ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE [AI] IS NOT USED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN PREPARING NYPPL SUMMARIES OF JUDICIAL AND QUASI-JUDICIAL DECISIONS

July 16, 2010

Not every mischance resulting in an injury is an "accident" for the purpose of receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance

Not every mischance resulting in an injury is an "accident" for the purpose of receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance
Matter of Kenny v DiNapoli, 11 NY3d 873

Paul G. Kenny challenged the Comptroller’s decision to deny his application for accidental disability retirement benefits. Kelly contended that he was entitled to such benefits as a result of his having slipped on a wet ramp.

The Comptroller found that Kelly knew that the ramp was wet and, therefore, knew of the hazard that led to his injury before the incident occurred. Accordingly, the Comptroller concluded that Kelly’s injury was not the result of an "unexpected event."

The Court of Appeals sustained Comptroller’s determination, indicating that an “accident” for the purposes of being eligible for accidental disability retirement benefits must result from a "sudden, fortuitous mischance, unexpected, out of the ordinary, and injurious in impact."

Further, said the Court, "an injury which occurs without an unexpected event as the result of activity undertaken in the performance of ordinary employment duties, considered in view of the particular employment in question, is not an accidental injury."

The full text of the decision is posted on the Internet at:
http://www.courts.state.ny.us/reporter/3dseries/2008/2008_09857.htm

CAUTION

Subsequent court and administrative rulings, or changes to laws, rules and regulations may have modified or clarified or vacated or reversed the decisions summarized here. Accordingly, these summaries should be Shepardized® or otherwise checked to make certain that the most recent information is being considered by the reader.
THE MATERIAL ON THIS WEBSITE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. AGAIN, CHANGES IN LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS AND NEW COURT AND ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS MAY AFFECT THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS LAWBLOG. THE MATERIAL PRESENTED IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE AND THE USE OF ANY MATERIAL POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE, OR CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING SUCH MATERIAL, DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.
NYPPL Blogger Harvey Randall served as Principal Attorney, New York State Department of Civil Service; Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations; and Staff Judge Advocate General, New York Guard. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.
New York Public Personnel Law. Email: publications@nycap.rr.com