Injured Mechanic Can't Relitigate Causation Issue From Denied Claim

A New York appellate court ruled that an auto mechanic who had unsuccessfully sought workers’ compensation benefits for a repetitive-use injury could not relitigate the same issue in a new action for an occupational disease. Case: Matter of Molnar v. JRL S. Hampton LLC, No. 534670, 01/12/2023, published. Facts and procedural history: John Molnar worked as an auto mechanic for JRL S. Hampton LLC. In March 2021, Molnar filed a workers’ compensation claim, alleging an occupational disease of the bilateral wrists and hands with a date of disablement of Feb. 4, 2021. JRL contes...