PEF v Governor

7/29/2019 PEF v Governor

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4TA-fEOF NE\,VYORI(SUPItEIvtE OURT COUNTYOFALBANYIn theMatterof thepetitionofSUSANM. KENT, aspresiclentof tireNEW YORKSTATE PUBLIC EMPLOYEESFEDERATION,AFL-CIO andMICHAEL UFKO,HUGH CIRRITO,JOAN BOBIERandHEIDE_MARIEDUDEK, OnBehalfof Themservesnd Ai l otirersSimirarry it,atecl,

peti t ioners.For a JtrdgmentursuanttoCpLRArticle7g ,

_against_ANDREW M. CUOMO,asGOVERNORof theSTATEOF NEW YORK; THE STATEoF NEW YORK;tIIeNEW YORK STATEDTVISION F THE BUDGET;I{OBERTL. MEGNA, asBudgerDirector f rheNEWYORK STATE DryISION OF-THEBUDCET; heNEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATION; JOAN McDONALD, asComrnissionerf theNEW YORK STATEDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION;IheDIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITYANDEMERGENCYSERVICES;JEROMEM. HAUER,astheCommissionerf theDIVISIONOF HOMELANDSECURITY AI\D EMERGENCY SERViCES; heDEPARTMENTOF HEALTH;NIRAV R. SHAH,as heCommissioner f theDEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; theDEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALCONSERVATION; JOSEPHMARTENS,as he

Conrmissionerf theDEPARTMENTOFENV RONMENTAL CONSERVATION,

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VERIFIEDPETITION

IndexNo.

DateFiled: February 6,2013Justice

ORATARGUN4EISREQUESTEDNTr

Respondents.

Petitioners, y their attomey,LISA M. KING, ESe. (Enc Kwasniewski, ofCoLrrrsel),r ing this class petitron under Civir pructice Law uncrRuresfhereinafter


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"CPLR"lArricle7g.

This is a procee


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PETITIONERS3' At al l tirnes elevanto thisproceeding,etitionerSusanM. Kent hasbeen he'l clulyelected resident f the New Yorl


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l0' Peti t ioner obier s over heageof 18anrl esidesn theCounty f Albany.I l ' At al i t imesrelevant o this proceeding,eti t ioner eide-MarieDr"rdek as

employecl s a Civil Engineer , salarygrade 4,by DHSESand s, anclat al l times elevanthasbeen.a PS&T member epresentedy pEF.

12' Peti t ioner udek s over heage f l8 and esidesn thecountyof Alba'y.13' At al l t imes relevant o this proceeding,eti t ionerHugh ciri to hasbeenenrployed san Envitotrnrentalrtgineer , salary rade24,by DEC and s, andat al l t imes

rele.,,antasbeen,a pS&T member epresentedy pEF.l4 ' Petitior-rerinito is over heageof 18and esidesn the county of suffolk.

l5 ' upon information ndbelief;PEF epresentspproximately 4,46gemployeesrrtlrevarious ivil Service itlessaiary racles3 and,abovet ssuen thismatter. See, xhibitAp' l which is a compilation eportof totalPEFrepresentedmployeesn grade23 andabovestatewide.)

16 ' The namedpetitioners ring hispetitionpursuanto cpLR $901,on behalfofthemselves nd similarly situatedPS&T Unit membersn grade23 and, bovepositio'sw'orvorl


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2' a breal


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l'cq'cstcd,petitioners'attomey herein is proposed ovigorously, iligentlya'd compete.tly .qu.ri trre'ral l inthisproceeding;ndl9' As providedby CPLR $901(a)5, classaction s slperior o orheravailable

Irtetltodsbr the hi r arrdef icientacljudicationf theconroversy.The proposed lass ction stlte tttostell'icierrt nd su-estnteans y rvhich o fairly antlexpeciitiouslyesol'e the commo'issuesilised n this proceeding,o keep hecoufis lom becoming otentially venvhelneci ypossrbly unclreds r even thousands f repetitive ases. Class reatment resentshe moststtperior rtecltzurislnor fairly resolvingsuchcommon ssues vithor.rtepetitious r warsteftrlI i t igation.

RESPONDENTS2tJ' Respondent trdrervM. Cuomo s the Governorand Chief Executir.eOlficer

ot'theState f New york.2l' Respotrdentivisionof t l ieBudget "DOB") is a1 olficewithin heExecutive

Brattclt 1'theNe$' York StateGovemment vith he powersanddr"rtiesonferred y the /. ), .Exectttit,euv, ttt'td ther elevantules, egulations ndstatutes.

22 ' Respondent OB is chargedwith the responsibility f, amongother hings,fbnlrtr lationf theBudgetandsupervision,nvestigationndcoordinatiol f theexpenditureso1'the lficesof theStateExecutive ranch.

