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Matter of Hess v. Board of Tr., P. Pension

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Nov 12, 1998
255 A.D.2d 163 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)

Summary

In Matter of Hess v Board of Trustees Police Pension Fund, 255 AD2d 163 (1Dep't 1998), a police officer assigned to the Harbor Unit sustained shoulder injuries "when he tripped on a raised portion of concrete while carrying his scuba equipment" in November 1991 and the following year "when he slipped and fell off a wet ladder while descending into a launch."

Summary of this case from Flood v. Kelly

Opinion

November 12, 1998

Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Phyllis Gangel-Jacob, J.).


Where, as here, the decision to deny accident disability retirement benefits is reached in consequence of a tie vote by respondent Board of Trustees, that determination is subject to judicial annulment only if the retiree is entitled to greater benefits as a matter of law ( Matter of Canfora v. Board of Trustees of Police Pension Fund, 60 N.Y.2d 347, 352). Petitioner, a member of the New York Police Department Harbor Unit, sustained shoulder injuries in November 1991 when he tripped on a raised portion of concrete while carrying his scuba equipment and again in November 1992 when he slipped and fell off a wet ladder while descending into a launch. Given the nature of petitioner's occupational duties as a member of the Harbor Unit, we cannot characterize these occurrences, as a matter of law, as unexpected or out-of-the-ordinary so as to qualify them as accidents for disability retirement purposes ( see, Matter of Stranella v. Bratton, 92 N.Y.2d 836; and see, Matter of Rosenthal v. Board of Trustees of N.Y. City Police Pension Fund, 252 A.D.2d 388).

Concur — Milonas, J. P., Rosenberger, Williams, Tom and Saxe, JJ.


Summaries of

Matter of Hess v. Board of Tr., P. Pension

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Nov 12, 1998
255 A.D.2d 163 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)

In Matter of Hess v Board of Trustees Police Pension Fund, 255 AD2d 163 (1Dep't 1998), a police officer assigned to the Harbor Unit sustained shoulder injuries "when he tripped on a raised portion of concrete while carrying his scuba equipment" in November 1991 and the following year "when he slipped and fell off a wet ladder while descending into a launch."

Summary of this case from Flood v. Kelly
Case details for

Matter of Hess v. Board of Tr., P. Pension

Case Details

Full title:In the Matter of ROBERT HESS, Appellant, v. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department

Date published: Nov 12, 1998

Citations

255 A.D.2d 163 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)
680 N.Y.S.2d 791

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