New York Public Personnel Law: Vacating an arbitrator's award based on a finding it constituted a violation of public policy

August 29, 2011

Vacating an arbitrator's award based on a finding it constituted a violation of public policy

Vacating an arbitrator's award based on a finding it constituted a violation of public policy
Nassau Co. v Sheriff's Officers Association, Supreme Court, Nassau County, Justice Ralph P. Franco, [Not selected for publication in the Official Reports], reversed, 294 AD2d 31

Vacating an arbitrator's award is not an easy task. Article 75 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules sets out the limited basis for overturning an arbitration award as follows:

(i) corruption, fraud or misconduct in procuring the award; or

(ii) partiality of an arbitrator appointed as a neutral, except where the award is by confession; or

(iii) an arbitrator, or agency or person making the award exceeded his power or so imperfectly executed it that a final and definite award upon the subject matter submitted was not made; or

(iv) failure to follow the procedure of this article, unless the party applying to vacate the award continued with the arbitration with notice of defect and without objection.

In addition, courts have vacated arbitration awards found to violate strong public policy.

This case arose as a result of Gemelli, a Nassau County corrections officer, being found guilty of assaulting an inmate under his care by a federal district court jury.

As a result the Sheriff terminated Gemelli from his position effective March 1, 1999. Gemelli filed a grievance challenging his dismissal and eventually the matter was submitted to arbitration.*

The Arbitrator made the following award:

1. The County's discharge of the grievant, Salvatore Gemelli, was not time barred.

2. The County did not have just cause to discharge Gemelli.

3. Gemelli shall, forthwith, be made whole for any wages and benefits lost, less any interim earnings, for the period of March 1, 1999, until Gemelli's retirement, effective May 27, 1999.

Nassau County brought an Article 75 action in an effort to vacate the arbitrator's award. The Sheriff's Officers Association, on the other hand, asked the court to confirm the award.

Justice Franco, after reading the arbitrator's decision and award, said:

1. An arbitration award shall be vacated where it is totally irrational or violative of strong public policy.

2. The arbitrator's award in this instance conflicts with strong public policy.

The court indicated that Gemelli, in exercising his responsibilities, was required to protect and care for this mentally retarded inmate under his care at the jail.

In contrast to Gemelli's actions, Justice Franco said that “[t]he inmate was to be protected by him, not assaulted by him as the jury found in the Federal trial.”

Turning to the arbitrator's holdings overturning Gemelli's termination, the court ruled that “[a]s his conduct was clearly a violation of public policy, he was justly discharged and is not entitled to be made whole for wages.”

The Appellate Division disagreed, concluding that at issue on this appeal is whether the arbitrator's award in this proceeding pursuant to CPLR Article 75 was violative of public policy.

Because the petitioner County of Nassau failed in the Supreme Court to sustain its burden of demonstrating a strong and well-defined public policy with which the arbitrator's award conflicts, the Appellate Division reverse the order of the Supreme Court, deny the petition, and grant the cross motion to confirm the arbitrator's award.

* Gemelli retired while the disciplinary arbitration procedure was still pending.

CAUTION

Subsequent court and administrative rulings, or changes to laws, rules and regulations may have modified or clarified or vacated or reversed the information and, or, decisions summarized in NYPPL. For example, New York State Department of Civil Service's Advisory Memorandum 24-08 reflects changes required as the result of certain amendments to §72 of the New York State Civil Service Law to take effect January 1, 2025 [See Chapter 306 of the Laws of 2024]. Advisory Memorandum 24-08 in PDF format is posted on the Internet at https://www.cs.ny.gov/ssd/pdf/AM24-08Combined.pdf. Accordingly, the information and case summaries should be Shepardized® or otherwise checked to make certain that the most recent information is being considered by the reader.

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.