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Case Law Database

Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Jones v. New York State & Local Employees Retirement System

Petitioner, a registered nurse, sought ordinary and accidental disability retirement benefits after inhaling noxious fumes at Rome City Hospital. His ordinary disability application was denied as untimely, filed beyond the 90-day post-termination period. The accidental disability claim was also rejected because his prolonged exposure to fumes was not considered a 'sudden, fortuitous mischance' or an accidental injury under Retirement and Social Security Law § 63. The court upheld the respondent's determination, concluding that substantial evidence supported the finding that no accident occurred. Consequently, the petition was dismissed.

Disability RetirementAccidental InjuryTimely FilingCPLR Article 78Noxious FumesOrdinary DisabilityRetirement and Social Security LawRegistered NurseRome City HospitalAlbany County
References
6
Case No. 02-14-00084-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 11, 2014

William D. Layton v. City of Fort Worth, City of Fort Worth Employees' Retirement Fund, and Board of City of Fort Worth Employees' Retirement Fund

Appellant William D. Layton sued the City of Fort Worth and its retirement entities after his disability benefits were terminated. The trial court granted the defendants' plea to the jurisdiction, which Layton appealed. The appellate court affirmed, holding that no statute provided a right to judicial review of the Board’s order terminating disability benefits. Furthermore, Layton had no vested property right in the benefits, and his due course of law claim seeking reinstatement of benefits would improperly control the Board's discretionary decision-making, thus implicating governmental immunity.

Disability BenefitsGovernmental ImmunityPlea to JurisdictionJudicial ReviewVested Property RightsDue Course of LawMunicipal Retirement SystemAdministrative OrderDiscretionary AuthorityTexas Constitution
References
37
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Parish v. DiNapoli

Petitioner, a correction officer, was injured in April 1999 and May 2004, leading to her being placed on leave without pay. She applied for disability retirement benefits and performance of duty disability retirement benefits, both of which were denied. The Hearing Officer found the disability retirement application untimely and that the injury was not a result of a direct act of an inmate for performance of duty benefits. The Respondent adopted these findings, leading to this CPLR article 78 proceeding. The court confirmed the determination, dismissing the petition, finding the application for disability benefits untimely and agreeing that a floor waxing by an inmate does not constitute an 'act of an inmate' for performance of duty disability retirement benefits.

Disability RetirementPerformance of Duty DisabilityCorrection OfficerTimeliness of ApplicationAct of an InmateWorkers' Compensation BenefitsMedical Leave of AbsenceCPLR Article 78New York LawPublic Employees
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Smith v. New York State & Local Retirement Systems

Petitioner, a taxpayer services representative, sustained a back injury in March 1981 while lifting forms, leading to a decline in attendance and eventual termination in November 1989. She applied for accidental and ordinary disability retirement benefits, both of which were denied by the Comptroller. The accidental disability claim was denied because the incident was not deemed an 'accident' under Retirement and Security Law § 63. The ordinary disability claim was denied as untimely, having been filed approximately six months after her termination, exceeding the 90-day limit stipulated by Retirement and Social Security Law § 62. The Supreme Court dismissed the challenge to the ordinary disability denial due to untimeliness and transferred the accidental disability challenge to this Court. This Court confirmed the Comptroller's determination on both counts, rejecting the petitioner's estoppel argument regarding the untimely ordinary disability application and finding substantial evidence to support the finding that the injury did not constitute an 'accident' within the meaning of the relevant law, as it resulted from ordinary employment duties without an unexpected event.

Disability Retirement BenefitsAccidental DisabilityOrdinary DisabilityUntimely ApplicationEstoppel Against GovernmentWork-Related InjuryBack InjuryDefinition of AccidentOrdinary Employment DutiesSubstantial Evidence Review
References
16
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Staley v. New York State & Local Retirement Systems

Petitioner applied for accidental and ordinary disability retirement benefits due to a back injury sustained during employment as a developmental aide. The Comptroller denied the applications, finding the injury was not an "accident" and the petitioner was not permanently incapacitated. Petitioner challenged this determination via a CPLR article 78 proceeding, raising procedural issues and disputing the findings. The court found that the petitioner received a fair hearing and that substantial evidence supported the Comptroller's determination, ultimately confirming the denial of benefits and dismissing the petition.

Disability Retirement BenefitsAccidental DisabilityOrdinary DisabilityAdministrative ReviewGovernment Employee BenefitsBack InjuryHerniated DiscMedical EvidenceSubstantial Evidence ReviewCourt Procedure
References
10
Case No. Index No. 159601/16 Appeal No. 15885 Case No. 2021-02096
Regular Panel Decision
May 05, 2022

Matter of Nespoli v. Board of Trustees of the N.Y. City Employees' Retirement Sys.

