Cuomo
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - The day after receiving the governor's blessing, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has started an investigation into a railroad's disability benefits.
Cuomo issued subpoenas Monday to Long Island Rail Road to determine if disability and pension benefits were manipulated by the railroad. The New York Times reported Saturday that nearly every employee who retires receives disability payments.
Gov. David Paterson responded by saying he would support an investigation by Cuomo, who is seeking production of all books and records related to the approval of disability benefits.
"This begins what will be an aggressive and expeditious investigation into troubling allegations of wrongdoing regarding such payments," Cuomo said.
"We are also requesting to meet early this week with the relevant officials at the LIRR, and have already been in touch with the (Metropolitan Transportation Authority).
The Times article even detailed taxpayer-provided golf outings for the disabled, some of whom walked the state-owned Sunken Meadow golf course.
In one year, 97 percent of career employees who retired applied for and received disability payments, the Times reported.
From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at john@legalnewsline.com.