Opinion
2014-10-2
In the Matter of Mark A. SCARSELLI, Petitioner, v. NEW YORK STATE AND LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE RETIREMENT SYSTEM et al., Respondents.
Gleason, Dunn, Walsh & O'Shea, Albany (Brendan C. O'Shea of counsel), for petitioner. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (William E. Storrs of counsel), for respondents.
Gleason, Dunn, Walsh & O'Shea, Albany (Brendan C. O'Shea of counsel), for petitioner. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (William E. Storrs of counsel), for respondents.
Before: PETERS, P.J., STEIN, GARRY, EGAN JR. and CLARK, JJ.
PETERS, P.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 Comptroller which denied petitioner's application for accidental disability retirement benefits.
Petitioner was an investigator with the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation for approximately 17 years. On January 27, 2008, he injured his left ankle while working at the police barracks in the Town of Ulster, Ulster County. According to petitioner, as he entered the building, he opened the door and failed to realize that his foot was on the edge of the sidewalk. The sidewalk was abutted by gravel that was a few inches lower in depth. As petitioner moved around the door while he was opening it, he inadvertently put too much pressure on the outside of his left foot, which was on the edge of the sidewalk, and it slipped off the sidewalk and onto the gravel below, causing him to fall to the ground. Petitioner's application for accidental disability retirement benefits in connection with injuries he sustained as a result of this incident was denied. Following a hearing, a Hearing Officer concluded that the January 27, 2008 incident did not constitute an accident within the meaning of the Retirement and Social Security Law and recommended that the application be denied. Respondent Comptroller adopted the Hearing Officer's recommendation and this CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
It is well settled that an accident, for purposes of the Retirement and Social Security Law, is an event that 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 Quartucio v. DiNapoli, 110 A.D.3d 1336, 1337, 973 N.Y.S.2d 841 [2013] ). The burden rests upon the petitioner to demonstrate that the event that precipitated his or her injury constituted an accident ( see Matter of Shea v. DiNapoli, 115 A.D.3d 1023, 1024, 981 N.Y.S.2d 481 [2014]; Matter of Quartucio v. DiNapoli, 110 A.D.3d at 1336, 973 N.Y.S.2d 841). In order to qualify as such, the event must arise from a risk that is not an inherent part of the petitioner's regular job duties ( see Matter of Roberts v. DiNapoli, 117 A.D.3d 1166, 1166, 984 N.Y.S.2d 491 [2014]; Matter of Amadio v. McCall, 2 A.D.3d 1131, 1132, 768 N.Y.S.2d 699 [2003] ). Furthermore, where the injury occurred as the result of a slip and fall, the dispositive inquiry is “whether the condition that caused the slip could have been ‘ reasonably anticipated’ ” ( Matter of Sammon v. DiNapoli, 97 A.D.3d 952, 953, 948 N.Y.S.2d 719 [2012], quoting Matter of Murphy v. New York State Comptroller, 92 A.D.3d 1022, 1023, 937 N.Y.S.2d 721 [2012] ).
Here, it is undisputed that petitioner was walking toward the police barracks in the normal course of his duties at the time of the incident in question. He testified that he had worked at this location for a number of years and that, during this time, he was unaware of any change in the sidewalk which was bordered by gravel. Significantly, no proof was presented that the sidewalk was defective nor was there any indication that petitioner's foot slipped off the sidewalk due to an unexpected event. Accordingly, inasmuch as petitioner could have reasonably anticipated the January 27, 2008 incident, substantial evidence supports the Comptroller's decision denying him accidental disability retirement benefits ( see Matter of Cavallo v. DiNapoli, 117 A.D.3d 1366, 1367, 986 N.Y.S.2d 881 [2014]; Matter of Rodriquez v. DiNapoli, 110 A.D.3d 1125, 1126–1127, 972 N.Y.S.2d 736 [2013]; Matter of Piccinini v. DiNapoli, 68 A.D.3d 1212, 1212–1213, 889 N.Y.S.2d 730 [2009]; Matter of O'Brien v. New York State Comptroller, 56 A.D.3d 937, 938, 867 N.Y.S.2d 260 [2008], lv. denied12 N.Y.3d 708, 881 N.Y.S.2d 17, 908 N.E.2d 925 [2009] ).
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed. STEIN, GARRY, EGAN JR. and CLARK, JJ., concur.