari Of the American Economy Decision
May 23, 2018 -
Ricky Costner Jr., 18 Year Old Slain by a Deranged Co-Worker, Honored by Family and Friends
March 31, 2018 -
Schedule Loss of Use Awards – Grrrrrrrrr
March 31, 2018
2017
-
Court of Appeals Upholds 2013 Amendment to Section 25-a – Marking the End for The Fund for Reopened Cases
October 26, 2017 -
How to Avoid Bad Luck in Your Comp Claims This Friday the 13th – Some Basic Time Constraints for New York State Workers’ Compensation Claims to Keep in Mind
October 12, 2017 -
Board Finds that Medical Treatment Guidelines Apply to Out of State Claimants
June 7, 2017 -
Permanent Partial Disability “Safety Net”…What to Expect from WCL §35
February 5, 2017 -
Back to the Future: The Return of WCL 25(2-b): Fact-Finding without Judges and Legal Reasoning without Lawyers
January 18, 2017
2016
-
It’s the Holiday Season!
December 8, 2016 -
HAPPY HALLO-WEAN!
October 31, 2016 -
TO WEAN, OR NOT TO WEAN, THAT IS THE QUESTION.
October 25, 2016 -
Reopened Cases
April 15, 2016
2015
-
NY Allows Employer to…
November 28, 2015 -
An Employee Cannot be…
November 23, 2015 -
Vocational and Functional…
October 27, 2015 -
Challenge Yourself
September 19, 2015 -
Labor Market Attachment Refresher
September 16, 2015 -
Summer is Almost Over!
September 7, 2015 -
Claims Handling Performance
August 23, 2015 -
Answers to the Quiz
August 10, 2015 -
Average Wages?
August 7, 2015 -
Non-Acute Pain Treatment Guidelines
August 5, 2015 -
Test Your NY Workers’ Compensation Chops
August 3, 2015 -
Liability for Treatment by Social Workers
July 21, 2015 -
MDs, JDs AND TTDs
July 13, 2015 -
HOT DOGS OR HAMBURGERS?
July 1, 2015 -
IMEs : The Next Summer Movie Blockbuster or Just Another IME Gone Bust?
June 29, 2015 -
WCB’s Regulatory Agenda May Include…
June 14, 2015 -
An Underwriting Nightmare Come True
February 5, 2015 -
Hearing Loss becomes Hearing Win
February 5, 2015
2014
-
Non Acute Pain Medical Treatment Guidelines Offer a Framework for Controlling Costs Associated with Chronic Pain Management, Especially Opioid Use
November 24, 2014 -
In Kigin v. WCB, the Court of Appeals upholds the presumption that treatment outside the MTGs is not medically necessary and the attending physician has the burden of proof of the need for a variance.
November 23, 2014 -
The Law Offices of Melissa A. Day, PLLC Won a Finding of a 0% Loss of Wage Earning Capacity
November 22, 2014 -
Navigating the Low Back Medical Treatment Guidelines for Chiropractic Care
Sseptember 12, 2014
2013
-
DID YOU KNOW? THE BOARD HAS RETIRED THE CONCEPT OF THE COMPENSABLE RETIREMENT. The Death Knell of the Trifecta: Zamora and the so-called “Compensable Retirement”
December 17, 2013 -
A Blind Leap across an Inscrutable Chasm – Arbitrary and Capricious Loss of Wage Earning Capacity (LWEC) Determinations
November 30, 2013 -
LESS THAN TWELVE WEEKS REMAINING FOR WCL §25-a! Because Subject # 046-630 Contains Stricter Requirements for Reopening a Claim on the Issue of §25-a, Prudent Carriers and Employers May Want to Refer Applications to Defense Counsel
October 10, 2013 -
BOARD PROCESS RE-ENGINEERING (“BPR”) – NY WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FORUM MEMBERS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE DIALOGUE
September 13, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? The 2nd Circuit certified a question to the NY Court of Appeals on the exclusivity provision of the WCL?
August 14, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? Twenty Insurance Carriers Have Filed an Action Seeking to Obtain a Declaration that the Elimination of The Fund for Reopened Cases Is Unconstitutional.
August 3, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? THE THIRD DEPARTMENT HOLDS THAT MEDICAL TREATMENT WHICH IS NOT SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED IN THE MTG IS PRESUMPTIVELY NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.
July 30 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? AN EMPLOYER OR CARRIER MAY BE ABLE TO REOPEN A PPD CLAIM ON THE ISSUE OF LABOR MARKET ATTACHMENT.
July 13, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? A bill being considered by the NY State Legislature which would create a presumption of permanent total disability for claimants who are found eligible for social security?
April 30, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? 25-A IS GOING AWAY.
April 6, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? A chiropractic variance request based on alleged functional improvements and expected continued improvements may not be granted if the chiropractor continues to find that the claimant is totally disabled.
March 13, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? The Federal Government Is Not Subject to the Jurisdiction of the NY Workers’ Compensation Board on a Theory of General/Special Employment?
February 23, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? GOVERNOR CUOMO’S BUDGET PROPOSES TO ELIMINATE MANDATORY DEPOSITS INTO THE ATF AND TO CLOSE THE FUND TO NEW DEPOSITS?
