Case Name: In the Matter of Paul G. Kenny, Appellant, v. Thomas P. DiNapoli, as New York State Comptroller, Respondent
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2008-12-17
Citations: 11 N.Y.3d 873
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Paul G. Kenny, Appellant, v Thomas P. DiNapoli, as New York State Comptroller, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 11
Pages: 873–875

Head Matter:
[902 NE2d 952, 874 NYS2d 399]
In the Matter of Paul G. Kenny, Appellant, v Thomas P. DiNapoli, as New York State Comptroller, Respondent.
Decided December 17, 2008
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Annette G. Hasapidis, South Salem, for appellant.
Andrew M. Cuomo, Attorney General, Albany (William E. Storrs, Barbara D. Underwood, Andrew D. Bing and Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
The judgment of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs.
In the context of accidental disability retirement benefits, we have defined an accident as a "sudden, fortuitous mischance, unexpected, out of the ordinary, and injurious in impact" and we have indicated that "an injury which occurs without an unexpected event as the result of activity undertaken in the performance of ordinary employment duties, considered in view of the particular employment in question, is not an accidental injury" (Matter of Lichtenstein v Board of Trustees of Police Pension Fund of Police Dept. of City of N.Y., Art. II, 57 NY2d 1010, 1012 [1982]). In this case, the Comptroller denied the ap plication for accidental disability retirement benefits because petitioner, who slipped on a wet ramp while exiting a restaurant, knew that the ramp was wet and therefore knew of the hazard that led to his injury before the incident occurred. In other words, the Comptroller was not persuaded that the incident involved an "unexpected event." Because the Comptroller's conclusion is supported by substantial evidence in the record, the determination was properly confirmed.
Chief Judge Kaye and Judges Ciparick, Graffeo, Read, Smith, Pigott and Jones concur.
On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.11 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.11), judgment affirmed, with costs, in a memorandum.