Employee serving a disciplinary probationary period may be dismissed prior to the expiration of the probationary period without a hearing

Employee serving a disciplinary probationary period may be dismissed prior to the expiration of the probationary period without a hearing
Matter of Bifolco v Kelly, 2010 NY Slip Op 09335, decided on December 16, 2010, Appellate Division, First Department

New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly terminated NYC Police Officer Michael Bifolco’s employment while Bifolco was serving a disciplinary probationary period. Bifolco sued seeking reinstatement to his former position.

The Appellate Division affirmed Supreme Court’s dismissal of Bifolco’s petition, noting that the incidents leading to Bifolco’s dismissal well within his disciplinary probationary period, during which time the Commissioner could terminate him without a hearing.

As the Appellate Division said in Witherspoon v Horn, 19 AD3d 250, “It is well settled that a probationary employee may be discharged without a hearing or statement of reasons, for any reason or no reason at all, in the absence of a showing that his or her dismissal was [made] in bad faith, [was] for a constitutionally impermissible purpose or [was] in violation of the law.”

Further, the former employee’s carries the burden of proof that the appointing authority’s action was unlawful or made in bad faith.

The decision is posted on the Internet at:
http://www.courts.state.ny.us/reporter/3dseries/2010/2010_09335.htm