Case Name: In the Matter of Josephine Paul, Petitioner, v. Michael D. Israel, as President and CEO of the Westchester Medical Center, et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2011-12-06
Citations: 90 A.D.3d 666
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Josephine Paul, Petitioner, v Michael D. Israel, as President and CEO of the Westchester Medical Center, et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 90
Pages: 666–666

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Josephine Paul, Petitioner, v Michael D. Israel, as President and CEO of the Westchester Medical Center, et al., Respondents.
[933 NYS2d 883]

Opinion:
The review of administrative determinations in employee disciplinary cases made after a hearing under Civil Service Law § 75 is limited to a consideration of whether the determination was supported by substantial evidence (see CPLR 7803 [4]; 300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v State Div. of Human Rights, 45 NY2d 176 [1978]; Matter of Smith v Carter, 61 AD3d 982 [2009]). Here, there is substantial evidence in the record to support the determination of the respondent Westchester Medical Center that the petitioner was guilty of misconduct (see Matter of Jenkins v Israel, 83 AD3d 1068 [2011]). The petitioner's argument to the effect that the administrative determination is not supported by substantial evidence because the evidence presented was hearsay is without merit (see Civil Service Law § 75 [2]; Matter of Lumsden v New York City Fire Dept., 134 AD2d 595 [1987]).
Under the circumstances presented, the penalty of termination of the petitioner's employment was not so disproportionate to the offense committed as to be shocking to one's sense of fairness, thus constituting an abuse of discretion as a matter of law (see Matter of Kreisler v New York City Tr. Auth., 2 NY3d 775 [2004]; Matter of Pell v Board of Educ. of Union Free School Dist. No. 1 of Towns of Scarsdale & Mamaroneck, Westchester County, 34 NY2d 222 [1974]; Matter of Furtado v Israel, 49 AD3d 644 [2008]). Dillon, J.E, Angiolillo, Florio and Dickerson, JJ., concur.