On May 16, 2009, the Public Employment Relations Commission (“PERC”) issued a decision in response to certain unfair practice charges and requests for interim relief filed against the State of New Jersey regarding the imposition of unpaid, “furlough” days. 

By way of background, on April 14, 2009, the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO (“CWA”)…

On May 14, 2009, the Appellate Division decided Harry G. Parkin v. Board of Trustees, Public Employees Retirement System, Docket No.: A-2466-07T1. In the case, Harry Parkin appealed from the final agency decision of the Board of Trustees of the Public Employee Retirement System (“Board”) resulting in the partial forfeiture of his service and salary credits. Specifically, Parkin contended that the Board failed to follow its own regulations governing partial forfeiture of pension benefits and further contended that the Board “adopted a rule regarding the partial termination of pension benefits without going through the regulatory process.” 

With the exception of a four-year break in service, from 1972 to January 1, 2004, Parkin was continuously employed in various public positions until he retired as Mercer County Chief of Staff. Based upon his veteran’s status, his service time, and additional credit he received as part of an early retirement incentive program, he had accumulated twenty-eight (28) years and nine (9) months of service credit equating to a monthly pension of $5,864.49.

On March 11, 2004, Parkin was indicted by a Federal grand jury and charged with having participated in a wide-ranging, corrupt scheme utilizing his office as Chief of Staff to defraud Mercer County and its citizens. The indictment alleged numerous acts Parkin committed in furtherance of the plan while employed as Chief of Staff. After a jury trial, in March 2005, he was convicted of all charges. In August 2005, he was sentenced to a period of ninety (90) months imprisonment.

The Board considered Parkin’s entitlement to pension benefits at its September 2005 meeting. Applying the factors set forth in N.J.S.A. 43:1-3(c), the Board determined a partial forfeiture was warranted for the period of time Parkin served as Chief of Staff, i.e., from June 1, 1994, to the date of his retirement. As a result, Parkin became ineligible for veteran retirement status and additionally lost early retirement incentives. His monthly pension was significantly reduced and he no longer qualified for lifetime medical benefits.        

Thereafter, Parkin appealed to the Office of Administrative Law, wherein he argued that the Board had arbitrarily chosen the forfeiture period to run from his first day as Chief of Staff, rather than the time his misconduct allegedly first occurred, i.e., in September 2000. The Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) initially recommended the Board supplement the record regarding its selection of the date upon which to commence the forfeiture period. In September 2007, the Board filed a supplementary statement of its reasons for selecting the initial date of Parkin’s employment as Chief of Staff as the operative date of forfeiture, relying heavily upon the statements made by the sentencing judge in which he outlined the nature and extent of Parkin’s criminal conduct. Subsequently, the ALJ issued his initial decision in November 2007 ordering forfeiture of all of Parkin’s service from the date he became Chief of Staff. The Board adopted the ALJ’s recommendations and this appeal followed.

Continue Reading Public Employees and Forfeiture of Pension Benefits

On May 12, 2009, Kate Benner published an article entitled “The Public Pension Bomb” in Fortune Magazine. The article addresses how states all across the country, for many years, have been starving their retirement plans. More importantly, however, the article focuses upon how the crisis is playing out in New Jersey, where the bill is…

On May 7, 2009, the Appellate Division decided In the Matter of Steven Howe and Joseph Mufalli, Docket No. A-3512-07T1. In the case, Steven Howe appealed from the final administrative determination of the Merit System Board (“Board”), issued December 21, 2007, and its determination of March 13, 2008, denying his motion for reconsideration…

On May 4, 2009, the Appellate Division decided City of Clifton v. Clifton P.B.A. Local #36, Docket No.: A-4806-07T3. In the case, Defendant, Clifton P.B.A. Local #36, appealed from a trial judge’s decision vacating an arbitrator’s award of thirteen (13) shift differential (SD) days to police detectives. 

The trial judge ruled that…

Recently, the Public Employment Relations Commission (“PERC”) has proposed temporary rules to implement the provisions of L.2009, c.16. That law allows non-Civil Service law enforcement officers and firefighters who are terminated pursuant to a complaint or charges not involving any alleged violation of criminal law to have the option of having their terminations reviewed by means…

On April 28, 2009, the Appellate Division decided In the Matter of Joan Ivan, Docket No.: A-1070-07T2.  Following a hearing conducted on April 15, 2003, appellant, Joan Ivan (“Ivan”), a Middlesex County Sheriff’s Officer, was suspended for thirty days as the result of disciplinary charges stemming from her alleged failure to truthfully…

Recently, the primary authors of this blog, Frank M. Crivelli, Esq. and Donald Barbati, Esq., released a publication entitled “Taking the Necessary Steps to Win Your New Jersey Public Employee Disability Pension Appeal.” 

The publication thoroughly examines the different New Jersey Pension Systems, including the Public Employees’ Retirement System, Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, and…

On April 17, 2009, the Appellate Division decided Tracey Wilde v. Township of Cranford, Docket No.: A-3391-07T2. In the case, the Workers’ Compensation Court awarded dependency benefits to petitioner, Tracey Wilde (“Tracey”) and her two children. On appeal, the Township of Cranford contended the court erred in finding that petitioner’s husband, Russell Scott Wilde, Sr., (“Wilde”) suffered a stress-induced occupational suicide which was compensable.

Wilde joined the Cranford Police Department in 1985. He was promoted to detective in 1990, sergeant in 1994, and lieutenant in 1999. As lieutenant, Wilde was responsible for supervising approximately fifteen patrolmen and two sergeants. During the course of his fourteen-year career, Wilde received numerous awards for professionalism and heroism.

On September 16, 1999, when Hurricane Floyd struck, Wilde was designated Incident Commander and he was put in charge of coordinating the Township’s rescue and recovery efforts. From September 16, 1999 to September 18, 1999, Wilde worked approximately 38 hours in a 51 hour period.

Tracey testified that her husband did not come home from work on September 16, 1999. When she visited him at the police station on September 17, 1999, she stated he was the only one “with his heavy rain gear on” even though the sun was out. She also testified that her husband was “wired” when he arrived home on that Friday evening, he could not “settle down,” and he did “not really” sleep “much” that night. Thereafter, Wilde left for work at approximately 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning and did not return home until approximately 6:00 p.m.

Later that evening, Tracey and Wilde attended a fellow police officer’s wedding. Tracey testified that her husband looked “very tired” so she drove to the wedding. During the reception, Tracey did not note anything unusual in his behavior. Before leaving the wedding, Wilde spoke to his father, Harry Wilde, who was Chief of Police for the Township. After Wilde spoke with his father, Tracey testified he “seemed more wired again and more…on edge and worrying about the next day, and what…his duties were going to be.”

As Tracey drive home, Wilde appeared tired, and he was talking about the next day. Tracey testified that Wilde appeared to be worried about what was going to happen the next day, which was unusual because he was not a “worrier.” After arriving home, Tracey and Wilde went to their bedroom, wherein Wilde was discussing what happened at work and stating he was “very exhausted.” Tracey further testified that although her husband was not a religious person, he stated “you have to be so thankful for God. You must have an angel looking over you….You know how lucky we are. We had an angel looking over us.” According to Tracey, her husband “never talked like that before,” and it was “very strange.”

Continue Reading Award of Dependency Benefits to Police Officer’s Family Upheld

As posted on the website for the New Jersey Law Enforcement Supervisors Association, at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2009, the New Jersey Civil Service Commission will hold a public hearing on the new rules authorizing the unilateral imposition of involuntary, unpaid furloughs, or temporary layoffs affecting public employees.  The meeting will be

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