Widow's Ex Parte Communication With Doctor Doesn't Preclude Death Benefits

A New York appellate court upheld an award of death benefits to the widow of a worker who collapsed and died at a construction site. Case: Matter of Hickey v. Skanska-Walsh JV/Pace Car Plumbing LLC, No. 534946, 02/08/2024, published. Facts: John Hickey was a plumber and a union shop steward. On July 13, 2017, Hickey collapsed and died shortly after arriving for work at a construction site at LaGuardia Airport. Hickey’s death certificate indicated that he died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with a complication of morbid obesity. Procedural history: H...