Termination of an employee during the probationary period
Matter of Matter of Deitch v City of New York, 2011 NY Slip Op 09322, Appellate Division, Second Department
Terence J. Deitch, a probationary police officer, was terminated from his position without a hearing. Deitch sued and Supreme Court directed the New York City Police Department to “reinstate [Deitch] and directed a hearing on the issue of the [Deitch’s] damages” that resulted from his dismissal from his position.
The Appellate Division reversed the lower court’s determination and denied Deitch’s petition.
The Appellate Division explained that "A probationary employee may be discharged without a hearing and without a statement of reasons in the absence of any demonstration that the dismissal was in bad faith, for a constitutionally impermissible or an illegal purpose, or in violation of statutory or decisional law."
Further, said the court, the individual ”bears the burden of establishing bad faith or illegal reasons by competent evidence."
Finding that Deitch failed to establish that his termination was made in bad faith or was otherwise illegal or arbitrary and capricious, the Appellate Division ruled that the Supreme Court should have denied Deitch’s petition and confirmed the Department’s decision to terminate him.
The decision is posted on the Internet at: