Opinion
2013-12-5
In re Shahid TANVIR, Petitioner, v. NEW YORK CITY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS CORPORATION, etc., et al., Respondents.
Shahid Tanvir, petitioner pro se. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Diana Lawless of counsel), for respondents.
Shahid Tanvir, petitioner pro se. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Diana Lawless of counsel), for respondents.
Determination of respondent New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), dated January 28, 2010, terminating petitioner's employment, unanimously confirmed, the petition denied, and the proceeding brought pursuant to CPLR Article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of Supreme Court, New York County [Cynthia S. Kern, J.], entered September 17, 2010), dismissed, without costs.
Substantial evidence supports HHC's determination that petitioner engaged in misconduct consisting of insubordination by refusing orders to engage in training for a new position after being reassigned to the hospital's chemistry department, and subsequent absence without leave for more than 11 months ( see Ricketts v New York City Health and Hosps. Corp., 88 A.D.3d 593, 931 N.Y.S.2d 58 [1st Dept.2011] ). The evidence established that HHC's requirement that petitioner participate in processing training was not in excess of its authority and the new assignment did not pose a risk to patient health and safety. Petitioner failed to show that any exceptions to the rule of “work now, grieve later” apply (Matter of Ferreri v. New York State Thruway Auth., 62 N.Y.2d 855, 856–857, 477 N.Y.S.2d 616, 466 N.E.2d 156 [1984] ).
The penalty of termination is not so disproportionate to petitioner's offense as to shock our sense of fairness ( see Matter of Pryce v. New York City Hous. Auth., 69 A.D.3d 497, 894 N.Y.S.2d 40 [1st Dept.2010]; Matter of Strokes v. City of Albany, 101 A.D.2d 944, 945, 475 N.Y.S.2d 635 [3d Dept.1984] ). TOM, J.P., FRIEDMAN, RENWICK, FEINMAN, CLARK, JJ., concur.