Pesce v. New York City Police Department

159 F. Supp. 3d 448, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14711, 2016 WL 468244
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedFebruary 5, 2016
Docket12cv8663 (DLC)
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 159 F. Supp. 3d 448 (Pesce v. New York City Police Department) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pesce v. New York City Police Department, 159 F. Supp. 3d 448, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14711, 2016 WL 468244 (S.D.N.Y. 2016).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

DENISE COTE, District Judge:

This dispute arises out of the determination by the New York Police Department (“NYPD”) that plaintiff Jonathan Pesce (“Pesce”) is medically disqualified from serving as a police officer on account of having a seizure condition and taking anti-convulsant medication. Pesce has sued the NYPD, the City of New York, NYPD surgeon Dr. Eli Kleinman, and former NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly,1 contending that the decision not to hire him violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Rehabilitation Act, and the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”).

For the reasons that follow, the motion for summary judgment is denied, with one exception. The claims against the NYPD are dismissed.

Background

The following facts are undisputed, unless otherwise noted.

1. Pesce’s Medical History

Pesce’s first seizure occurred in October 2000, when he was twelve years old. While playing a video game, he experienced a visual disturbance and then lost consciousness. Pesce was nonresponsive for approximately thirty minutes during that episode, and was lying on his side, drooling, and grinding his teeth. Pesce was transported to the Schneider Children’s Hospital for treatment.2

Pesce experienced a second seizure a year later, in October 2001. Similar to the first seizure, the second episode occurred while, or shortly after, Pesce had been playing a video game. During that time, Pesce was non-responsive for 25 to 30 minutes. He was again transported to the Schneider Children’s Hospital for treatment.

Pesce experienced a third seizure on November 2, 2001, and was again taken to [451]*451Schneider Children’s Hospital. The circumstances and symptoms of this episode were substantially similar to the first two seizures that Pesce experienced. Following the third seizure, Pesce was prescribed the anticonvulsant medication Depakote, in the amount of 125 milligrams, to be taken three times daily. After starting on Depa-kote, Pesce made several follow-up visits with Dr. Lydia Eviatar, a pediatric neurologist. He also received EEGs, MRIs, and a CAT scan.

In October 2003, Pesce’s neurologist recommended that Pesce stop taking Depa-kote for a period of time to determine if the seizures had been isolated events. Pesce may have experienced seizures in 2004 and/or 2005, although he testified that he was not certain. Pesce was again seen by a neurologist in April of 2005. Pesce experienced additional seizures, while still off anticonvulsant medication, in September and November of 2007, and again in March of 2008. In 2008, Dr. Kenneth Chao (“Dr. Chao”) diagnosed Pesce’s seizure as “GTC” or generalized tonic clonic. At that time, Pesce was placed back on the medication Depakote. Pesce currently takes approximately 500 milligrams of De-pakote twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening. Pesce has not experienced a seizure since restarting his medication, and according to Pesce’s expert witness, Doctor Sheryl Haut, M.D. (“Dr.Haut”), Pesce’s epilepsy has been “completely controlled” for the past seven years. Pesce continues to be seen by Dr. Chao annually for check-ups.

II. Pesce’s Personal Background

After restarting his anticonvulsant regimen, Pesce has served since 2008 as a volunteer firefighter with the Massapequa Fire Department and has obtained “Class A” designation, meaning he was found medically qualified and fit for all duties. In addition to being a firefighter, Pesce is also a paramedic. As part of his responsibilities as a firefighter, Pesce was on several occasions required to be on stand-by in the firehouse for a period of 24 hours, and also participated in a high volume of calls, especially during Hurricanes Sandy and Irene.

Pesce is the holder of a Class D New York driver’s license. Because of his history of seizures, Pesce was initially required to submit medical documentation showing that a doctor recommended that he be permitted to drive a vehicle. In January of 2009, Dr. Chao signed a DMV document (Form MV-90U.1) stating that, in his professional opinion, Pesce’s condition would not interfere with the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Pesce was initially required to submit follow-up documentation from his doctor on an annual basis, but this requirement ended in May of 2011. New York DMV regulations deem a driver fit for licensing if they have not experienced a loss of consciousness in the last twelve months. 15 CRR-NY 9.3. Pesce regularly drives both his personal vehicle as well as fire trucks and ambulances.

In 2013, Pesce became licensed as a paramedic and has worked since 2014 as a paramedic for Hunter Ambulances. Pesce also continues to serve as a volunteer firefighter.

III. Pesce’s Application to the New York Police Department

On or about October 18, 2008, Pesce took the civil service competitive examination for the position of police officer with the NYPD. After receiving the results of his exam — a score of 89.411 — Pesce appeared at the NYPD Medical Bureau on January 20, 2010 for a mandatory medical examination. Upon arrival at the medical examination, Pesce completed an “Appli[452]*452cant’s Medical Questionnaire” (the “Questionnaire”). On the Questionnaire, Pesce indicated “yes” in response to a question about whether he had ever had epilepsy. He also noted that he had experienced a seizure in 2004 and that he was taking the medication Depakote.

After completing the Questionnaire, Pesce was asked questions regarding his seizure condition. It is unknown whether the person questioning Pesce was a doctor, but Pesce testified that he did not believe the individual was a doctor because he was not wearing clothing typical of a doctor. Pesce explained that he had a seizure condition and that he took anticonvulsant medication. After some time, another individual gave Pesce a disqualification notice, which stated that Pesce was disqualified for the reason of having seizures.

Two NYPD physicians were involved with the initial decision to medically disqualify Pesce. Doctor David Lichtenstein, M.D. (“Dr.Lichtenstein”) was deputy chief surgeon in charge of candidate testing. His area of specialization is internal medicine. Dr. Lichtenstein signed the document medically disqualifying Pesce, although he did not personally examine or meet Pesce at that time. Dr. Lichtenstein’s supervisor was Doctor Eli Klein-man, M.D. (“Dr.Kleinman”), whose title was supervising chief surgeon and whose area of specialization is internal medicine and hematology. Dr. Kleinman’s role was to make fitness-for-duty determinations for the NYPD. Dr. Kleinman conferred with Dr. Lichtenstein in determining that Pesce was medically disqualified, but neither personally examined nor met Pesce at that time.

IV. Pesce’s Medical Appeal Process

On January 28, 2010, Pesce submitted a letter appealing his disqualification to the New York City Civil Service Commission (“CCSC”). In the letter, Pesce stated that his seizure condition was “completely controlled” with medication and that he had never experienced a seizure while on medication, even while playing video games. He further stated that he had been issued a New York driver’s license and experienced no side effects from his medication.

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159 F. Supp. 3d 448, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14711, 2016 WL 468244, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pesce-v-new-york-city-police-department-nysd-2016.