Case Name: In the Matter of Hull-Hazard, Inc., et al., Respondents, v. Lillian Roberts, as Commissioner of Labor, Appellant, and Upstate New York Council of Operating Engineers, Intervenor-Respondent
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1989-06-15
Citations: 74 N.Y.2d 710
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Hull-Hazard, Inc., et al., Respondents, v Lillian Roberts, as Commissioner of Labor, Appellant, and Upstate New York Council of Operating Engineers, Intervenor-Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 74
Pages: 710–711

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Hull-Hazard, Inc., et al., Respondents, v Lillian Roberts, as Commissioner of Labor, Appellant, and Upstate New York Council of Operating Engineers, Intervenor-Respondent.
Decided June 15, 1989
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Robert Abrams, Attorney-General (Jane Lauer Barker of counsel), for appellant.
Verne F. O’Dell for respondent.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
The judgment of the Appellate Division should be modified by reversing so much thereof as annulled respondent's determination of willfulness and, as so modified, affirmed.
The overtime pay policy of petitioner Hull Corporation (Hull) is identical to that policy previously ruled unlawful by respondent Commissioner of Labor in another administrative proceeding to which Hull was a party (see, Matter of Hull-Hazard, Inc. v Roberts, 72 NY2d 900, affg for the reasons stated below 129 AD2d 348 [Hull-Hazard I]). Thus, Hull cannot claim it was ignorant of the agency's view regarding the meaning of the overtime pay provision contained in Labor Law § 220 (2). That respondent's determination in this case was handed down prior to the decision of the Appellate Division in Hull-Hazard I is of no consequence. In adhering to its own contrary interpretation and placing itself in direct conflict with the agency position, Hull willfully violated the overtime pay provision of the Labor Law (see, Matter of Loll [Ross], 57 NY2d 116, 127; Matter of Old Republic Life Ins. Co. v Thacher, 12 NY2d 48, 55).
Chief Judge Wachtler and Judges Simons, Kaye, Alexander, Titone, Hancock, Jr., and Bellacosa concur.
On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.4 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.4), judgment modified, with costs to appellant, in accordance with the memorandum herein and, as so modified, affirmed.