Cornacchio v. DiNapoli

Petitioner suffered accidents in 1998 and 1999 while working as a laborer for a municipality. Although the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System found petitioner to be disabled, it denied his application for disability retirement benefits on the ground that he had not demonstrated that his disability arose out of either accident. Following a hearing requested by petitioner, a hearing officer rejected his application for benefits. Respondent accepted those findings, prompting petitioner to commence this proceeding.

Respondent has exclusive authority to determine retirement…