Opinion ID: 8410694
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The RRB Board Orders and Post -Termination Approvals

Text: Defendants submit that post-conviction actions by the RRB constitute new evidence supporting the instant collateral challenges to their convictions and sentences. We briefly summarize those actions here. On June 27, 2013, i.e. , approximately one month after Ajemian's conviction, the RRB issued Board Order 13-33, which terminated the disability pension benefits of all LIRR employees whose applications were supported by medical evidence from Ajemian. The RRB provided notice to all annuitants affected by the order, and termination became effective three months after the date of those notices. On September 30, 2013, i.e. , approximately two months after the guilty verdicts against Rutigliano, Lesniewski, and Baran, the RRB issued Board Order 13-55, which similarly terminated the disability pension benefits of all LIRR employees whose applications were supported by medical evidence from Lesniewski. By their terms, Orders 13-33 and 13-55 terminated benefits only prospectively; they did not seek disgorgement of benefits paid prior to their pronouncement. Further, the orders permitted employees whose benefits were terminated to reapply based on current medical evidence of disability from within twelve months of the new application and not derived from Ajemian or Lesniewski. Lesniewski App'x at 168-69, 171-72. By May 22, 2015, the RRB had decided 531 reapplications for disability pension benefits, granting 485 and reinstating such benefits retroactive to the terminations effected by Board Orders 13-33 and 13-55. Approximately 80% of the granted reapplications relied on at least one new medical condition not included in the employee's initial fraudulent application, and approximately 70% of the granted applications omitted at least one medical condition relied on in the initial fraudulent applications.