Opinion
2002-02403
Argued December 16, 2002.
January 21, 2003.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review the determination of the respondent Edward Stolzenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Westchester County Health Care Corporation, dated July 5, 2001, which adopted the findings and recommendation of a hearing officer, dated June 24, 2001, made after a hearing, finding that the petitioner was guilty of misconduct, and terminated her employment as a nursing support staff worker.
James M. Rose, White Plains, N.Y., for petitioner.
Marilyn J. Slaatten (Gaines, Baker Novick, LLP, White Plains, N.Y. [Ted A. Novick] of counsel), for respondents.
Before: ANITA R. FLORIO, J.P., CORNELIUS J. O'BRIEN, THOMAS A. ADAMS, STEPHEN G. CRANE, JJ.
DECISION JUDGMENT
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, the petition is denied, and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits, with costs.
The determination of the hearing officer, adopted by the respondent Edward Stolzenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Westchester County Health Care Corporation, that the petitioner's absences, latenesses, and failures to comply with a call-in policy constituted misconduct or incompetence was based on substantial evidence (see Matter of McKinnon v. Board of Educ. of N. Bellmore Union Free School Dist., 273 A.D.2d 240, 241; Matter of Alston v. Morgan, 245 A.D.2d 287, 288). Contrary to the petitioner's contentions, the fact that appropriate leave balances were deducted to cover her absences and latenesses is irrelevant where, as here, excessive and disruptive absences and latenesses are at issue (see Matter of McKinnon v. Board of Educ. of N. Bellmore Union Free School Dist., supra at 241; Cicero v. Triborough Bridge Tunnel Auth., 264 A.D.2d 334, 336; Matter of Garayua v. Board of Educ. of Yonkers City School Dist., 248 A.D.2d 714; Matter of Romano v. Town Bd. of Town of Colonie, 200 A.D.2d 934).
The conflicts in the testimony regarding whether the petitioner received "progressive discipline" in accordance with the respondents' policy raised a credibility issue for the hearing officer's resolution (see Matter of Lawrence v. Edwards, 261 A.D.2d 404), which this court cannot pass upon (see Matter of Berenhaus v. Ward, 70 N.Y.2d 436, 443; Matter of Mack Markowitz Oldsmobile v. State Div. of Human Rights, 271 A.D.2d 690; Matter of Siano v. Dolce, 256 A.D.2d 582). In any event, the petitioner had notice that the conduct underlying the instant charges would subject her to discipline, since similar charges had been brought against her in the past (see Cicero v. Triborough Bridge Tunnel Auth., supra at 335-336).
The penalty of dismissal from employment was not so disproportionate to the misconduct as to shock one's sense of fairness (see Matter of Pell v. Board of Educ., 34 N.Y.2d 222, 233; Matter of Thomas v. City of Mount Vernon Dept. of Pub. Safety, 267 A.D.2d 241, 242).
The petitioner's remaining contentions are without merit.
FLORIO, J.P., O'BRIEN, ADAMS and CRANE, JJ., concur.