Opinion
2011-12-20
In the Matter of COUNTY OF PUTNAM, et al., respondents, v. PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC., appellant.
Bunyan & Baumgartner, LLP, Blauvelt, N.Y. (Joseph P. Baumgartner of counsel), for appellant. Roemer Wallens Gold & Mineaux LLP, Albany, N.Y. (Earl T. Redding of counsel), for respondents.
Bunyan & Baumgartner, LLP, Blauvelt, N.Y. (Joseph P. Baumgartner of counsel), for appellant. Roemer Wallens Gold & Mineaux LLP, Albany, N.Y. (Earl T. Redding of counsel), for respondents.
DANIEL D. ANGIOLILLO, J.P., THOMAS A. DICKERSON, JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, and L. PRISCILLA HALL, JJ.
In a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 75 to vacate an arbitration award dated June 10, 2010, the Putnam County Sheriff's Employees Association, Inc., appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Putnam County (Nicolai, J.), dated December 8, 2010, which granted the petition and denied its cross motion to confirm the award.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.
A court may vacate an arbitration award on the ground that the arbitrator exceeded his power only where the arbitrator's award violates a strong public policy, is irrational, or clearly exceeds a specifically enumerated limitation on the arbitrator's power ( see Matter of New York City Tr. Auth. v. Transport Workers Union of Am., Local 100, 14 N.Y.3d 119, 123, 897 N.Y.S.2d 689, 924 N.E.2d 797; Matter of New York City Tr. Auth. v. Transport Workers' Union of Am., Local 100, AFL–CIO, 6 N.Y.3d 332, 336, 812 N.Y.S.2d 413, 845 N.E.2d 1243; see Matter of United Fedn. of Teachers, Local 2, AFT, AFL–CIO v. Board of Educ. of City School Dist. of City of N.Y., 1 N.Y.3d 72, 79, 769 N.Y.S.2d 451, 801 N.E.2d 827; Matter of Town of Callicoon [Civil Serv. Empls. Assn., Town of Callicoon Unit], 70 N.Y.2d 907, 909, 524 N.Y.S.2d 389, 519 N.E.2d 300).
As the Supreme Court properly determined, the arbitrator, in effect, revised, modified, and altered the parties' agreement, which was specifically prohibited by the arbitrator's powers defined in the parties' collective bargaining agreement ( see CPLR 7511[b][1][iii]; Matter of Good Samaritan Hosp. v. 1199 Natl. Health & Human Servs. Empls. Union, 69 A.D.3d 721, 721–722, 893 N.Y.S.2d 192; Fairview Fire Dist. v. Fairview Professional Firefighters Assn., Local 1586, IAFF, AFL–CIO, 143 A.D.2d 727, 728, 533 N.Y.S.2d 292; Matter of Board of Educ. of N. Babylon Union Free School Dist. v. North Babylon Teachers' Org., 104 A.D.2d 594, 597, 479 N.Y.S.2d 536). Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly granted the petition to vacate the award and denied the cross motion to confirm the award.