Opinion
2014-09-4
In the Matter of the Claim of Sherri WAIT, Respondent, v. HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE et al., Appellants. Workers' Compensation Board, Respondent.
Sullivan, Keenan, Oliver & Violando LLP, Albany (John M. Oliver of counsel), for appellants. Alex C. Dell, Albany, for Sherri Wait, respondent.
Sullivan, Keenan, Oliver & Violando LLP, Albany (John M. Oliver of counsel), for appellants. Alex C. Dell, Albany, for Sherri Wait, respondent.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York City (Marjorie S. Leff of counsel), for Workers' Compensation Board, respondent.
Before: McCARTHY, J.P., GARRY, EGAN JR., LYNCH and CLARK, JJ.
LYNCH, J.
Appeal from a decision of the Workers' Compensation Board, filed October 25, 2012, which, among other things, ruled that claimant sustained a compensable injury.
Claimant, a secretary, fell while she was entering her workplace and purportedly sustained injuries. The self-insured employer and its third-party administrator (hereinafter collectively referred to as the employer) controverted her ensuing claim for workers' compensation benefits, asserting that she had staged the fall. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge conducted hearings and reviewed video footage of the incident, after which he established the claim for injuries to claimant's right wrist, right shoulder, right knee and right ankle. The Workers' Compensation Board affirmed, and the employer appeals.
We affirm. “Whether a compensable accident has occurred presents a question of fact for resolution by the Board and its decision will be upheld when supported by substantial evidence” ( Matter of Rolleri v. Mastic Beach Ambulance Co., Inc., 106 A.D.3d 1292, 1292, 967 N.Y.S.2d 139 [2013], lv. denied21 N.Y.3d 865, 973 N.Y.S.2d 582, 996 N.E.2d 501 [2013] [citations omitted]; accord Matter of Dixon v. Almar Plumbing, 111 A.D.3d 1230, 1231, 977 N.Y.S.2d 101 [2013] ). Claimant was on crutches due to an unrelated surgical procedure, and testified that she pressed a handicap button that opened the door to her workplace. The door began closing abruptly and, as she hurried to cross the threshold, she tripped or slipped and fell backwards onto her right arm. While claimant's account of her fall varied somewhat over time, the emergency room physician who treated claimant causally linked her injuries to the fall and testified that victims of acute trauma such as claimant often “don't remember exactly how it happened.” The Board credited that proof and, in so doing, rejected the employer's contention that a video of the incident established that claimant staged the event. Claimant's inconsistent explanations as to how the accident occurred created a credibility issue for the Board to resolve ( see Matter of Poulton v. Griffin Mfg. Co., 102 A.D.3d 1071, 1072, 959 N.Y.S.2d 293 [2013] ). According deference to the Board's assessment of credibility, substantial evidence thus supports its finding that claimant had sustained compensable injuries ( see Matter of McCluskey v. Certified Moving & Stor., 106 A.D.3d 1349, 1349–1350, 965 N.Y.S.2d 393 [2013]; Matter of Conyers v. Van Rensselaer Manor, 80 A.D.3d 914, 915–916, 914 N.Y.S.2d 439 [2011] ). The above proof similarly constitutes substantial evidence to support the Board's finding that claimant did not violate Workers' Compensation Law § 114–a ( see Matter of Eccles v. Truck–Lite, Inc., 92 A.D.3d 1175–1175–1176, 939 N.Y.S.2d 161 [2012]; Matter of Monzon v. Sam Bernardi Constr., Inc., 60 A.D.3d 1261, 1262–1263, 876 N.Y.S.2d 175 [2009] ).
ORDERED that the decision is affirmed, with costs to claimant. McCARTHY, J.P., GARRY, EGAN JR. and CLARK, JJ., concur.