Member promoted to Workers Comp commissioner
Judge:Onlygoodcancomefromtruth
By SHERRY HALBROOK regulationsforracingandwagering. hasbeenastaunchPEFmemberfor25
Youmightthinklisteningto Amongtheverychallenginghigh-profile years.I’llmisshim.”
people’shard-luckstoriesabout casesheheardfortheWCB,werethe “Myparentswereunionmembers,”
gettinghurtonthejobcould claimsarisingfromthe1988PanAm Belotensaid,“andI’velovedbeinga
gettobeadownerif AirlinescrashinLockerbie,Scotland.He memberofPEF.”
youdiditeveryday. alsoheardthefirstAIDScasebroughtbya
Butthat’snothowPEF healthcareprofessionalunderthestate Hittingtheroadrunning
memberandadministrative WorkersCompensationLaw. Onlyaweekafterhisconfirmationby
lawjudgeRobertBelotenhas Belotenmaintainedoneofthelowest theSenateMay12,Belotenjoinedtwo
seenhisjobasahearingofficerforthe reversalratesofanystatehearingofficer othercommissionersinreviewingdecisions
stateWorkersCompensationBoard(WCB). fortheWCB,whileproducingthehighest thatwerebeingappealed.
“Ilovetodomyjob.Nothingfeelsbetter dispositionrateinthestatewhileheserved “Before,Iwas,inessence,incontrolof
thanwhensomeonetellsmeIhelpedthem attheBrooklynofficefrom1988-1996.At mycourtroom,decidingwhatevidenceto
berestoredtohealthandtowork,”Beloten thatpost,heheardmorethan50,000 allowandhowmuchweighttogiveit.Now,
said.“That’sthegoal,togetthembackon claimsforbenefitsarisingoutofindustrial I’mbasicallyonanappellatecourtwith
theirfeetandfeelingself-sufficient,to accidentsandexposuretotoxic twootherboardmembers.Ifwedon’tall
restoretheirdignityandsenseofself substancesthroughoutthestate. threeagree,thentheappealgoestothefull
esteem. WhilehisnewappointmentasaWCB boardforadecision.
“Igiveoutreplacementwagesand commissionerisastepupinstature–he’s “Ireceiveatleast15appealsadayand
medicalcare.Whatcouldbemorecentral nowrulingonappealstothedecisionsof oftentakeworkhomewithmeatnight.It’s
andimportanttopeople’slives?”Beloten hisformercolleagues–it’sastepdownin ahardjobreviewingtheworkofother
said. pay. judges,”Belotensaid.
“I’mtakinga$10,000annualpaycut,” Toensurehisobjectivity,Belotensaid,
Decadesofexperience Belotensaid,“butit’sanhonortoservethe “Icoverthenamesoftheattorneysand
It’sthatappreciationfortheseriousness peopleofNewYork. judges.I’vetrainedmyselftodisregard
andimportanceoftheworkandhis “Ireallywanttothankthegovernorfor names.AndIreviewallthedocumentsin
sterlingrecordofservicethatimpressed nominatingmetobecomeacommissioner. thefile.
membersofthestateSenateLaborand Wewereclassmatesinlawschoolat “Themostimportantthingistoreview
FinanceCommitteesandtheirfellow Hofstra,andheknowshowmuchIwantto forerrorsoflawandtomakesurethe
senators.InMay,theyreviewedand makeadifference,”Belotensaid. decisionwasbasedontheevidence
approved presentedintheboardfile,”Belotensaid.
Beloten’s BelotentoldtheSenateLabor
nominationby Committeethegreatestthreattothe
Gov.David workerscompsystemisemployershiring
Patersonto workers“offthebooks”andpayingthemin
becomeoneof cash.
thestate’s13 Iftheworkerisinjured,theemployer’s
WCBcom- workerscompcarriermayhavetopaythe
missioners. claimeventhoughthecarrierwasunaware
“It’sniceto oftheliability.Thelackofpayrollrecords
seesomeone andtaxesmakesitdifficulttobesurethe
withyour claimantwasreallyemployed,whathis
passionfor dutieswere,whenheworked,andhispay
thework,” rate.
stateSen. “Wasthispersonanemployeeoran
Andrea
CONFIRMATIONHEARING—Membersofthe
independentcontractor?Thesesituations
Stewart-Cousins
stateSenateLaborComm.listenasJudgeRobert
directlyaffecttheintegrityofthesystem,”
toldBelotenat
Belotenanswersquestionsbeforetheyapprovehis
Belotensaid.“Fraudinflatesthecostsfor
hishearing
confirmationtotheWorkersC
everyone.
beforetheLabor
Committee.
Inadditionto
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BELOTE
erryHalbrook
“Manypeopleformtheiropinionsabout
theentirejusticesystembasedontheir
PEFmemberBarbaraPosner,aworkers experiencesinthesesmallcourts.It’svery
18yearsasa compjudgewhohasworkedwithBeloten importantforthemtofeelsomeone
WCBhearingofficer,Belotenalsospent foryears,wasverysupportiveofhis listenedtothemandgavethemtheirday
fouryearsasahearingofficerinMineola appointmenttotheboardof incourt,”Belotensaid.
forrealpropertytaxassessmentappeals commissioners. “Thereareveryfewjudgeswhodon’t
underthestateSupremeCourt,andthree “Bobhashadthehearingroomnextto wanttomaketheworldabetterplace.It’s
yearsasahearingofficerforthestate mine,andit’sbeenagreatpleasureto afantasticfeelingwhenyouhaveferreted
RacingandWageringBoard.Heeven workwithhim,”Posnersaid.“Heisvery outthetruth.Whenyoufindthetruth,
draftedlegislationandrulesand conscientiousandhardworking,andhe onlygoodcancomeofit.”
Page12—TheCommunicatorJuly-August2009 PEFInformationLine:1-800-553-2445
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