AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes

In the Matter of WILLIAM T. WHALEN, Appellant, against GEORGE P. MONAGHAN et al., Constituting the Board of Trustees of the Police Pension Fund of the City of New York, Respondents.

While the trustees are free to determine whether a disability is service connected and in that respect need not follow the findings of the medical board, they are not free to disregard the findings of that board with respect to the nature and the extent of the disability ( Matter of Hickie v. Valentine, 177 Misc. 743, affd. 262 App. Div. 832, motion for leave to appeal denied 287 N.Y. 854; Matter of City of New York v. Schoeck, 294 N.Y. 559, 566). It would appear, however, that the trustees have failed to accept the medical findings of the board. The only interpretation of the trustees' action is that they found that petitioner was not disabled by the gunshot and stab wounds. And yet the medical board has so found. That finding of the medical board touches upon the nature and extent of the disability. While the trustees may have felt that the medical board came to the wrong conclusion as to the nature of the disability as of the time of the petitioner's retirement, that conclusion is binding upon them. The purport of the trustees' determination is that the disability as found by the medical board was not incurred in the line of duty but there is nothing in the record to support such a finding. The action of the board of trustees must therefore be considered arbitrary and capricious and the order denying the relief sought should be reversed. Order reversed and petitioner's motion granted, with $20 costs and disbursements to appellant. Settle order.

Use AI to get other relevant cases.

Comments

MATTER OF WHALEN v. MONAGHAN
(Feb 23, 1955)