Opinion
2013-10-10
In re Madelyn MONTANEZ, Petitioner–Appellant, v. The DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF the CITY OF NEW YORK, et al., Respondents–Respondents.
The Law Offices of Stewart Lee Karlin, P.C., New York (Daniel Dugan of counsel), for appellant. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Dona B. Morris of counsel), for respondents.
The Law Offices of Stewart Lee Karlin, P.C., New York (Daniel Dugan of counsel), for appellant. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Dona B. Morris of counsel), for respondents.
TOM, J.P., SWEENY, SAXE, FREEDMAN, CLARK, JJ.
Order and judgment (one paper), Supreme Court, New York County (Eileen A. Rakower, J.), entered December 29, 2011, denying the petition to vacate an arbitration award, dated April 9, 2011, which terminated petitioner's employment as a public school teacher, confirming the award, and dismissing the proceeding brought pursuant to Education Law § 3020–a and CPLR article 75, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Upon review of the transcript provided on appeal, we conclude that the hearing officer's finding that petitioner fraudulently obtained a free New York City public school education for her son during the 2009–2010 school year is supported by adequate evidence in the record ( see Lackow v. Department of Educ. [or “Board”] of City of N.Y., 51 A.D.3d 563, 568, 859 N.Y.S.2d 52 [1st Dept. 2008] ). Petitioner did not urge the hearing officer to apply a heightened standard in finding fraud.
Although petitioner has an unblemished record as a teacher and offered to resolve the dispute by making restitution, the penalty of termination is not shocking in light of her having used a fraudulent affidavit to obtain a free New York City education for her non-resident child ( see Cipollaro v. New York City Dept. of Educ., 83 A.D.3d 543, 922 N.Y.S.2d 23 [1st Dept. 2011];compare Matter of Guzman v. City of New York, 105 A.D.3d 460, 963 N.Y.S.2d 86 [1st Dept. 2013] ).