A Capehart Scatchard Blog

John H. Geaney

John H. Geaney, Esq. is a Shareholder and Co-Chair of Capehart Scatchard's Workers' Compensation Group. Mr. Geaney began an email newsletter entitled “Currents in Workers’ Compensation, ADA and FMLA” in 2001 in order to keep clients and readers informed on leading developments in these three areas of law. Since that time he has written over 500 newsletter updates.

Mr. Geaney is the author of Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual for Practitioners, Adjusters & Employers. The Manual is distributed by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE). He also authored an ADA and FMLA Manual also distributed by NJICLE. If you are interested in purchasing “Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual for Practitioners, Adjusters & Employers,” please contact NJICLE at 732-214-8500 or visit their website at www.njicle.com.

Mr. Geaney represents employers in the defense of workers’ compensation, ADA and FMLA matters. He is a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers of the American Bar Association. He is one of two firm representatives to the National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network.

A graduate of Holy Cross College summa cum laude, Mr. Geaney obtained his law degree from Boston College Law School.

Mr. Geaney was selected to the “New Jersey Super Lawyer” list (2005-2017, 2021 in the area of Workers’ Compensation). Only 5% of attorneys are selected to “Super Lawyers” through a peer nominated process based on independent research and peer evaluation. The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters. For a description of the “Super Lawyers” selection methodology, please visit https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html

For the years 2022-2024 Mr. Geaney was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® list in the practice area of Workers’ Compensation Law - Employers. The attorneys on this list are selected based upon the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. A complete description of The Best Lawyers in America® methodology can be viewed via their website at https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology.

*No aspect of this advertisement has been submitted to or approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Capehart Scatchard is a full service law firm with offices in Mt. Laurel and Hamilton, New Jersey. The firm represents employers and businesses in a wide variety of areas, including workers’ compensation, civil litigation, labor, environmental, business, estates and governmental affairs.

Owner of Construction Company Was Covered When He Fell and Became Paralyzed While Doing Work on His Own Home

By on December 14, 2012 in Key Defenses, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Daniel Cordeiro owned Danny’s Construction Company, which did masonry and concrete work.  The company employed eight or nine employees.  Cordeiro purchased an investment property in Asbury Park, New Jersey.  He listed Danny’s as the repair and renovation general contractor on the construction permits.  As general contractor, Danny’s hired plumbing and electrical subcontractors and paid the […]

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Transfer to New Job Location for Medical Reasons May be a Reasonable Accommodation Under ADA

By on December 3, 2012 in ADA, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Clarice Sanchez worked for the US Forest Service in Lufkin, Texas.  She was injured at work falling down a flight of stairs, causing a homonymous hemianopsia — a condition that limited her to 50 percent of the total visual field in each eye.  She was unable to see objects to the left line of center […]

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New Jersey Bans Medical Providers From Charging Claimants for Work-Related Medical Expenses

By on November 21, 2012 in NJ Workers' Comp, Uncategorized with 1 Comment

New Jersey, like many states, has had an ongoing problem with physicians and hospitals that balance bill injured workers for work-related care.  This problem has become more acute in the age of managed care reductions where medical providers dispute the amount they are paid and then send invoices to injured workers for the unpaid balance.  […]

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Does An Employer Violate The FMLA By Performing Surveillance Of An Employee When It Suspects FMLA Abuse?

By on November 15, 2012 in FMLA, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

FMLA abuse remains a problem for employers, leading to the question of whether an employer can obtain surveillance to make sure that the leave is taken for the reason requested.  In Vail v. Raybestos Products Company, 533 F.3d 904 (7th Cir. 2008), an Appeals Court provided very helpful guidance on this issue. Diana Vail worked for […]

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Is Distant Travel For Faith Healing Of Seriously Ill Spouse Covered Under FMLA?

