Atkinson v. Kelly

175 A.D.3d 1406

109 N.Y.S.3d 335

In the Matter of Ricardo ATKINSON, Respondent,

v.Robert KELLY, etc., et al., Appellants.

2017–04742

Index No. 2365/16

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

Argued—January 22, 2019

September 18, 2019

Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, Binghamton, N.Y. (Paul J. Sweeney and Shannon E. Kane of counsel), for appellants.

Charny & Wheeler, Rhinebeck, N.Y. (Russell G. Wheeler of counsel), for respondent.

MARK C. DILLON, J.P., JEFFREY A. COHEN, COLLEEN D. DUFFY, LINDA CHRISTOPHER, JJ.

DECISION & ORDER

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

The petitioner was a civilian prisoner attendant employed by the City of Mount Vernon Police Department (hereinafter the Police Department). On July 27, 2015, a detainee died in her holding cell at police headquarters while the petitioner was on duty. The New York State Attorney General's Office (hereinafter the OAG) investigated the death of the detainee and issued a report noting that it had recommended to the Police Department that the Police Department take administrative action regarding the petitioner's conduct on July 27, 2015.

On March 14, 2016, the petitioner was summoned to the office of his supervisor, Richton Ziadie, and told to resign or a formal disciplinary proceeding would be commenced against him. The respondent Robert Kelly, the former Commissioner of the Police Department, submitted an affidavit in which he stated that he had authorized Ziadie to resolve the disciplinary issue by accepting a letter of resignation from the petitioner. The petitioner tendered his resignation letter immediately after his meeting with Ziadie.

By letter dated March 15, 2016, addressed to Ziadie, the petitioner rescinded his resignation. On March 30, 2016, the Police Department rejected the petitioner's rescission of his resignation. The petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding against the Commissioner of the Police Department, the City of Mount Vernon, and the City of Mount Vernon, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Police (hereinafter collectively Mount Vernon) seeking a vacatur of the determination, reinstatement as a prisoner attendant, and damages, including back pay. The Supreme Court granted the petition. Mount Vernon appeals.

With regard to civil service employment, 4 NYCRR 5.3(b) requires that resignations from employment are to be delivered to, or filed in the office of, the appointing authority. 4 NYCRR 5.3(c) provides that "A resignation may not be withdrawn, cancelled or amended after it is delivered to the appointing authority, without the consent of the appointing authority." The "appointing authority" or "appointing officer" means the "officer, commission, or body having the power of appointment to subordinate positions" (see Civil Service Law § 2[9] ). Pursuant to section 115 of the Charter of the City of Mount Vernon (hereinafter the Charter), the Commissioner of Public Safety (hereinafter the Commissioner) has "jurisdiction, supervision, and control of the government, administration, disposition, and discipline of the Police Department." Pursuant to section 114 of the Charter, the Commissioner shall appoint all subordinates, and is therefore the appointing authority relative to the petitioner's employment.

Contrary to Mount Vernon's contention, the Commissioner was not authorized to delegate his authority to accept delivery of an employee's resignation letter, as the Charter, which sets forth the powers and duties of the various department heads, does...