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Not every mischance resulting in an injury is an "accident" for the purpose of receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance

Not every mischance resulting in an injury is an "accident" for the purpose of receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance
Matter of Kenny v DiNapoli, 11 NY3d 873

Paul G. Kenny challenged the Comptroller?s decision to deny his application for accidental disability retirement benefits. Kelly contended that he was entitled to such benefits as a result of his having slipped on a wet ramp.

The Comptroller found that Kelly knew that the ramp was wet and, therefore, knew of the hazard that led to his injury before the incident occurred. Accordingly, the Comptroller concluded that Kelly?s injury was not the result of an "unexpected event."

The Court of Appeals sustained Comptroller?s determination, indicating that an ?accident? for the purposes of being eligible for accidental disability retirement benefits must result from a "sudden, fortuitous mischance, unexpected, out of the ordinary, and injurious in impact."

Further, said the Court, "an injury which occurs without an unexpected event as the result of activity undertaken in the performance of ordinary employment duties, considered in view of the particular employment in question, is not an accidental injury."

The full text of the decision is posted on the Internet at:
http://www.courts.state.ny.us/reporter/3dseries/2008/2008_09857.htm

Full post as published by New York Public Personnel Law on July 16, 2010 (boomark / email).