Opinion
2016–10980 Index No. 457/16
01-23-2019
In the Matter of Timothy THOMAS, Petitioner, v. TOWN OF SOUTHEAST, New York, Respondent.
Wolin & Wolin, Jericho, N.Y. (Alan E. Wolin of counsel), for petitioner. Gaines, Novick, Ponzini, Cossu & Venditti, LLP, White Plains, N.Y. (Denise M. Cossu and James A. Randazzo of counsel), for respondent.
Wolin & Wolin, Jericho, N.Y. (Alan E. Wolin of counsel), for petitioner.
Gaines, Novick, Ponzini, Cossu & Venditti, LLP, White Plains, N.Y. (Denise M. Cossu and James A. Randazzo of counsel), for respondent.
ALAN D. SCHEINKMAN, P.J., JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, JOSEPH J. MALTESE, VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ.
DECISION & JUDGMENT Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the Town Board of the respondent, Town of Southeast, New York, dated December 11, 2015. The determination adopted the findings of a hearing officer dated December 8, 2015, made after a hearing pursuant to Civil Service Law § 75, that the petitioner was guilty of certain charges of misconduct, and terminated the petitioner's employment as a road maintenance equipment operator.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, the petition is denied, and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits, with costs.
The petitioner was employed by the Highway Department (hereinafter the highway department) of the respondent, the Town of Southeast, New York, as a road maintenance equipment operator. The petitioner was accused of committing various acts of misconduct over the course of approximately 10 months from March 2014 through January 2015. The allegations included multiple instances of disobeying the orders of a superior, including one instance in which the petitioner's failure to follow the directions of the highway department Superintendent (hereinafter the superintendent) allegedly placed the petitioner, a coworker, and the general public in danger; being absent from work for two days without obtaining prior approval; and threatening and physically confronting the superintendent on January 16, 2015, in the garage of the highway department.
The petitioner was charged with 12 counts of misconduct. At an administrative hearing, the petitioner denied the charges alleged. The superintendent and multiple highway department employees testified, and camera surveillance footage, as well as audio recorded by the petitioner, were admitted as evidence. At the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer found the petitioner guilty of charges 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, and 12. He recommended termination of the petitioner's employment given the nature of the incidents, the petitioner's lack of credibility and lack of remorse, and his previous disciplinary suspension of five days for harassing a co-worker and improper performance of his duties, as well as previous reprimands. The Town Board adopted the hearing officer's report and recommendation and terminated the petitioner's employment. The petitioner thereafter commenced this proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review the Town's determination.
In an employee disciplinary case, judicial review of factual findings made after a hearing pursuant to Civil Service Law § 75 is limited to consideration of whether that determination was supported by substantial evidence (see CPLR 7803[4] ; 300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v. State Div. of Human Rights, 45 N.Y.2d 176, 179–180, 408 N.Y.S.2d 54, 379 N.E.2d 1183 ; Matter of Owens v. County of Dutchess, 162 A.D.3d 1040, 1041, 80 N.Y.S.3d 350 ; Matter of Harris v. City of Poughkeepsie, 162 A.D.3d 663, 665, 79 N.Y.S.3d 57 ; Matter of Argenti v. Town of Riverhead, 131 A.D.3d 1053, 1054, 16 N.Y.S.3d 470 ). "When there is conflicting evidence or different inferences may be drawn, ‘the duty of weighing the evidence and making the choice rests solely upon the [administrative agency]. The courts may not weigh the evidence or reject the choice made by [such agency] where the evidence is conflicting and room for choice exists’ " ( Matter of Grimaldi v. Gough, 114 A.D.3d 679, 680, 979 N.Y.S.2d 682, quoting Matter of Berenhaus v. Ward, 70 N.Y.2d 436, 444, 522 N.Y.S.2d 478, 517 N.E.2d 193 ). Here, any credibility issues were resolved by the hearing officer (see Matter of Reed v. Raynor, 151 A.D.3d 730, 730, 56 N.Y.S.3d 259 ), and substantial evidence in the record supports the determination that the petitioner was guilty of the misconduct alleged in charges 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, and 12 (see Matter of Owens v. County of Dutchess, 162 A.D.3d at 1041, 80 N.Y.S.3d 350 ; Matter of Harris v. City of Poughkeepsie, 162 A.D.3d at 665, 79 N.Y.S.3d 57 ).
A court may set aside an administrative penalty only if it is so disproportionate to the offense as to be shocking to one's sense of fairness (see Matter of Walden v. Town of Islip, 6 N.Y.3d 735, 736, 810 N.Y.S.2d 408, 843 N.E.2d 1148 ; Matter of Harris v. City of Poughkeepsie, 162 A.D.3d at 665, 79 N.Y.S.3d 57 ). "That reasonable minds might disagree over what the proper penalty should have been does not provide a basis for ... refashioning the penalty" ( City School Dist. of the City of N.Y. v. McGraham, 17 N.Y.3d 917, 920, 934 N.Y.S.2d 768, 958 N.E.2d 897 ; see Matter of Bolt v. New York City Dept. of Educ., 30 N.Y.3d 1065, 1068, 69 N.Y.S.3d 255, 91 N.E.3d 1234 ). Here, the penalty of dismissal is not so disproportionate to the offenses as to be shocking to one's sense of fairness, especially in light of the number of incidents and the petitioner's prior disciplinary record (see Matter of Argenti v. Town of Riverhead, 131 A.D.3d at 1054, 16 N.Y.S.3d 470 ; Matter of Lauria v. County of Dutchess, 306 A.D.2d 532, 532, 761 N.Y.S.2d 860 ).
The petitioner's remaining contention is without merit.
SCHEINKMAN, P.J., LEVENTHAL, MALTESE and BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ., concur.