Uninsured Employer Defense

Uninsured Employer Defense in New York

Representing Uninsured Employers

Employers accused of lacking workers’ compensation insurance still have legal rights and defenses. An allegation of non-coverage does not automatically establish liability, penalties, or maximum assessments.

Gitto & Niefer, LLP aggressively represents uninsured employers before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board, in matters involving the Uninsured Employers’ Fund, and where the Workers’ Compensation Board has imposed civil penalties or taken a judgment against an employer for not having workers’ compensation coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Approach



We focus on early assessment, defense development, mitigation strategies, settlement of claims, and clear communication regarding exposure and options.

Shane Eaton Armstrong

Partner | 607-723-0600 ext. 118 (o) | 607-251-1093 (d)

Shane Eaton Armstrong is a partner at Gitto & Niefer, LLP whose practice focuses on representing employers, insurance carriers, and self-insured entities in workers’ compensation matters throughout New York State. In addition to her workers’ compensation practice, Ms. Armstrong has developed substantial experience in Social Security Disability matters, providing clients with practical guidance regarding the intersection of disability and employment-related claims.

Ms. Armstrong earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in 2002. Following graduation, she served as a Medical Services Corps Officer of the United States Army from 2002 through 2007, at the rank of Captain. During her military service, she was stationed in Germany, Iraq, and Italy, gaining leadership experience and serving in a variety of challenging operational environments.

After completing her military service, Ms. Armstrong attended Drexel University School of Law, earning her Juris Doctor degree in 2010. Upon graduation, she began her legal career with Gitto & Niefer, LLP, where she has continued to build a practice focused on workers’ compensation defense and related disability issues.

Throughout her career, Ms. Armstrong has represented employers and insurance carriers in a broad range of workers’ compensation matters, including claim establishment disputes, medical and indemnity issues, permanency litigation, and procedural matters before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. She is known for providing responsive and practical representation tailored to the needs of clients navigating the New York workers’ compensation system.

Ms. Armstrong has also maintained a longstanding commitment to professional, civic, and community service. Since 2016, she has served as a Director on the Board of the Broome County Bar Association and served as its President from 2025-2026. Her involvement with the Bar Association has included leadership roles in programs and initiatives designed to support both the legal profession and the local community.

An active volunteer with Legal Aid since 2011, Ms. Armstrong has regularly provided pro bono representation in landlord-tenant matters through the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York. She has also chaired a Veteran’s Law Clinic and Law Day programming, reflecting her continued commitment to veterans’ issues and community legal education.

Ms. Armstrong has served as a Guardian for Honor Flights for the Southern Tier of New York and has presented publicly on a variety of topics. Her presentations have included “American Women in Combat” for Broome Women Lead and “The Power of Female Relationships” at the Broome County Chamber of Commerce Women’s Conference & Expo.

Outside of her legal practice, Ms. Armstrong remains active in youth athletics and community initiatives. She serves as a youth basketball coach and a running ambassador, reflecting her commitment to mentorship, teamwork, and community engagement.

Ms. Armstrong is known for her disciplined, practical, and client-focused approach to workers’ compensation and disability-related representation.

John H. Snyder

Partner | 315-732-8661 (o)

John H. Snyder is an experienced workers’ compensation defense attorney whose practice focuses on representing employers, insurance carriers, and self-insured entities throughout New York State. Recognized for his leadership within the workers’ compensation bar and his extensive involvement in both professional and community organizations, Mr. Snyder has developed a reputation for practical and knowledgeable advocacy in complex workers’ compensation matters.

Born in Albany, New York, Mr. Snyder graduated from Utica University in 1995. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Dayton School of Law in 1998.

Mr. Snyder is admitted to practice law in New York and is also admitted before the United States Supreme Court. He currently serves as Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, reflecting his active involvement in shaping and discussing developments within New York workers’ compensation law and practice.

A frequent lecturer on workers’ compensation issues, Mr. Snyder regularly presents on topics affecting employers, carriers, claims professionals, and attorneys practicing within the workers’ compensation system. He has developed particular experience and specialization in third party claims, loss transfer and lien recovery as well as the preparation and analysis of Medicare Set-Asides, assisting clients in addressing the complex interaction between workers’ compensation settlements and federal Medicare compliance requirements.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Snyder serves as an Adjunct Professor and Trustee at Utica University, demonstrating his longstanding commitment to education and professional development. His civic and community involvement includes serving as President of the Utica Industrial Development Corporation and Vice-President of the Utica Lady Knicks youth basketball organization. Mr. Snyder Coaches the Utica-Notre Dame High School Varsity Girls basketball team. The team won the 2024 New York State Championship and competed in the 2026 New York State Finals.

Mr. Snyder also serves as a Board member of Mohawk Valley EDGE, Notre Dame Schools, and St. Agnes Cemetery. Through these roles, he has remained actively involved in initiatives supporting economic development, education, youth athletics, and community organizations throughout the Mohawk Valley region.

Jason M. Carlton

Managing Partner | 607-723-0600 ext. 104 (o) | 607-251-1082 (d)

Jason M. Carlton is the Managing Partner of Gitto & Niefer, LLP and an experienced workers’ compensation defense attorney whose practice focuses on representing employers, insurance carriers, and self-insured entities throughout New York State. In his role as Managing Partner, Mr. Carlton oversees the firm’s operations, strategic direction, and continued commitment to providing responsive and high-quality representation to clients throughout New York State. He is recognized for his extensive appellate experience, litigation background, and longstanding involvement in professional and community organizations.

