Recent decisions by Administrative Law Judges of the New York Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings
Source: OATH
Underperforming assigned tasks
OATH Index No. 2077/17
An associate retirement benefits examiner was charged with incompetence for failing to complete the required daily number of cases. ALJ Noel R. Garcia found that the examiner was required to complete an average of three cases per day, but only averaged less than one case per day over a ten month period. He concluded that the examiner was consistently unable to perform her fundamental responsibilities. 30-day suspension recommended, agency imposed a 25-day suspension
The decision is posted on the Internet at:
Refusal to obey a supervisor's lawful order
OATH Index No. 926/1
ALJ John B. Spooner recommended a 15-day suspension for a job opportunity specialist who was insubordinate and discourteous towards a supervisor. The employee refused to obey an order to process benefits, and he threw paper and gestured with his fist at the supervisor. This conduct caused the supervisor, who suffered from a stroke-related disability, to request early retirement to avoid similar encounters which could adversely affect her health.
The decision is posted on the Internet at:
Delay in addressing alleged misconduct denied employee an opportunity to correct his or her conduct
OATH Index No. 1420/17
A sanitation supervisor was charged with failing to carry out his supervisory responsibilities, failing to accurately prepare, record and maintain information, and with failing to cooperate with an official inquiry. ALJ Kara J. Miller found that many of the charges involved incidents that occurred five to six years ago, which ultimately deprived the supervisor of an opportunity to correct his conduct because petitioner did not timely address the alleged misconduct. ALJ Miller sustained some of the charges, finding that the supervisor failed to accept responsibility.