Preexisting condition does not bar receiving GML §207-c if the claimant shows that the job duties were a direct cause of the disability

Preexisting condition does not bar receiving GML §207-c if the claimant shows that the job duties were a direct cause of the disability
D'Accursio v Monroe County, 2010 NY Slip Op 05455, Decided on June 18, 2010, Appellate Division, Fourth Department

Paul D’Accursio, a "Deputy Sheriff Jailor" with the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, filed a petition pursuant to CPLR Article 78 proceeding seeking to annul the denial of his application for General Municipal Law §207-c benefits. His application had been rejected on the ground that D’Accursio did not sustain the injury on which he based his claim in the performance of his job duties.

Supreme Court properly concluded that the determination was arbitrary and capricious and granted the petition.

The Appellate Division agreed, holding that General Municipal Law § 207-c, which provides for the payment of full regular salary or wages to certain law enforcement officers injured in the performance of their duties or taken sick as a result of the performance of their duties so as to necessitate medical or other lawful remedial "does not require that [officers] additionally demonstrate that their disability is related in a substantial degree to their job duties."

Citing White v County of Cortland, 97 NY2d 336, the Appellate Division ruled that “an officer ‘need only prove a direct causal relationship between job duties and the resulting illness or injury."

Further, the court observed that a preexisting condition does not bar recovery under section 207-c if the officer establishes "that the job duties were a direct cause of the disability."

Sustaining Supreme Court’s ruling the Appellate Division said that it concluded that D’Accursio had established "such a direct causal relationship and thus demonstrated his entitlement to benefits under General Municipal Law §207-c."

The decision is posted on the Internet at: http://www.courts.state.ny.us/reporter/3dseries/2010/2010_05455.htm

Did I say “and”? I meant “or” – Department of Labor’s Reinterpretation of In Loco Parentis requirements under FMLA

Did I say “and”? I meant “or” – Department of Labor’s Reinterpretation of In Loco Parentis requirements under FMLA
Source: The FMLA Blog - http://federalfmla.typepad.com/fmla_blog/ Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved by Carl C. Bosland, Esq. Reproduced with permission. Mr. Bosland is the author of A Federal Sector Guide to the Family and Medical Leave Act & Related Litigation.

On June 22, 2010, the US Department of Labor reinterpreted the existing requirements for an in loco parentis relationship for FMLA leave due to the birth, adoption, foster care placement or serious health condition of a son or daughter. The FMLA permits an eligible employee-parent to take FMLA leave to bond with a newborn or newly adopted/foster care placed son/daughter, or to care for a son or daughter with a serious health condition.

Parent includes in loco parentis relationships- meaning situations where there is not a biological or legal relationship between parent and child, but the person assumes the role of the parent toward the child. Under the existing regulation, 29 CFR 825.122(c)(3), an in loco parentis relationship has two requirements: (1) day-to-day care of the child; and (2) financial support.

In the memorandum, the DOL announced that the regulations only requires that the employee who intends to assume the responsibilities of a parent to either provide day-to-day care for the child OR financial support, but not both. The DOL's "interpretation" is at direct odds with the plain reading of the regulation.

Mr. Bosland Comments: The DOL Memorandum received a lot of Press because of it confirmed that same-sex partners who satisfy the definition could be an in loco parentis parent for purposes of FMLA leave. While that has always been a distinct possibility, it is noteworthy that the DOL has put in it writing. The substantive change is that the DOL has reduced the burden for establishing an in loco parentis parental relationship with a child from two requirements to one by interpreting "and" in the existing regulation to mean "or." My guess is that the DOL will formalize the change when it gets around to issuing regulations to implement the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act changes to military family leave.

The DOL Memorandum is available on the Internet at: http://www.feedblitz.com/t2.asp?/121772/2190912/0/http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/WHD/WHD20100877.htm

Drug dependency not a disability under New York’s Human Rights Law

Drug dependency not a disability under New York’s Human Rights Law
Matter of Michael Kirk v City of New York, 47 AD3d 406

Michael Kirk was terminated from his position with the New York City Fire Department after testing positive for cocaine in a random drug test.

The Appellate Division rejected Kirk’s contention that the Department’s random drug testing policy is unconstitutional and decided that the penalty of termination for substance abuse “does not shock the conscience,” citing Reinhard v City of New York, 34 AD3 376, leave to appeal denied, 8 NY3d 808.

The court pointed out that while alcohol dependency qualifies as a disability under the New York State Human Rights Law, drug abuse does not and Kirk was unable to prove that his drug abuse was causally related to his alcoholism.

The decision is posted on the Internet at:http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2008/2008_00037.htm