New York Public Personnel Law: Firefighter’s status as an employee determines that Workers’ Compensation Law rather than Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefits Law benefits are to be paid

February 01, 2011

Firefighter’s status as an employee determines that Workers’ Compensation Law rather than Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefits Law benefits are to be paid

Firefighter’s status as an employee determines that Workers’ Compensation Law rather than Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefits Law benefits are to be paid
Matter of Falkouski v City of Rensselaer Fire Dept., 2011 NY Slip Op 00446, Appellate Division, Third Department

A City of Rensselaer part-time paid assistant fire chief also served as a member of a City of Rensselaer volunteer fire company. He died after suffering a ruptured cerebral aneurysm while at a fire.

His surviving spouse, Susan Falkouski, filed claims under both the Workers' Compensation Law and the Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law.

Although a Workers' Compensation Law Judge found that the fassistant cheif’s death was causally related to his volunteer firefighter duties, the Workers' Compensation Board reversed, finding that he had died while working in his capacity as an assistant fire chief.

Accordingly the Board ruled that the Workers' Compensation Law, rather than the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law, controlled insofar as Mrs. Falkouski’s claims for benefits were concerned.

Mrs. Falkouski’s late husband, as an assistant fire chief, received biweekly pay and took on responsibilities beyond those of a volunteer firefighter such as carrying a City-supplied pager and he was obligated to respond to all fires. Further, said the court, “there was evidence that his duties as assistant fire chief required him to supervise volunteer fire companies responding to the scene of a fire, he wore a different color hat indicating his supervisory role and he was acting in such capacity at the time of the subject fire.”

Under these circumstances, the Appellate Division sustained the Board’s determination, ruling that substantial evidence supports the Board's determination that, at the time of his death, Mrs. Falkouski’s late husband was engaged in work as an employee in his paid position as an assistant fire chief.

The decision is posted on the Internet at:
http://www.courts.state.ny.us/reporter/3dseries/2011/2011_00446.htm

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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.