23. Respondent obertL. Megna s, andappointed irectorof'the Budget ,r, i th is principleState f New York. Respondent egna s being ued

at al l relevant imesherein vas he clulyoffice located n the Countyof Albany,in lr isofficialcapacity.


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)1' Respondent OT is anolficewithin heExecutive ranch f Nervyork StatcGovetrrnrc'tttvith the porversand dutiesconferredby the N.y. Exectttive tnv anclotherrclet,ant rles, egulatiorrsndstatutes.

25 RespondentDOT is responsibleor coordinatingand assistipg 1 thedevelopment nd saf'eoperationof highr.vay,ailroacl,mass transit, port, rvaten.r,ayndaviation'aci l i t ies.

26' RespondentoartMcDonald s, andat al l relet,antimeshereinwas he (luly. lppoirttedC'on-rnrissionerf DOT, rvithherprinciple ffice ocatedn tlreCountyof Albany,

Stateof Neu'York. Responderrt\4cDonalds beingsuecln lierotficialcapacity.27. Respondent HSES'uvasreated y anactof theState egislaturen 2010and

is comprised f llve offices tlrat include he Office of EmergencyManagement,.OEM"),OIfice of ,CounterTerrorism,Office of Cyber Security,Office of Fire and preyentionandCotttrol,and Olfice of Interoperable nt l EmergencyCommunicationsvith the mission oprovide eadership, oordination nd suppofi or efforls to prevent,protectagainst, reparefbr, respondo, naturaldisasters,hreats,iresandotheremergencies.

28. RespondenteromeM. Hauer s, andat all relevzrntimeshereinwas the dr.rlyappointedComtnissioner f DHSES,with his principleoffice located tr the Cou'ty ofAlbany,Statc f New Yorl


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30' ResPondentEC is charged vith he responsibi l i ty,mongother hi lgs, ofldrllinistering rograms esignedo protectand rnprove he State's atural esources.

31. RespondentlosephMartens s, andat al l relevant imeshereinwas he dulyirppointed omrnissionerf DEC, u,i t l ihis principle tfice ocatedn theCountyof Albany,State f NervYork, Respondent artens s beingsueri n hisofficial capacity.

32 . Respondeltt OI I is an office rt,ithin he ExecutiveBranctr f Neiv york StateCoventntent vith the porversand dutiesconferrecl y the N.Y. Executive cnv and other

. relevantmies, egulations ndstatutes,33. Respondent OH is chargedwith the responsibility, mongorher hipgs, br

Protectingrtrd romoting lrehealthof NervYorlcerslrroughhe enforcernentf publichealthartd elatedarvs,and lreassurancef qualityhealth areclelivery.

3"1. Respondent irav R. Shah s and,at al l relevant imesherein,was the dulyappointedCornmissioner f DOH, rvith his principleoffice locatedn the Countyof Albany,State f NervYork. Respondent hah s beingsued n hisofficial capacitv.

FACTS35. Upon nfonnationandbelief, n connection ith HurricaneSandy's orecasted

irnpacton New York State,AnclrervM. Cuomo,as Governorof the Stateof New yorkdeclareda State Disaster Emergencyeffective October 26 , 2012. vithin the territorialboundariesof all sixty-two (62) Counties in the State of New york, clirected heitlplemelltationo1'theStateDisasterPreparech'resslan, arrddesignated tevenK*irr as the


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State oordinati 'golf icer for thedisaster.A copyof theExecutive rderNo.47 s attacheclrus .rh ib i t . )

36. In connection vith Govemor cuomo,s Executiveorder,rcpresentativeetitiorlers ereinworkedovertimehours elated o the responsecllorts of' Hu*icane Sandy. lAfficlavits f Michaelufko (,.ufl


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40' Budget Bulletin ltem G-i40 authorizesRespondents OT, DOH, DEC,DHSES vithapproval f theBudgetDirector o ciesignatelefinedime-periotiss ,extremeenrergencies"vlten he bllowing onditionsxist:

A' Theemergencys at east hree 3) ,ays crr-rratio'.B' Tlte rtuttrber f overtimehoursworl


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submittedo theState omptrol ler hal lbeconsicleredre-approvedytheDiv is ion f Budget .IE.rh ib i t ]

12 ' BetweenOctober25 and November21, 2012petitionerUfko worked 73.25lrortrs f overtirne nd 17.50 tours f theovertime ccurred etrveen0 and4l.s0hourspertvork rveek n relation to HurricaneSandy. Ufko Aff., '1J5)(Copiesof petitionerUfko,stir.nesheetsbr this periodareannexed ereto sExhibit E. )

rl3' Peti t ionerUlko specifical lyworked in the EmergencyoperationCenterregardingsignal operatiotts vhere re was primarily chargedwith the responsibility fdetenniningwiratsignals eededepairand hendeploying epairs rews. (Ufko Aff., ,13)