February 5, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHANGES TO THE MTG HAS BEEN DELAYED UNTIL MARCH 1, 2013.
January 22, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? FACEBOOK PAGES ARE NOT CONSIDERED “SURVEILLANCE” THAT HAS TO BE DISCLOSED BEFORE A CLAIMANT TESTIFIES.
January 22, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? WCL §15(3)(v) BENEFITS MAY NOW BE CAPPED UNDER WCL §15(3)(w)
January 14, 2013 -
WHY? Why do judge’s even set deadlines for the submission of Memoranda of Law?
January 10, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW?
January 5, 2013
Blog Posts
Navigating the Board’s PARS System for Opioids
Anyone else annoyed by claimants who were directed to wean two years ago that now continually file PARs for opioids? We did it! We were successful in obtaining a finding that the claimant should be weaned off their opioid narcotics. In some cases, the treating...
Interview with Leaders Voice USA
In the fall of 2021, our fabulous and fearless leader, Melissa A. Day, was sought out by Leaders Voice USA to provide enriching guidance and impart her extensive knowledge in the realm of Worker’s Compensation Law and managing a law firm. The team at Leaders Voice...
Oral Argument Video, Burns v. Varriale
Successfully arguing the influential case of Burns v. Varriale, 9 N.Y. 3d 207 (2007), has been the highlight of Melissa Day's career as an attorney. You can now watch a video of the oral argument from this case - click here to watch the video. The video does require a...
Using the Contralateral Limb as a Baseline for Calculating Schedule Loss of Use
One of the greatest things the Board ever did for carriers was include a provision in the 2018 Workers’ Compensation Guidelines for Determining Impairment (“Guidelines”) that providers need to measure range of motion of unaffected contralateral limb and use that as a...
May 2021
-
Labor Market Attachment and Retirement
May 24, 2021 -
Claim Disallowance With Unanimous Medical Opinion Giving Causal Relationship
May 17, 2021 -
Employers Do Not Have to Prove Prejudice by Late Notice, but it Certainly Doesn’t Hurt To Do So!
May 10, 2021 -
The Claimant’s Burden: Proving the Causal Relationship of an Injury
May 3, 2021
April 2021
-
Social Media and Fraud – You’d Be Surprised What People Post!
April 26, 2021 -
Never Give In! Disallowance Win!
April 19, 2021 -
An “Interesting” IME Development
April 12, 2021 -
Section 44: Not Even a Portion of Liability For The Occupational Disease
April 5, 2021
March 2021
February 2021
-
Occupational Disease Claims after Matter of Pinnacle Industries II, LLC (2019 NY Wrk Comp G2020587)
February 22, 2021 -
No Further Causally Related Disability Due to Intervening Unrelated Accident
February 15, 2021 -
Independent Contractor or Employee
February 8, 2021 -
No Error of Law or Fact In An Application For Full Board Review
February 1, 2021
January 2021
-
Fraud in the Family – Claimant Doing Other Work while Receiving Comp Benefits
January 25, 2021 -
How Change in Conditions for Classified Claimants Changed Drastically
January 19, 2021 -
Success with WCL Section 18
January 11, 2021 -
Doubling Down – 2 Hearing Loss Claims for the Same Claimant Denied on the Same Day
January 4, 2021
2020
-
Successful Disallowance!
July 26, 2020 -
Another Win for The Law Offices of Melissa A. Day!
July 22, 2020 -
A Win for The Law Offices of Melissa A. Day
July 21, 2020
2019
-
Melissa A. Day, Esq. invited to join Buffalo Business First Leadership Trust
July 30, 2019 -
Claimant’s conviction of unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine does not amount to a violation under WCL 114-a.
May 31, 2019 -
Amendments to 2017 not retroactive if PPD claimant was not attached to labor market
May 31, 2019 -
LWEC & Incontinence
May 28, 2019 -
A New Quest Begins
May 21, 2019
2018
-
Appeals Inventory and Forms
December 17, 2018 -
Review of Workers Compensation Board Schedule Loss of Use Frequently Asked Questions and New Permanency Forms
December 17, 2018 -
Proposed Changes Submitted Seeking to Expand the Board’s Legal Internship Program
May 25, 2018 -
You’re claiming what?!?
May 25, 2018 -
New SLU Guidelines Presentation by the Board
May 23, 2018 -
United States Supreme Court is Considering a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari Of the American Economy Decision
May 23, 2018 -
Ricky Costner Jr., 18 Year Old Slain by a Deranged Co-Worker, Honored by Family and Friends
March 31, 2018 -
Schedule Loss of Use Awards – Grrrrrrrrr
March 31, 2018
2017
-
Court of Appeals Upholds 2013 Amendment to Section 25-a – Marking the End for The Fund for Reopened Cases
October 26, 2017 -
How to Avoid Bad Luck in Your Comp Claims This Friday the 13th – Some Basic Time Constraints for New York State Workers’ Compensation Claims to Keep in Mind
October 12, 2017 -
Board Finds that Medical Treatment Guidelines Apply to Out of State Claimants
June 7, 2017 -
Permanent Partial Disability “Safety Net”…What to Expect from WCL §35
February 5, 2017 -
Back to the Future: The Return of WCL 25(2-b): Fact-Finding without Judges and Legal Reasoning without Lawyers
January 18, 2017
2016
-
It’s the Holiday Season!
