Published: June 18, 2022
City lawyers lied to a state judge in a “shameful” bid to cheat them out of health insurance benefits, according to a retired group of firefighters, cops, teachers and other public servants.
The lawyers have argued in court filings and before a Manhattan Supreme Court judge that NYC retirees must accept a new, privately administered plan or pay $191.57 monthly to maintain current coverage.
However, The Post obtained a Feb 16, 2016 letter from Stephen Louis, a top city Law Department attorney, to then-Labor Commissioner Robert Linn which appears to confirm the city is required by law to pay for all retiree health plans up to a price cap.
“They misled the court,” fumed Marianne Pizzitola, who heads the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees, when shown the letter, calling it “shameful.”
Louis wrote that the Administrative Code requires the city to pay for any plan “up to the full cost of the health care package offered” by NYC.
Assistant Corporation Counsel William Fraenkel told Judge Lyle Frank on Feb. 28 that making every plan premium-free would “run contrary” to the law.
Frank ruled in favor of the retirees in March. The city appealed. The ruling will affect 250,000 ex-workers.
“The city did not mislead the court,” said a Law Department spokesman, adding that critics are “selectively quoting” Louis’ letter.
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