By on November 5, 2012 in FMLA, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Maria Lucia Tayag, Plaintiff, worked for Lahey Clinic Hospital, Inc. in Massachusettsas as a Health Information Clerk.  She received favorable reviews since she began her employment in 2002.  Her husband, Rhomeo Tayag, suffered from several chronic medical conditions, including recurrent gout, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and end-stage renal failure. Plaintiff routinely used intermittent FMLA leave for […]

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School Board Did Not Violate ADA When It Did Not Provide An Odor and Perfume Free Working Environment For Teacher

By on October 30, 2012 in ADA, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Nada Feldman worked as a middle school teacher for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education.  On February 18, 2009, plaintiff’s doctor provided a note to the Board of Education stating that plaintiff “should not be exposed to high concentrations of perfume or chemicals because of a documented condition.”  In a supplemental note, the physician specified that […]

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Court Holds That Obesity Not Caused by a Physiological Condition May Still be a Covered Disability Under the ADA

By on October 17, 2012 in ADA, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Eric Feit applied for a job with BNSF Railway Company.  The Company gave him a conditional offer of employment as a conductor trainee provided he completed a physical examination, drug screening, background check and BNSF’s Medical History Questionnaire. On February 6, 2008, BNSF advised Feit that he was not qualified for this “safety sensitive” position […]

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Cashier With Doctor’s Note Requiring Her to Sit Half the Day Was Not a Qualified Individual Under ADA

By on October 12, 2012 in ADA, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Fern Strickland was hired by Eckerd Corporation in 1992. She worked as a cashier for the Jones Bridge Rite Aid.  In June, 2001, she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees.  Her condition made it difficult for her to walk without a cane or stand for long periods of time. In 2001, Strickland requested permission […]

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2013 Edition of Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual Now Available

By on October 9, 2012 in NJ Workers' Comp, Uncategorized with 0 Comments

The 2013 Manual is a compilation of prior editions with particular emphasis on cases decided in 2011-2012, as well as the addition of important chapters for practitioners of workers’ compensation. Some of the 2013 Edition highlights are as follows: New chapter on catastrophic claims in workers’ compensation New chapter on calculating awards in workers’ compensation […]

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Court Holds That First Employer is Responsible for Entire Case Notwithstanding Subsequent Injuries

By on October 2, 2012 in Compensability, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Defining what is a flare up from a new injury as opposed to objective worsening in the condition has always been more art than science.  In Allison v. L&J Contracting Company, A-1352-11T4 (App. Div. September 27, 2012), the petitioner Allison injured his low back falling in a hole on July 27, 2006.  He filed a […]

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Appellete Division Holds That Costs of Suit Under Subrogation Provision in New Jersey are Limited to $750

By on September 25, 2012 in Controlling Costs, NJ Workers' Comp with 1 Comment

From time to time, plaintiff’s counsel takes the position that respondent’s lien is applied to the net proceeds after deduction for plaintiff’s total costs of suit.  In Greater New York Mutual Insurance Company v. Calcagno & Associates, A-0900-11T4 (App. Div. September 20, 2012), that very issue was decided. John Phillips was injured arising from work, […]

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Circuit Court Holds Employer Does Not Have to Accomodate Employee’s Commuting Issues

By on September 21, 2012 in FMLA, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Alisha Regan worked for Faurecia Automotive Seating, Inc., as a prototype seat builder.  At the time she began with the company, she lived 24 miles from the plant.  She and her husband then moved to a new home 79 miles from the plant.  Her commute might take two hours or longer. Regan had been diagnosed […]

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Employee Who Was Going to College While on FMLA Leave Was Properly Terminated

By on September 14, 2012 in FMLA, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Plaintiff worked as a supervisor for Comcast’s Retention Department.  She worked Monday through Friday. In July 2010 she requested time off on Tuesdays and Thursdays to take care of her child, who suffered from asthma.  The request was initially denied, so plaintiff used flex time or vacation time on Tuesdays and Thursdays until she ran […]

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City Properly Terminated Employee with Severe Restrictions in Connection with Return to Work

By on September 4, 2012 in ADA, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Workers’ compensation cases sometimes lead to ADA litigation when an injured worker contends that he or she can return to work with serious restrictions, but the employer maintains it has no job available within these restrictions.  That was the dynamic in Otto v. City of Victoria, 685 F.3d 755 (8th Cir. 2012). Leland Otto was injured […]

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An Individual Supervisor at a Public Agency May be Held Personally Liable Under the FMLA

By on August 29, 2012 in FMLA, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

A recent case in the Third Circuit (including New   Jersey) has addressed individual liability of supervisors of public agencies.  In Haybarger v. Lawrence County Adult Probation and Parole, 667 F.3d 408 (3d. Cir. 2012), the plaintiff, Debra Haybarger, worked as an office manager for the Lawrence County Probation and Parole Agency.  Haybarger alleged that […]

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