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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Leary v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

Dorothy Leary, a part-time junior public health nurse for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, injured her left knee after slipping on stairs due to wet shoes from snow outside. Her application for disability retirement benefits was denied by the Board of Trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, following a recommendation from the Medical Board that her injuries were not sustained as an 'accident' under Retirement and Social Security Law § 605. Leary challenged this determination through a CPLR article 78 proceeding, which the Supreme Court initially denied. However, the appellate court reversed this judgment, granted Leary's petition, annulled the Board's determination, and remitted the matter for further proceedings, concluding that her fall constituted an accident.

Workers' CompensationDisability RetirementPublic Health NurseSlip and Fall InjuryAccident DefinitionCPLR Article 78Medical Board ReviewAppellate ReversalRetirement and Social Security LawKings County Supreme Court
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Brown v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

A maintenance employee for the New York City Housing Authority sustained a right knee injury in March 1978 during a mugging and reinjured it in May 1979 while moving a refrigerator. His application for accident disability retirement was denied by the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, whose medical board found no causal relationship between the 1978 incident and the disability, and no accident in 1979. Special Term initially vacated this determination, concluding the 1979 event was an accident. However, the Appellate Division reversed Special Term's judgment, holding that an injury occurring without an unexpected event during ordinary employment duties does not constitute an accidental injury. The court found that the petitioner failed to prove an unexpected event, as his knee merely 'gave way' while moving a refrigerator, and therefore dismissed the petition.

Accident Disability RetirementNew York City Employees’ Retirement SystemKnee InjuryPerformance of DutiesCausal RelationshipMedical Board OpinionCPLR Article 78Appellate ReviewAccidental Injury DefinitionBurden of Proof
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

New York City Employees' Retirement System v. Dole Food Co.

The New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) sought a preliminary injunction to compel Dole Food Company, Inc. (Dole) to include NYCERS’ shareholder proposal regarding a health care committee in its proxy materials. Dole argued the proposal fell under exceptions for ordinary business operations, insignificant relationship, and being beyond its power to effectuate, as per SEC Rule 14a-8(c). The court, presided over by District Judge Conboy, analyzed each of Dole's arguments. The court found that Dole failed to prove the proposal related to ordinary business operations or had an insignificant relationship to its business, especially considering the potentially large financial implications of health care costs. Furthermore, the court disagreed that the proposal was beyond Dole's power to effectuate, as it merely requested a study. Concluding that NYCERS demonstrated a substantial likelihood of success on the merits and irreparable harm, the court granted the injunction, ordering Dole to include the proposal.

Shareholder ProposalProxy SolicitationPreliminary InjunctionCorporate GovernanceSEC Rule 14a-8Ordinary Business OperationsHealth Care ReformEmployee BenefitsIrreparable HarmShareholder Rights
References
27
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Cravotta v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

The petitioner, a New York City sanitation worker, sustained a knee injury after allegedly slipping on a sanitation truck step contaminated by a slippery substance from a dump site. His application for accidental disability retirement benefits from the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) was denied, as his injury was not deemed an "accident" under Retirement and Social Security Law § 605-b. The petitioner challenged this determination, but both the Supreme Court and the appellate court affirmed the denial. The courts found that the injury occurred during routine duties and was not so extraordinary or unexpected as to constitute an accidental injury.

Accidental disabilityRetirement benefitsSanitation workerKnee injurySlipping accidentRoutine dutiesNYCERSAdministrative determinationJudicial reviewAnnulment petition
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 12, 1988

Torres v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

The petitioner, a Rikers Island correction officer, sought to annul the New York City Employees’ Retirement System’s denial of his application for accident disability retirement benefits. The Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of the petition, finding that the Medical Board and Board of Trustees' determination was neither arbitrary nor capricious. The court found that the petitioner's injuries occurred after he completed his tour of duty and signed out, while leaving the premises on a Correction Department bus, not in the actual performance of city service. This decision was based on Administrative Code of the City of New York § 13-168, which requires injury during city service for eligibility. The court also clarified that eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits was not binding on the Medical Board for accident disability benefits, referencing Administrative Code § 13-176 (c).

