Griffin v. Town of Dewitt

Appeal from a decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board, filed June 22, 2011, which ruled that claimant had involuntarily retired.

Claimant, a heavy truck mechanic and equipment operator, successfully applied for workers’ compensation benefits after he injured his back while swinging a sledgehammer. He required back surgery for his condition in 2009 and missed several months of work, but returned to work without restrictions. Nevertheless feeling that he could no longer perform his duties, claimant retired when he became eligible for Social Security retirement benefits in 2010 and sought a…