Lamb v. Town of Esopus
Petitioner, employed as a building department aide since 2001, challenged respondent's decision to eliminate her full-time position in January 2005, replacing it with two part-time roles, which respondent claimed was for economy and efficiency. She initiated a CPLR article 78 proceeding seeking reinstatement, back pay, and benefits, but the Supreme Court dismissed her application. On appeal, the judgment was affirmed. The court found that the petitioner failed to demonstrate continuous employment in a noncompetitive class for five years, which would grant Civil Service Law protection, and did not prove that the elimination of her position was motivated by bad faith or subterfuge. Furthermore, the court concluded that the respondent adhered to the doctrine of legislative equivalency, as the position was created and abolished by the same legislative means.