accident disability retirementRikers Island correction officercity serviceNew York City Employees’ Retirement SystemMedical BoardBoard of TrusteesCPLR Article 78workers' compensationadministrative coderetirement benefits
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Borenstein v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

This appeal addresses the proper standard for judicial review of a determination by the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) Medical Board regarding an applicant's physical disability for city-service. The respondent, an Assistant Deputy Warden, sought accidental disability retirement benefits after sustaining injuries at Rikers Island, but the Medical Board repeatedly found her not medically disabled despite conflicting medical opinions. While the Supreme Court initially dismissed her petition, the Appellate Division reversed, granting her pension. The Court of Appeals, however, reversed the Appellate Division, upholding the Medical Board’s determination as it was based on 'some credible evidence' and was not arbitrary or capricious. The court emphasized that the Medical Board has the authority to resolve conflicting medical evidence and that judicial review should not substitute its judgment for the Board's.

Judicial reviewDisability benefitsAccidental disabilityNYCERSMedical BoardCPLR Article 78Substantial evidenceArbitrary and capriciousAdministrative lawConflicting medical evidence
References
12
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Cassarino v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

The petitioner sought accidental disability retirement benefits, but the Board of Trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System denied the application on December 13, 2007. The Supreme Court reviewed this denial and found that the Board's determination was not arbitrary and capricious. The court reasoned that the petitioner's injuries arose from the performance of usual duties as a sanitation worker, citing prior cases. Furthermore, the court determined that the petitioner's slip or trip on a strap within a sanitation truck was not sufficiently extraordinary or unexpected to qualify as an 'accidental' injury under the law. Consequently, the Supreme Court affirmed the Board's denial of benefits.

Accidental DisabilityRetirement BenefitsSanitation WorkerNew York City Employees’ Retirement SystemJudicial ReviewAdministrative DeterminationInjury CausationOrdinary DutiesAppellate DivisionSocial Security Law
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Vargas v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

The petitioner sought accidental disability retirement benefits from the New York City Employees’ Retirement System. The Board of Trustees denied the application based on the Medical Board's determination. The petitioner appealed a Supreme Court judgment that had denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, finding that the Medical Board's determination was conclusive as it was supported by credible evidence and was not irrational. The court emphasized that the resolution of conflicting medical opinions falls within the Medical Board's purview and that a Workers’ Compensation Board disability determination does not dictate the Medical Board’s findings.

Disability benefitsRetirement SystemAccidental disabilityMedical BoardCredible evidenceIrrational determinationAdministrative reviewAppellate procedurePension fundCPLR Article 78
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 11, 1990

Waldeck v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

A New York Supreme Court panel reversed a lower court's decision that had granted a deferred retirement allowance to a Department of Sanitation employee, Barbaro. Barbaro, a member of NYCERS since 1969, sought a deferred retirement allowance in July 1989, with an intended retirement date of August 18, 1989. However, he was dismissed on August 17, 1989, for soliciting unlawful payments. The appellate court determined that his dismissal occurred prior to his intended retirement date, thereby rendering him ineligible for the vested retirement allowance under Administrative Code § 13-173.1. The court clarified that the effective date of discharge was when the Commissioner signed the termination letter, irrespective of the date for commencing an appeal.

Retirement AllowancePublic EmployeeDismissalVestingAdministrative LawCivil ServiceNew York CityDepartment of SanitationAppellate ReviewEmployment Law
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 17, 2003

Collins v. New York City Employees' Retirement System

Petitioner Odessa Collins, an employee of the City of New York Human Resources Administration, challenged NYCERS' denial of her application to purchase premembership retirement service credit for her employment at various day-care centers between 1970 and 1982. Collins argued that her service at HRA-licensed day-care centers, which were under contract with the City, should qualify for credit under Retirement and Social Security Law § 609. NYCERS denied the application, stating that day-care center employees were not on the city payroll and therefore not eligible for NYCERS membership or credit. The court upheld NYCERS' determination, finding it rational and not arbitrary or capricious, as Collins' employment was not

Retirement Service CreditPublic EmploymentDay Care CentersNYCERSPre-Membership ServiceCity PayrollParticipating EmployerArbitrary and CapriciousRational Basis ReviewAdministrative Law
References
11
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