Court Opinion

ID: 9718881
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 07:37:04.177293+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:03.257350
License: Public Domain

SCHREIBER, J.,
concurring.
I concur. Nothing barred Uricoli’s right to claim accidental disability retirement benefits under N.J.S.A. 43:16A-7 in 1972 because of various back injuries he had incurred while doing routine police work prior to his misconduct. At the time of the traumatic events allegedly causing Uricoli’s disability, all his service was honorable. I would permit that claim to be processed to determine whether Uricoli was eligible for and entitled to an accidental disability retirement allowance under the statutory requirements. I would reverse and remand for that purpose.
It should be noted that at the time of his misconduct Uricoli was not entitled to a pension. He had not attained age 55 and had fewer than 25 years of service. N.J.S.A. 43:16A-5, -11.1. Moreover, he did not qualify under N.J.S.A. 43:16A-11.2, permitting vesting after 15 years of service before age 55, if the employee’s separation from service was not due to charges of misconduct. Therefore his entitlement to a pension is dependent on his disability claim.