Patterson v. Board of Trustees, State Police Retirement System
SimpleOriginal

Summary

NJ Supreme Court held that severe mental injuries without physical impact may qualify for accidental disability benefits, but only if caused by a terrifying event involving death, serious injury, or a serious threat to physical safety.

2008 | State Juristiction

Patterson v. Board of Trustees, State Police Retirement System

Keywords permanent mental injury; psychological stressor; traumatic event; accidental disability benefits; mental injury; disability benefits; accidental disability
Open Case as PDF

Summary

The New Jersey Supreme Court examined whether a permanent psychiatric injury, resulting exclusively from a psychological stressor, qualified as a "traumatic event" for the purpose of accidental disability benefit eligibility.

Open Case as PDF

Summary

The New Jersey Supreme Court held that a person may qualify for disability benefits based solely on a severe mental injury, even without physical harm, if the injury resulted from a terrifying event involving death, serious injury, or a serious threat to physical safety.

Open Case as PDF

Summary

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that workers with severe mental injuries may receive disability benefits without a physical injury, but only when the injury is caused by a terrifying event involving death, serious injury, or a serious threat to physical safety.

Open Case as PDF

Summary

The New Jersey Supreme Court said workers with serious mental injuries can get disability benefits even if they were not physically hurt, but only if the injury was caused by a terrifying event involving death, serious injury, or a serious threat to safety.

Open Case as PDF

Footnotes and Citation

Cite

Patterson v. Board of Trustees, State Police Retirement System, 942 A.2d 782 (2008), 194 N.J. 29

Highlights