Court Upholds Employment Finding, Sanctions, but Overturns Penalty

A New York appellate court upheld a determination that an injured worker was a business's employee and that the company should have had workers’ compensation coverage for him, but the court said a penalty calculation was improper. Case: Matter of Cortez v. Royal Stone Cabinet & Tile Inc., No. CV-24-1556, 03/19/2026, published. Facts: Arturo Martinez Cortez filed a workers’ compensation claim, asserting that he suffered injuries on Christmas 2021 when he slipped and fell while carrying a large stone as he worked for Royal Stone Cabinet & T...