December 8, 2016 -
HAPPY HALLO-WEAN!
October 31, 2016 -
TO WEAN, OR NOT TO WEAN, THAT IS THE QUESTION.
October 25, 2016 -
Reopened Cases
April 15, 2016
2015
-
NY Allows Employer to…
November 28, 2015 -
An Employee Cannot be…
November 23, 2015 -
Vocational and Functional…
October 27, 2015 -
Challenge Yourself
September 19, 2015 -
Labor Market Attachment Refresher
September 16, 2015 -
Summer is Almost Over!
September 7, 2015 -
Claims Handling Performance
August 23, 2015 -
Answers to the Quiz
August 10, 2015 -
Average Wages?
August 7, 2015 -
Non-Acute Pain Treatment Guidelines
August 5, 2015 -
Test Your NY Workers’ Compensation Chops
August 3, 2015 -
Liability for Treatment by Social Workers
July 21, 2015 -
MDs, JDs AND TTDs
July 13, 2015 -
HOT DOGS OR HAMBURGERS?
July 1, 2015 -
IMEs : The Next Summer Movie Blockbuster or Just Another IME Gone Bust?
June 29, 2015 -
WCB’s Regulatory Agenda May Include…
June 14, 2015 -
An Underwriting Nightmare Come True
February 5, 2015 -
Hearing Loss becomes Hearing Win
February 5, 2015
2014
-
Non Acute Pain Medical Treatment Guidelines Offer a Framework for Controlling Costs Associated with Chronic Pain Management, Especially Opioid Use
November 24, 2014 -
In Kigin v. WCB, the Court of Appeals upholds the presumption that treatment outside the MTGs is not medically necessary and the attending physician has the burden of proof of the need for a variance.
November 23, 2014 -
The Law Offices of Melissa A. Day, PLLC Won a Finding of a 0% Loss of Wage Earning Capacity
November 22, 2014 -
Navigating the Low Back Medical Treatment Guidelines for Chiropractic Care
Sseptember 12, 2014
2013
-
DID YOU KNOW? THE BOARD HAS RETIRED THE CONCEPT OF THE COMPENSABLE RETIREMENT. The Death Knell of the Trifecta: Zamora and the so-called “Compensable Retirement”
December 17, 2013 -
A Blind Leap across an Inscrutable Chasm – Arbitrary and Capricious Loss of Wage Earning Capacity (LWEC) Determinations
November 30, 2013 -
LESS THAN TWELVE WEEKS REMAINING FOR WCL §25-a! Because Subject # 046-630 Contains Stricter Requirements for Reopening a Claim on the Issue of §25-a, Prudent Carriers and Employers May Want to Refer Applications to Defense Counsel
October 10, 2013 -
BOARD PROCESS RE-ENGINEERING (“BPR”) – NY WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FORUM MEMBERS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE DIALOGUE
September 13, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? The 2nd Circuit certified a question to the NY Court of Appeals on the exclusivity provision of the WCL?
August 14, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? Twenty Insurance Carriers Have Filed an Action Seeking to Obtain a Declaration that the Elimination of The Fund for Reopened Cases Is Unconstitutional.
August 3, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? THE THIRD DEPARTMENT HOLDS THAT MEDICAL TREATMENT WHICH IS NOT SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED IN THE MTG IS PRESUMPTIVELY NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.
July 30 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? AN EMPLOYER OR CARRIER MAY BE ABLE TO REOPEN A PPD CLAIM ON THE ISSUE OF LABOR MARKET ATTACHMENT.
July 13, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? A bill being considered by the NY State Legislature which would create a presumption of permanent total disability for claimants who are found eligible for social security?
April 30, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? 25-A IS GOING AWAY.
April 6, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? A chiropractic variance request based on alleged functional improvements and expected continued improvements may not be granted if the chiropractor continues to find that the claimant is totally disabled.
March 13, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? The Federal Government Is Not Subject to the Jurisdiction of the NY Workers’ Compensation Board on a Theory of General/Special Employment?
February 23, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? GOVERNOR CUOMO’S BUDGET PROPOSES TO ELIMINATE MANDATORY DEPOSITS INTO THE ATF AND TO CLOSE THE FUND TO NEW DEPOSITS?
February 5, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHANGES TO THE MTG HAS BEEN DELAYED UNTIL MARCH 1, 2013.
January 22, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? FACEBOOK PAGES ARE NOT CONSIDERED “SURVEILLANCE” THAT HAS TO BE DISCLOSED BEFORE A CLAIMANT TESTIFIES.
January 22, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW? WCL §15(3)(v) BENEFITS MAY NOW BE CAPPED UNDER WCL §15(3)(w)
January 14, 2013 -
WHY? Why do judge’s even set deadlines for the submission of Memoranda of Law?
January 10, 2013 -
DID YOU KNOW?
January 5, 2013