Summary
In Gardner v. Continuing Dev. Servs., 292 A.D.2d 838, 739 N.Y.S.2d 302 (4th Dep't.2002), the Appellate Division of New York's Second Department held that it was proper to dismiss a Section 740 claim where Plaintiff alleged retaliation after she exposed the “neglect and abuse of developmentally disabled residents by other staff members” at the defendant health care facility.
Summary of this case from Barker v. Peconic Landing at Southold, Inc.Opinion
341
March 15, 2002.
Appeal from an order of Supreme Court, Monroe County (Frazee, J.), entered July 25, 2001, which granted defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint.
Jo-Anne Gardner, plaintiff-appellant pro se.
Nixon Peabody LLP, Rochester (Stephen J. Jones of counsel), for defendant-respondent.
PRESENT: GREEN, J.P., HAYES, HURLBUTT, KEHOE, AND BURNS, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from be and the same hereby is unanimously affirmed without costs.
Memorandum:
Plaintiff commenced this action alleging that defendant violated Labor Law § 740 by terminating her employment in retaliation for her disclosure of neglect and abuse of developmentally disabled residents by other staff members at an intermediate care facility operated by defendant. Supreme Court properly granted defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7) for failure to state a cause of action. "Under any reasonable reading of the statute and under any view of the facts of this case, defendant's alleged violations of law, if any, did not create and present a substantial and specific danger to the public health and safety" ( Kern v. DePaul Mental Health Servs., 152 A.D.2d 957, lv denied 74 N.Y.2d 615; see, Green v. Saratoga A. R. C., 233 A.D.2d 821, 822-823; Easterson v. Long Is. Jewish Med. Ctr., 156 A.D.2d 636, 637, lv denied 76 N.Y.2d 704, rearg denied 76 N.Y.2d 889). Plaintiff's challenge to the constitutionality of Labor Law § 740, raised for the first time on appeal, is not properly before us ( see, Roberts v. Gross, 100 A.D.2d 540, 541).