The disability scam (Why is a top FDNY triathlete and marathoner receiving disability pension?)

New York Post ^ | 07/07/2010 | NY Post Editorial

[SeekAndFind]

Retired FDNY Lt. John McLaughlin probably should be paying taxpayers for his remarkable fitness as a top long-distance runner, given his years of strenuous work as a firefighter.

Instead, as The Post's Carl Campanile reported yesterday, the 55-year-old "Iron Man" triathlete is collecting an $86,000 disability pension from taxpayers.

No wonder New Yorkers are increasingly fed up with public employees, as a fascinating poll last week found.

Since retiring in 2001, McLaughlin has run numerous marathons and other races, often finishing near the top -- and first or second in his age group.

He's "an incredibly fast runner," a fellow athlete says. "He runs like the wind."

Well, fast enough to get to the bank. McLaughlin managed to work a diagnosis as -- get this -- an asthma victim with reduced lung capacity, qualifying him for an $86,000-a-year disability pension.

For life.

Free of state and local taxes.

Not that his diagnosis was particularly unique: Some 80 percent of firefighters and chiefs who retired last year -- four out of every five -- did so on disability.

Who knew the job was so debilitating?

McLaughlin "is a poster child for what's wrong with the pension system," says Carol Kellerman, head of the Citizens Budget Commission.

He's also a walking (er, running) reason why 56 percent of city voters say union employees aren't "doing their fair share to ease New York City's financial problems" -- as a Quinnipiac University poll last week found.

Only 31 percent, the survey shows, think they are doing their part.

Even among union-member households, the poll found, 42 percent say public employees aren't helping out enough.

Overall, more than nine out of 10 respondents say budget woes are "serious"; two-thirds see them as "very serious."

But has Albany gotten the message?

[Tijeras_Slim]

I wish BCM was here to kick his fraudulent butt.

[SeekAndFind]

The disabled Councilman, John McLaughlin :



Less than a year after retirement, McLaughlin placed second in Hempstead's 2002 Triathlon.

A Post review found McLaughlin competing in other races including:

* Long Beach's 10-mile Memorial Day run on May 30.

* The Long Island half-marathon in May of this year and last.

* The Staten Island 5K run in April.

* The July 2008 Massapequa Firecracker 5K run.

* Long Beach's annual Turkey Trot in 2007, where he finished first.

* Long Beach's 4-mile Snowflake run in 2008.

Reached last week, McLaughlin defended his pension as legitimate. He read from the FDNY medical and pension board papers that diagnosed him with "bronchial asthma." Under the so-called lung bill, a condition that results in reduced respiratory function is presumed job-related for pension purposes.

"In the last year on the Fire Department, I started getting shortness of breath. I had an episode where I couldn't stop coughing," said McLaughlin, who worked at Ladder 43 in Harlem before his light-duty reassignment.

"I didn't want to leave the Fire Department. I love the Fire Department. I didn't have a choice," said McLaughlin, whose son-in-law is an FDNY firefighter.

[northwinds]

He should be criminally prosecuted for fraud...if the general public really understood the abuse in the state and federal pension systems there would be some changes. These people hardly work when they are are being paid full time and then they line up at the public trough at age 50/55 for lifetime benefits while running marathons....unbelievable

[From The Deer Stand]

This bloodsucker has no conscience raping the taxpayers of his state. He ought to be ashamed.

[SeekAndFind]

The question I have is how many cases like this do we have in NY and other states ? How much do they add up to ?

[Tijeras_Slim]

I can think of 343 reasons this ****sucker should be flogged.

[tutstar]

I need ajob like that

[9422WMR]

Wait a minute here, he may have a mental handicap.
He may be a democRAT!
That would qualify as total a mental disability.

[HighWheeler]

Weasel Talk: “In the last year on the Fire Department, I started getting shortness of breath.”

— — —

I would say his problem is severe shortness of manhood, dignity and honor.