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Mr. Carlton earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern College in Iowa before obtaining his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2000.

Mr. Carlton is admitted to practice law in both New York and Pennsylvania. Throughout his legal career, he has handled a broad range of workers’ compensation matters involving complex legal, medical, and procedural issues before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board and appellate courts.

A significant portion of Mr. Carlton’s practice has involved appellate advocacy. He has handled more than seventy-five cases before the New York State Appellate Division and has argued successfully before the New York State Court of Appeals. His appellate experience has contributed to the development and interpretation of New York workers’ compensation law and reflects his depth of experience in handling complex and precedent-setting legal issues.

Mr. Carlton is also the author of the chapter addressing “Apportionment” in the New York State Bar Association publication entitled “Workers’ Compensation Law and Practice in New York State.” His work on this publication reflects his recognized knowledge in the area of apportionment and permanency issues within the New York workers’ compensation system.

In addition to his litigation and appellate practice, Mr. Carlton has presented on numerous workers’ compensation-related topics to conferences, businesses, insurance professionals, and trade associations. His presentations have focused on developments in workers’ compensation law, litigation strategy, and issues affecting employers and carriers throughout New York State.

Mr. Carlton has also maintained a strong commitment to civic and community involvement. He previously served as Chairman of the Binghamton Salvation Army Advisory Board and currently serves as a Board Member for Vestal Little League. He remains active in his church and community organizations. Since 2024 he has served as the Chancellor for the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word, and volunteers much of his time to advising his church on both civil and canon law matters.

A past President of the Broome County Bar Association, Mr. Carlton has been recognized for his professional and community service by his peers within the legal profession. In 2018, he received the Stanley B. Reiter Award from the Broome County Bar Association in recognition of his extraordinary service to the Association and the legal community.

As Managing Partner, Mr. Carlton continues to focus on maintaining the firm’s longstanding reputation for practical, strategic, and responsive representation while guiding the firm’s continued growth and development within the workers’ compensation defense field.

Mr. Carlton is known for providing practical, strategic, and responsive representation to employers and insurance professionals navigating the complexities of New York workers’ compensation law.

Edmond F. Morreall

Assistant Managing Partner | 607-723-0600 ext. 103 (o) | 607-251-1081 (d)

Edmond F. Morreall is an experienced workers’ compensation defense attorney and serves as Assistant Managing Partner of Gitto & Niefer, LLP. His practice focuses on representing employers, insurance carriers, and self-insured entities throughout New York State in all aspects of workers’ compensation litigation and counseling. In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Morreall plays a significant role in the firm’s administration, operations, and long-term strategic development.

Born in Rome, New York, Mr. Morreall earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University in 1994, majoring in both Korean and International Relations. His academic background reflects a longstanding interest in international affairs, communication, and public policy. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctor degree from Cornell Law School in 1998, where he concentrated in Public Law and specialized in International Legal Affairs.

Throughout his legal career, Mr. Morreall has represented employers and carriers in a wide range of workers’ compensation matters, including claim establishment disputes, medical and indemnity issues, permanency litigation, and complex procedural matters before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. He is known for providing practical guidance and responsive representation tailored to the needs of employers, claims professionals, and insurance carriers navigating the New York workers’ compensation system.

Mr. Morreall has also been actively involved in professional education within the workers’ compensation field. He has presented at numerous conferences and seminars addressing developments in New York workers’ compensation law and practice. In addition, he currently serves as an adjunct instructor at Boston University School of Public Health. He teaches a graduate-level course in Leadership and Management for the Department of Health Law, Policy & Management.

Outside of his legal practice, Mr. Morreall has maintained a strong commitment to community and youth development initiatives. He is active in his local church and community organizations and has devoted substantial time to leadership and mentoring activities involving youth programs.

An Eagle Scout, Mr. Morreall previously served as President of the Baden-Powell Council of the Boy Scouts of America and as a member of its Executive Board. In recognition of his distinguished service and leadership within scouting, he received the Silver Beaver Award, one of the organization’s highest honors for volunteer service.

David L. Niefer

607-723-0600 ext. 102 (o) | 607-251-1077 (d)

David L. Niefer is a workers’ compensation defense attorney with extensive experience representing employers, insurance carriers, and self-insured entities throughout New York State. His practice focuses on the defense of complex workers’ compensation claims, including litigation involving medical causation issues, permanency disputes, occupational disease claims, and interpretation and application of evolving Workers’ Compensation Board regulations and treatment standards.

Born in Ithaca, New York, Mr. Niefer attended The Hill School before earning his undergraduate degree in political science from George Washington University in 1988. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1994.

Mr. Niefer is admitted to practice law in both New York and Pennsylvania. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Broome County Bar Association.

Throughout his career, Mr. Niefer has remained actively involved in developments affecting New York workers’ compensation practice and has presented on significant regulatory and procedural topics impacting employers and carriers, including changes to the Medical Treatment Guidelines and implementation of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Drug Formulary. His presentations have focused on helping clients and claims professionals understand the practical implications of regulatory changes within the workers’ compensation system.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Niefer has maintained a longstanding commitment to community and civic involvement. He previously served as Chair of the United Way of Broome County campaign and currently serves on the Board of the Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP).

Outside of his legal practice, Mr. Niefer has a lifelong interest in the study of history, particularly modern Italian history. His interest was shaped in part by the experiences of three generations of Italian immigrants within his family and continues to inform his appreciation for cultural history, immigration, and social development.

Mr. Niefer is known for providing practical, thoughtful, and responsive representation to employers and insurance professionals navigating the complexities of New York workers’ compensation law.