Decisions by OATH Administrative Law Judges
New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings
Correction officer found guilty of improper use of force
Recommended penalty: 15-day suspension without pay
A correction officer was charged with improper use of force against two inmates. That officer and his partner were also charged with making false reports and failing to obtain medical attention for an injured inmate.
Administrative Law Judge John B. Spooner found petitioner proved that the first officer used improper force against one of the inmates but he recommended dismissal of the rest of the charges. The recommended penalty was a 15-day suspension, given the inconclusive proof as to the precise extent of the force used.
This was the first OATH case involving videoconference testimony by an inmate from a City jail.
The decision is posted on the Internet at:
Dep't of Correction v. Wingate (in PDF), OATH Index Nos. 1490/12 & 1491/12
Employee found guilty of being intoxicated while on duty
Recommended penalty: termination
An office worker was charged with being intoxicated at work on four occasions during a one-month period.
Administrative Law Judge Kevin F. Casey sustained two of the charges. He rejected as implausible respondent’s claim that his medications and illnesses cause a variety of symptoms, including dizziness and vomiting, which give people the mistaken impression that he was intoxicated, in view of proof that respondent was diagnosed with acute alcohol intoxication at a hospital on one of the charged dates.
Given respondent’s prior disciplinary record -- which included a 40-day suspension for similar, recent misconduct -- and in the absence of evidence of rehabilitation, ALJ Casey recommended termination of respondent’s employment.
The decision is posted on the Internet at:
Human Resources Admin. v. Anonymous (in PDF), OATH Index No. 212/13