44 ' Respondent oT postedon it s websitea HurricaneSandywaiverpaymentdirective ha t ndicated ha teffectiveOctober26,2012employeesn grade27 andbelorv anreceiveovertimepay for hoursworked n excess f 47.50 oursperweek. It frirther rovicledthat employees hould ndicateon their timesheetsha t the iroursworkedbetr.veen0 a'd47 50 hoursshouldbe enteredas "volunteeredime." (Seecopy of NyS IntraDoT Newspostingupdated n January10,2013attached eretoasExhibitF.)

45. To date,petitionerUfko hasno t beencompensatedorexcess f 40 hours ncluding17.50hours hathe workedbetween 0rvorkweek n connectionwith Hurricane andy. Ufko Aff., ,lJ5)

46' However,basedon BuclgetBulletin G-1034 and DOT's rvaiverpaymentclirective, pon infotmationand belief,even f petitionerUfko and other similarlysitr-ratedenrployees f DoT, that is , those n grade 3 and above positions, eceiveany overtime

any hoursworked nand47.50hoursper


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colllpensationt'omDoT' sl lch ompensationil l not .crude ours orked etrveen0a'd47 50per "vorkweek. (See, xhibitF)47 Petit io'er Cirri to was specifical ly ssignedo assist ,vithorganizationemergencypil l respo'se o identi fy, ssessndmitigate nvironmentalramageaused ystornr. Cirr i toAff., 113)

o fthe

18' Betrveen ctober25' 2012anclNovember ,2012,peti t ioner irr i to workedatotalof 5? hottrs lt e'rcess f 40 hours n relationo H'micaneSandy.(copiesof peti t ioriercirr j to's imesheetsor thisperio


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52' Peti t ioner obierhasnot beencompensatcclor any time thatshe vorkcd nexcess f hernormal ,vork eek n connection ith Hurricane andy. BobierAff., 115)

53. PetitionerDr"rdekvas assigned o assist n setting -rp he recoveryef-forts,prepared nd rnobilized eanls o do damage ssessments,anageileamsancl he coordinatorthatperlbrmednitial publicandprivate amage ssessments,repalecleportsor the executiveandcoordirtatedecovery ffortswith FEMA PublicAssistance.DudekAff., 113)51' On November , 2012, espondent HSES nformed mployeeshatovertimepayments or overtimeworked n connection ,vithHurrrcaneSandy i,ouldnot be paid fo rovertime hours "vorked between37.50 and 47.50 hours per work r,veekand that noconlpensationvould be received or thosehours,basedon the guiclance rovided rom tfieDoB. (seeen'rai l atedNovember ,2012attachedereto sExhibit .)

55. Between October25 and January6, 2Ai.3petitionerDudek worked 237.75lrours n excess f her normal 37.50work weei


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t l teirovertirnencurrecln connection,vith urricane andy,t r,vi l l ot nclucieompcnsationlb r hoursworl


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62. ln furtheratrcef thisstatutory uty,DOB hasprornulgatedu


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overti tnevorl


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11. Tlttts, hisCourtshoulcl rder espondentso paycompensationor al lovertimeItours,ncluding hose etlveen0 and47.50hours vorked y ernployeesn salary rades 3itncl tbove ositionsn connectionvithHLrricane andy t a rateof oneandone-halfimcsther regular ateof pay.

AST\NDFORA THIRD CAUSEOF ACTIONPETITTONERS LLEGE AS FOLLOWS:75. Petit ionerseallegeacl 'r ndevery rioral legationf thePetit ion.76. RespondentsaveviolatedC.9, $134(6) nd BudgetBulletin tem G-140by

no t payingovenime in conjLrnctiono petitioners nd otirersimilarlysrtuated mployeesorlroursu'orkedbetween40 and 47 50 hoursand for r-rnpaidoursworked n excess f 47.50hoursper vorkweek n connection ith HurricaneSandy.

77. Upon nfomration ndbelief, espondent gencies avealsono t submittedhepetitioners' equest br overtirne ompensationo theDirectorof the Budget or hoursworkedbetween 0 and 47 50hours n relationo HurricaneSandy.

