Chet Lukaszewski, P.C.

September 2020 - The New York State Court of Appeals denies New York City Law Department's motion seeking leave to appeal the decision of the Appellate Division, First Department, in the Chet Lukaszewski P.C. case which found the NYPD's Pension Fund had improperly denied a Police Officer Accident Disability Retirement, where the Officer never had back problems before joining the NYPD, suffered a traumatic line of duty back injury after which he was consistently symptomatic de...spite doing predominately sedentary work; and a year and ten months later, after a full day on his feet during a parade detail, was caused so much pain he was forced to go out sick, and underwent a MRI which showed he was suffering from an ongoing back condition, that had deteriorated to the point of requiring major spinal surgery; which he underwent two months later, at age 38, then a second, and additional treatments thereafter. The Pension Fund found no connection between the line of duty injury and the Officer’s spinal disability for police work, and retired him on Ordinary Disability Retirement. The Appellate Division awarded the Officer his pension retroactively; and based upon the Court of Appeals determination, said decision is now 'good' and binding law. See more

2020 A Town Transportation Supervisor, is approved by the New York State and Local Retirement System, for a disability retirement pension, for serious respiratory conditions, with the assistance of Chet Lukaszewski, P.C. as counsel.

July 2020 - NYPD Police Officer, with the assistance of Chet Lukaszewski, approved by the NYPD’s Pension Fund for a World Trade Center Accident Disability Retirement pension, for a blood disease shown to be related to the toxic exposure injuries incurred during 9/11 rescue, recovery and clean-up efforts; whose application had been previously denied, prior to hiring Chet Lukaszewski, P.C. as counsel.

July 2020 - The Supreme Court, Kings County, ruled that the New York City Employees' Retirement System had improperly denied Accident Disability Retirement pursuant to the Heart Bill, to a New York City Department of Correction Captain, with no history of heart issues prior to joining the DOC as a Correction Officer; who became disabled for full duty by a condition of the heart which NYCERS found to have no connection to the omnipresent job stress of C.O. and Captain duty. Th...e Court held that the NYCERS’ Medical Board and Board of Trustees, had not rebutted the presumption of causation provided to select uniformed civil service workers by the Heart Bill; which acknowledges that extreme job stress results in a higher rate of heart issues than in other types of employment; and determined that a causal connection between disability and job stress had been established, and awarded the petitioner his disability pension retroactive to the date of denial. See more

June 2020 - Retired NYPD Detective, with the assistance of Chet Lukaszewski, approved by the NYPD’s Pension Fund for a World Trade Center Accident Disability Retirement pension, for serious 9/11 related respiratory ailments, whose application had been previously denied, prior to hiring Chet Lukaszewski, P.C. as counsel.

We encourage any New York City or New York State ‘essential worker’, who contracts the COVID-19 virus, to contact our firm to discuss possible compensation options; and if someone is to tragically pass away as a result of the virus, that their family reach out. Efforts are being made to enact legislation that will offer financial protections to civil service and municipal workers who are required go to work and contract the Corona virus, including hopefully, a Fund comparable... to the 9/11 Victims’ Compensation Fund. We understand that health and wellbeing are everyone’s top priority at the moment. However, if you are a first responder, or your work puts you ‘out in the field’, or you’ve been required to travel into your workplace and perform your job duties, with no ability to work remotely or social distance, and have gotten sick with COVID, it’s never too soon to look into what options, such as Workers’ Compensation and Disability Retirement, may be available to you. See more

April 10, 2020 - The Chief Leader newspaper publishes a letter to the editor submitted by Chet Lukaszewski, entitled Making COVID-19 illnesses line of duty related: In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it makes me proud to represent many of the people who are on the front lines of the crisis. In hopes of assisting them and their families, I am working to have the laws amended, so that if a civil service or municipal worker, who is required go to work, contracts the virus, t...Continue reading

In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it makes me proud to represent many of the people who are on the front lines of the crisis. In hopes of assisting them and their families, I am working to have the laws amended, so that if a civil service or municipal worker who is required go to work, contracts the virus, that it is deemed to be line of duty related. I feel that is only fair and will offer some protections to those who are being put in harm’s way, in order to protect others and keep New York up and running. Chet Lukaszewski

Our firm will continue to operate during the COVID-19 crisis. We are equipped to work remotely and will be advancing our existing cases, as well as taking on new clients, whose cases will receive the care and attention that we’ve always prided ourselves upon. Please do not hesitate to call or email with regard to any legal matter you feel we might be able to assist with. We hope things will be back to ‘normal’ as soon as possible; but until that time, we have taken the steps that will allow us to continue helping our current and future clients, during these extraordinary times. Stay safe and be well. Chet Lukaszewski

March 2020 - Port Authority Police Officer, with the assistance of Chet Lukaszewski as counsel; approved by the New York State and Local Retirement System, for Accidental Disability Retirement pension, for permanent effects of line of duty head injury.

February 2020 - The Appellate Division, First Department, affirms the decision of the Supreme Court, New York County, ruling that the NYPD’s Pension Fund did in fact act arbitrarily and capriciously, in denying a Police Officer an Accident Disability Retirement pension, and only finding him to be entitled to a lesser Ordinary Disability Retirement pension; where the officer, who had no prior back issues, was assaulted by a perpetrator at age 36, was symptomatic thereafter, and underwent spinal fusion surgery less than two years later, which disabled him for police work. The Court found the Fund’s determination that the disability had no connection to the line of duty assault was unsupported and ignored the facts and evidence; and confirmed the award of Accident Disability Retirement to the Officer.

Retired NYPD Lieutenant, with the assistance of Chet Lukaszewski, P.C. as counsel, approved by the NYPD's Pension Fund for a World Trade Center Accident Disability Retirement pension, for serious 9/11-World Trade Center related ailments, including upper and lower respiratory issues, and sleep apnea.

February 2020 Retired FDNY-EMS Paramedic, with the assistance of Chet Lukaszewski as counsel; approved by the New York City Employees’ Retirement System for Performance of Disability Retirement pension, for 9/11 related cancer.