Opinion
08-25-2016
In the Matter of David M. MAGISTRO, Petitioner, v. Thomas P. DiNAPOLI, as State Comptroller, Respondent.
Russell A. Schindler, Kingston, for petitioner. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (William E. Storrs of counsel), for respondent.
Russell A. Schindler, Kingston, for petitioner.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (William E. Storrs of counsel), for respondent.
Before: GARRY, J.P., EGAN JR., DEVINE, MULVEY and AARONS, JJ.
MULVEY, J. Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Albany County) to review a determination of respondent denying petitioner's application for accidental disability retirement benefits.
Petitioner worked as a police officer for the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department. On the morning of December 1, 2010, he was dispatched to a residence where a burglary had occurred. Upon his arrival, he spoke to the homeowner, documented items that were missing and inspected the residence for possible entry points and crime scene evidence. He went to inspect a small porch that was connected to the house by wooden stairs that were partially covered by an overhanging roof. It was raining that morning and, when petitioner stepped on the top step, he slipped and slid down the handrail before eventually catching himself. As a result of injuries that he sustained, he filed an application for accidental disability retirement benefits. His application was initially denied on the ground that the December 1, 2010 incident did not constitute an accident within the meaning of the Retirement and Social Security Law. Petitioner requested a hearing and redetermination and, following such hearing, a Hearing Officer denied his application for the same reason. Respondent subsequently adopted the Hearing Officer's decision with supplemental conclusions of law, and this CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
Petitioner also filed an application for performance of duty disability retirement benefits, which was granted.
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We confirm. It is well settled that, for purposes of the Retirement and Social Security Law, an accident is “a sudden, fortuitous mischance, unexpected, out of the ordinary, and injurious in impact” (Matter of Lichtenstein v. Board of Trustees of Police Pension Fund of Police Dept. of City of N.Y., Art II, 57 N.Y.2d 1010, 1012, 457 N.Y.S.2d 472, 443 N.E.2d 946 [1982] [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]; see Matter of Beckley v. Nitido, 123 A.D.3d 1330, 1331, 998 N.Y.S.2d 535 [2014] ). The burden is on the party seeking benefits to establish that the injury-producing event was accidental in nature (see Matter of Schoales v. DiNapoli, 132 A.D.3d 1184, 1185, 18 N.Y.S.3d 765 [2015] ; Matter of Hoehn v. New York State Comptroller, 122 A.D.3d 984, 986, 995 N.Y.S.2d 826 [2014] ). Notably, in order to be deemed accidental, an injury must result from a risk that is not an inherent part of one's regular job duties (see Matter of Schultz v. DiNapoli, 137 A.D.3d 1454, 1455, 27 N.Y.S.3d 296 [2016] ; Matter of Fulton v. New York State Comptroller, 122 A.D.3d 983, 983–984, 996 N.Y.S.2d 388 [2014], lv. denied 24 N.Y.3d 915, 2015 WL 649411 [2015] ) or from a hazard that cannot be reasonably anticipated (see Matter of Bennett v. DiNapoli, 119 A.D.3d 1310, 1311, 991 N.Y.S.2d 167 [2014] ; Matter of Cavallo v. DiNapoli, 117 A.D.3d 1366, 1367, 986 N.Y.S.2d 881 [2014] ).
Petitioner's search of the residence following the burglary was a part of his routine duties as a police officer. He acknowledged that it was lightly raining when he conducted the search and, although he did not see water pooling on the stairs, he believed that they were wet. He stated that he did not realize that the stairs were slippery until his foot slipped on the top stair. Notwithstanding this, petitioner could have reasonably anticipated the slippery condition of the stairs under the circumstances presented (see Matter of Greco v. DiNapoli, 123 A.D.3d 1366, 1368, 999 N.Y.S.2d 274 [2014] ; Matter of Randolph v. DiNapoli, 85 A.D.3d 1288, 1289, 924 N.Y.S.2d 206 [2011] ). Although petitioner theorized that the stairs were slippery because they had been painted with interior paint and were not constructed in accordance with the applicable building code, this presented a credibility issue for respondent to ultimately resolve (see Matter of Messina v. New York State & Local Employees' Retirement Sys., 102 A.D.3d 1068, 1069, 959 N.Y.S.2d 289 [2013], lv. denied 21 N.Y.3d 855, 2013 WL 1876514 [2013] ; Matter of Assmann v. DiNapoli, 95 A.D.3d 1487, 1488, 943 N.Y.S.2d 683 [2012] ). Given that substantial evidences supports respondent's determination, we decline to disturb it. ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.
GARRY, J.P., EGAN JR., DEVINE and AARONS, JJ., concur.