78 . To date,each epresentativeetitioner ereinhasworked he ollowingamountof overtinte n connectionvith the State's esponseo HLrrricane andy or which they havenot beenpaidcornpensationetween 0 and47.50hours:

MichaelUll


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l9' Uproltl tforrlation ncl el iet, n January0, 2013RespondentoT posted nttsrvebsite Hurricane ancly zriver ayment irectivehat ntl icatedhateffectiveOctober26 ' 2012 employeesn grade27 artdbelolvcan receiveovertimepay for hoursworked nexcess f 47.50hoursperweek. (ExhibitF)

80' In RespondentoT's directive,t providedhaternployeeshouldndicate .tlreir inresheetshat the hoursworl


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85. Rcpresentativeeti t ionerstarverot rcceived ornpensation,nd RespondentAgencies ave clearly ndicatedhat it rvi l l not compensatehe Petit ioners,r any othersinri larly i tuated mployees,orthe hours f overtimevorl< erfbrmed etween 0 ancl 1.50hoursof lvork in reiation o HunicaneSandy. (Aff. of Ufl


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91. Respondent OH violatedCSZ$134(6) ndBudgetBulletin temsG-140andC-1034as i t reluses o pay any overtime ompensationo Petit ioner obier,andali othersirni lariy i tuated mployees,br overtirne erformedn connection ith HuricaneSandy.

92. Respondent OH has madeno indicationhat t wi l l compensateeti t ionerBobier, r other simiiarlysituated mployees,or any overtime oursworked, ven hose nexcess f 47.50, n connectionvithHurricane andy.

93. The ovefi ime rvork performedby Petit ionerBobier, and other similarlysitrratedn.rployees,etween 0 and47.50hours, nd n excess f 47.50hours erworkweekrvhichPetitionerBobier,and othersimilarly situated mployees, ereno t paidwas essentialanddirectly elatedo Hurricane andy.

94. PetitionerBobier, and other similarly situatedemployees, erformeddutiesthat r,vere ithin the scopeof her nomralday to day duties. Thus, hey couldnot lawfullyvolunteero worl< vertimewithoutbeingpaidovertime ompensation.9 C.F.R. 85.

95. Respondent OH violatedCSZ$134(6) ndBudgetBulletin temsG-140andG-1034becauset fai led o pay peti t ioner obier,and othersirni larly i tuated mployees,monetarycompensation or all overtime hours rvorked n conjunctionwith the extremecnrergencyeclared y the Br"rdget irector.

96 . RespondentDOH violatedC.tI $134(6)by , in effect,payingpetitioners t arateof zero 0) for overtinre ours ,vorkedetween 0 and4l .50 andhoursworl


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97. 'fherelbre, responcients OH's f'ailure o pay petitionerBobier, anrl othersimilarly situatedenrployees, r intentionnot to pay, for al l overtinteperfbrmed nconjunctiotrvitl-r{urricaneSandywas,and s, arbitrary, apricions,rrational ndcontrary olaw.

98, Petitioners aveno adequateemedy t aw.99. Petitioners avemadeno prior requestor thereliefsoughtherein.WHEREFORE,Petitioners espectlully equest irat this Court grant the following

rel iefi(a ) ORDER,ADJUDGE and DECREE hat he actions f Respondent ivisionof

tlie Budget n lailing or relusing o authorizeepresentativeetitioners nd similarlysituate


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e.xtreme ntcrgency vcrtintepay fbr said period, or hoursrvorkedbetrveen 0 and 47.50by PS&T Unit employeesngrade 23 and above positions, s arbitrary,capricious ndcontrary o law.2. DirectingRespor-rdentgencies o request ha t the Directorofthe Budget autl-rorize eti t ioners'and sirni larly situatedernployees extreme emergency overtime pay, includingovertirnepay lbr hours .vorked etween 0 and 47.50, or theperiod eginning ctober 6,2012 elatingo Hurricane andy.

Directing hat respondentDOB autirorize aymentupon sucl.rrequest y Respondentgencies.Directing RespondentAgenciespay compensationor al lovertime, ncludinghoursworkedbetween 0 and 47 50 hours,u'orkedby empioyeesn salarygrade23 andabovepositionsnconnection o HurricaneSandy at a rate of one and one haift irnes heir egular ouriy ateof pay.

J .

(d) AWARD Petit ionershecosts, nddisbursementsf thisproceeding,nd(e ) CERTIFYING petitioners s representativef the classof all PEF-represented

ernployeesn tl-reitlesat ssuen thisproceedingndextendingherelief n thesaidudgmentoall nlembers f saidclass.

(1 ) GRANT suchotherancl iulher reliefas heCourtmaybe r.rst ndequitable,

4 .

DATED: Febmary6,2013Albany,NewYork

LISA M. KING, ESQ.Attomey or PetitionersOfficeandP.O.AddressI 168-70 roy-SchenectadyoadP.O.Box 12414Albanv.New York 12212-2414

tJy:

(518)785-1900, xtensiott41

ERICKWAOf Counsel sKI,ESQ.

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PEF v Governor