New York State Commission for Investigation of Workmen's Compensation Law Administration Research and Investigation Files

Alphabetical by file code referring to subject or record type.

This series contains the Commission's central operational files documenting its staffing and the conduct of its investigation.

The records reflect the Commission's study of charges of maladministration and corruption relating to the Workmen's Compensation Law, including but not limited to: political favoritism in the appointment of untrained referees; licensed representatives, whom many claimants were forced to retain to represent them, aided by a "clique" of lawyers who received payoffs from them; physicians "padding" bills and giving licensed representatives and lawyers kickbacks out of the extra money received; physicians making payoffs to persons referring compensation cases to them; physicians getting kickbacks from x-ray and medical supply firms for referring cases to them; and physicians paying kickbacks to insurance company employees to get medical bills approved.

The records include: correspondence with the Governor's Office, Department of Labor, Insurance Department, Attorney General's Office, attorneys, and others regarding such issues as methods of appointing compensation claim referees, medical fees charged by "impartial specialists" in compensation cases, and payments made in excess of awards granted; summaries of interviews and conferences with officials of the State Insurance Fund, insurance companies, workers' compensation physicians, and others; police reports of interviews with and investigations of compensation clients and physicians; correspondence with, and related police investigation reports concerning, compensation claimants complaining of unfair treatment or improper activities on the part of compensation physicians, referees, or others; transcripts of hearings, including testimony of physicians and of officials and employees of the State Insurance Fund, medical services firms, New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board, insurance companies, Workmen's Compensation Board, and the Department of Labor; police and Commission reports on current investigations such as particular compensation cases, payoffs by physicians, including to Labor Department employees, to obtain compensation patients, and "ambulance chasing" by persons who then "sell" cases to lawyers;

staff progress reports noting assignments worked on and progress made during the week on each assignment (e.g. interviews conducted regarding a particular compensation case); data and records concerning compensation cases submitted to the Commission by insurance companies, self-insurers, the Association of Casualty and Surety Executives, the State Insurance Fund, and the Labor Department; correspondence and reports regarding New York City Commissioner of Investigation William B. Herlands' study of irregularities in New York City compensation cases; memoranda of law containing attorneys' opinions on legal issues such as what actions are legal or illegal under the Workmen's Compensation Law, and extent of the Moreland Commission's authority (e.g. their right to issue subpoenas duces tecum requiring submission of documents to the Commission); transcripts of hearings before the Industrial Board (the Labor Department entity responsible for reviewing and determining compensation claims); subpoenas for individuals to appear before the Commission or for records to be submitted to the Commission; drafts and proof copies of the Commission's report to Governor Dewey; and personnel records including job application forms, letters, and resumes, information on staff hiring dates and salaries, and police investigation reports concerning some job applicants.

Container list is available at the repository.

All investigative materials in Moreland Act commission records are indefinitely restricted pursuant to Executive Law sect. 6 and 63.8 and Civil Rights Law sect. 73.8. Requests for access to such materials are referred to the Governor's Office.

Closed hearing materials: Restricted; Executive Law, Section 63.8.

Investigation background reports on individuals: Restricted; Personal Privacy Protection Law, Section 96.1.c.