Mazzucco v. Atlas Welding & Boiler Repair, Inc.

297 A.D.2d 513, 747 N.Y.2d 23, 747 N.Y.S.2d 23, 2002 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 8332

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: September 12, 2002
• Status: Published

Opinion

Having accepted workers’ compensation benefits from defendant Regency East Apartments Corp., plaintiff is precluded from maintaining an action on the ground that he was actually employed by the building’s managing agent (see Zabava v 178 E. 78, 212 AD2d 406). Contrary to plaintiffs contention that the Workers’ Compensation Board never made a definitive determination as to his employer’s identity, a finding that defendant was plaintiffs employer at the time of the accident is implicit in the determination authorizing the payment of benefits (see Workers’ Compensation Law §§ 2, 3, 10). “The existence of an employer-employee relationship in which an industrial accident has occurred is jurisdictionally vital to the maintenance of a workmen’s compensation proceeding” and a decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board “is final on all questions within its jurisdiction” (O’Rourke v Long, 41 NY2d 219, 227; see also Velasquez v Pine Grove Resort Ranch, 61 AD2d 1102, 1103, appeal dismissed 44 NY2d 949 [“Since awards were made * * * , it necessarily follows that the Workmen’s Compensation Board determined that an employer-employee relationship obtained”]). Concur — Tom, J.P., Mazzarelli, Rosenberger, Ellerin and Rubin, JJ.