[PMAS]

This runs rampant here in NY, this probably not even the worst case. Public employees and their over generous pensions are breaking NY. My village real estate taxes are going up $600 this year because our village has to contribute extra money to the state employees pension fund because the fund had losses in their inestments due to the financial crisis. They are guaranteed an 8% return annuallyinvestments

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Some 80 percent of firefighters and chiefs who retired last year -- four out of every five -- did so on disability.

Just nauseating. I know firefighting can be a dangerous job and I appreciate the guys who do it but that doesn't entitle them to defraud taxpayers and make a mockery of the concept of "disability". Every single one of these firefighters needs to be subjected to thorough physical examinations by independent medical teams and the guys who can't back up their claim need to be tossed off the disability roles and prosecuted.

[Hildy]

The disability system in this Country is beyond broken. But it’s our fault. We know it...we choose not to do anything about it.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Any FReepers who joined after 9/11 and want to know about a real hero of the FDNY read THIS!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/539734/posts

[count-your-change]

The guy is only doing what he is permitted to do. He may not deserve the disability pay but the people that set the system bear the blame for allowing it to continue just as much as he does.

[Roccus]

A Police Officer Who Suffered A Heart Attack After Retiring Is Eligible For Higher Pension

-As reported on by The Chief-Leader on July 30, 2004.

A former NYPD Detective who suffered a heart attack a year after retiring from the Police Department may be eligible for a higher-paying pension, according to the Manhattan Supreme Court. The Police Pension Fund was ordered to reconsider Stefanie Rich's application for an accidental disability pension, based on the former NYPD Detective's diagnosis of coronary artery disease following her February 2001 heart attack. Rich s attorney Jeffrey L. Goldberg, successfully petitioned the Court and the retired Detective has been cleared to receive a larger pension under the state s "heart bill". Under the heart bill, an officer s heart disease is presumed to have resulted from the stress of the job unless the city can prove otherwise. The Pension Fund s trustees contended that Ms. Rich was ineligible for the benefit because at the time she retired, she hadn t shown signs of being disabled by the arterial blockage that later contributed to her attack.

.

NYPD Member Who Suffered Heart Attack After Retiring Receives Accident Disability Pension

-As reported in The Chief-Leader on August 28, 2004.

Detective Stephanie Rich retired from the NYPD in February 2000, at age 47. At that time she complained of shortness of breath that left her unable to climb stairs or walk more than a city block. The Detective requested a pension under the state law known as the heart bill, which would provide her a tax-free pension worth 75 percent of her final salary. The NYPD wanted to retire her with an ordinary disability pension, a taxable benefit worth half her annual salary but the Police Pension Fund s Medical Board found her not disabled. On February 16, 2001, Rich suffered a severe heart attack that nearly killed her. Thereafter her attorney Jeffrey L. Goldberg, was victorious in the Manhattan Supreme Court, and Rich s pension application was remanded to the Police Pension Fund for further consideration. The former detective s application was quietly scheduled for review this month, and the board approved it without asking for additional medial evidence.

[FReepaholic]

40,000 Illinois State Workers (Union) To Get 14% Payraises

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SeekAndFind.

...the 55-year-old "Iron Man" triathlete is collecting an $86,000 disability pension from taxpayers... Since retiring in 2001, McLaughlin has run numerous marathons and other races, often finishing near the top -- and first or second in his age group. He's "an incredibly fast runner," a fellow athlete says. "He runs like the wind." ...an asthma victim with reduced lung capacity, qualifying him for an $86,000-a-year disability pension. For life. Free of state and local taxes.

[VeniVidiVici]

The unions BRAG about scoring such deals for their members. They blame the municipalities for being so stupid to agree to these ridiculous rules.

And the Obama administration is behind the unions doing this 100%.

[Roccus]

This story brought to mind another one from years ago. These kinds of scams have been going on in NYC for decades.

http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/first_pension_marathon_man_ImWmzeHTtKxLHMhKydbC8N