Name

Michael Robinson v. Goodall Landscaping, Inc.

Insurance Company

Memic

Date Decided

January 29, 2021

Panel Members

David Hirtle

Tom Pelletier

Mike Stovall

Categories

Benefit Payments Res Judicata Benefit Payments Res Judicata

Tags

Sec. 212(3)

File Size

107 KB

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Summary from the Troubh Heisler Attorneys

Michael Robinson v. Goodall Landscaping (attached) – Robinson injured one of his eyes at Goodall, rendering it "functionally blind." Judge Knopf denied his first specific loss petition under §212 (3) (M), because he failed to present medical evidence that the injury permanently impaired his eye and that it caused him to lose 80% or more of his vision in that eye, as required by statute.

Robinson refiled his specific loss petition, presumably with new evidence, but Judge Knopf denied it on grounds of res judicata, as she had finally decided the matter in her prior decision. Robinson appealed, arguing that she had not made specific findings on the amount of lost vision, so his petition was not barred. The Appellate Division upheld Judge Knopf's decision, affirming that Robinson could have submitted his supporting evidence in the prior litigation, and that he had not established a change of medical circumstances since the last decree.

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