Petitioners, members of NYCERS and other New York City retirement systems, were initially placed in Tier 4 after being hired as uniformed sanitation workers post-April 1, 2012. In 2016, NYCERS reclassified them from the Tier 4 Sanitation 20-Year retirement plan (SA-20) to the revised Tier 3/Tier 6 Sanitation 22-Year retirement plan (SA-22), citing an error. The Supreme Court denied the petitioners' request to annul this determination. The Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed this judgment, concluding that the reclassification was not an error of law, nor did it violate the New York State Constitution, as petitioners were never contractually entitled to SA-20 benefits. The court also rejected the argument for equitable estoppel, noting NYCERS' statutory mandate to correct administrative errors.

Retirement benefitsPublic employeesReclassificationNew York City Employees' Retirement SystemTier 4Tier 3/Tier 6Sanitation 20-Year retirement planSanitation 22-Year retirement planRetirement and Social Security LawCPLR article 78
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Truly v. Regan

Petitioner, employed by Brooklyn Developmental Center, sustained a lower back and left leg injury in January 1986. After a period of inactivity, she stopped working in March 1987 due to her injuries and began receiving workers' compensation benefits. In February 1988, her applications for ordinary disability retirement benefits (under Retirement and Social Security Law art 14) and article 15 disability retirement benefits (under art 15) were denied by the respondent. The ordinary disability application was denied because she was not 'in service' at the time of filing, having been terminated in May 1987. The article 15 disability application was deemed untimely, as it was filed in February 1988, beyond the three-month window from her last payroll date of March 27, 1987, and she lacked approved medical leave. The court confirmed the denial and dismissed her petition.

Disability RetirementOrdinary Disability BenefitsArticle 15 Disability BenefitsIn Service RequirementTimely FilingCPLR Article 78 ProceedingEmployment TerminationMedical LeaveNew York State Employees' Retirement SystemAlbany County
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 22, 2011

Griffin v. Town of Dewitt

Claimant, a heavy truck mechanic, sustained a back injury requiring surgery in 2009. Despite returning to work without restrictions, he felt unable to perform his duties and retired in 2010, subsequently seeking lost time benefits. The employer and its third-party administrator argued that he had voluntarily withdrawn from the labor market. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge initially found a permanent partial disability but denied benefits due to voluntary withdrawal. However, the Workers' Compensation Board reversed this, finding an involuntary retirement and awarding continuing benefits. The employer and administrator appealed this decision. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decision, citing substantial evidence that the claimant's disability significantly contributed to his decision to retire and his ongoing wage loss, supported by his testimony and medical opinions.

Workers' CompensationInvoluntary RetirementPermanent Partial DisabilityLost Time BenefitsLabor Market WithdrawalBack InjuryDisability BenefitsAppellate ReviewMedical OpinionSocial Security Benefits
References
5
Case No. No. 78 Civ. 2541-CSH
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 09, 1987

Hannahs v. NY STATE TEACHERS'RET. SYSTEM

Plaintiff Bessie Hannahs, a retired teacher, challenged the use of sex-differentiated actuarial tables by the New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS) to calculate retirement benefits, alleging discrimination. The defendants moved for summary judgment, citing intervening Supreme Court authority in Norris and subsequent Second Circuit rulings in Spirt II. The court granted summary judgment for the defendants, finding that Norris precluded retroactive relief due to the financial burden on the guaranteed annuity plan. The court also determined that NYSTRS's post-Norris implementation, which involved using merged gender mortality tables ("midpointing") for contributions made after August 1, 1983, complied with federal law, rejecting the plaintiff's argument for "topping up" benefits and any state law considerations that would mandate it.

Retirement BenefitsActuarial TablesGender DiscriminationTitle VIISummary JudgmentProspective ReliefRetroactive ReliefMidpointingTopping UpPension Plans
References
10
Case No. Docket No. 2016-07-0889, State File No. 57742-2015
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 27, 2017

Kelly, Shameeka v. Regency Retirement Villiage

Shameeka Kelly, an employee of Regency Retirement Village, filed a request for an Expedited Hearing seeking medical and temporary disability benefits for an alleged injury to her left shoulder, low back, and neck sustained on July 26, 2016. Regency contended that the medical evidence did not establish the injury arose out of her employment and that she refused a light-duty position. The Court found that Ms. Kelly failed to provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that her injury arose primarily out of her employment. Consequently, the Court denied her requests for further medical and temporary disability benefits, scheduling a Scheduling (Status) Hearing for October 26, 2017.

Workers Compensation ClaimExpedited HearingMedical Benefits DenialTemporary Disability BenefitsCausationPre-existing ConditionsLight Duty OfferNurse Practitioner TestimonyOrthopedic EvaluationHerniated Disc
References
4
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