Court Upholds Wage-Loss Award for Maintenance Mechanic Restricted to Sedentary Work

A New York appellate court ruled that a middle-aged maintenance mechanic was entitled to permanent partial disability benefits based on a 60% loss of wage-earning capacity after he suffered an inguinal hernia. Case: Matter of Behan v. Career Start Inc., No. 529238, 03/11/2021, published. Facts and procedural history: David Behan worked for Career Start Inc. as a maintenance mechanic. He suffered a right inguinal hernia in October 2013 while performing heavy lifting at work. Behan stopped working three months later. Behan filed a workers’ compensation claim and secured an award of temp...