Matter of Allen v. City of New York
The Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed the Supreme Court's decision to annul the termination of petitioner Lionel Allen's employment by the City of New York. The court found that the City violated Allen's due process rights by initially terminating him under Civil Service Law § 73 for non-occupational injuries, then rescinding that and re-terminating him retroactively under Civil Service Law § 71 for occupational injuries, without offering a new opportunity to be heard. The decision highlighted the procedural differences between the two sections of the Civil Service Law, noting that Section 71 offers greater protections. The court also rejected the respondents' suggestion to order a hearing to determine Allen's fitness, stating it would nullify the due process holding.