Individual determined to be suffering from a mental disability placed on involuntary Civil Service Law Section 72 leave of absence
NYC Administration for Children’s Services v S.B., OATH Index #2425/10
The Administration for Children's Services sought to place a child welfare specialist on involuntary leave pursuant to Civil Service Law Section 72 because of alleged mental disability.
Although S.B. had a satisfactory work history with the Administration, OATH Administrative Law Judge Ingrid Addison found that the evidence, including testimony of S.B.'s colleagues that they felt concerned for their safety, examples of bizarre and rambling emails respondent had sent, and the expert reports of two psychiatrists demonstrated that S.B. was mentally unfit for duty.
Section 72 leave is available to an employee who is unable to perform his or her duties because of a disability other than a disability resulting from an occupational injury or disease as defined in the Workers’ Compensation Law, while Section 71 of the Civil Service Law provides for a leave of absence when the employee is absent due to an occupational injury or disease.
The decision is posted on the Internet at:
http://archive.citylaw.org/oath/10_Cases/10-2425.pdf