Mazza v. Board of Trustees

In this case, Dennis Mazza, a park patrolman for the Essex County Park Commission for over sixteen years, seeks accidental *26disability benefits for an injury that occurred while on mounted patrol in the South Mountain Reservation. As Mazza was attempting to get across a stream, the horse suddenly and unexpectedly reared up, spinning sharply around to the left, almost falling over. As the horse reared spinning around, “[Mazza’s] body went the other direction,” severely twisting his back at the waist. The accident rendered Mazza helpless. The horse took Mazza, slumped over in the saddle, back to…