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Injured New Rochelle Firefighter Alleges Disability Shirk

Posted on Nov 03, 2011

A New Rochelle firefighter suffered knee injuries on the job that eventually led to surgeries and the loss of his career. Ken Carrella is now claiming that after receiving disability benefits for over a year, the city of New Rochelle is not cooperating.

Carrella stated that the city has refused to pay the half of his $83,000 annual salary that he was entitled to collect until he hits the age of retirement. While the city officials would not comment on the case, Carrella said he is tired of the way injured workers are being treated. He adds that he is having trouble making ends meet but does not have regrets about his choice of careers.

The city would only say that all disability claims are ‘legitimate and all payouts are warranted' and that the city is ‘absolutely abiding by the law'. President of the local firefighters union, Byron Gray, believes that the city of New Rochelle is look for ways to cut down on costs and have become very aggressive about disputing filed claims for disability. Gray also adds that more firefighters in the city have gone through the same struggle.

Records show that the city has spent more than $130,000 between 2009 and 2011 to cover the costs of attorneys and consultant fees necessary to investigate claims filed by firefighters.

Carrella was injured when he fell down a flight of steps fighting a fire at the Iona Grammar School. He sprained his right knee at the time and later reinjured his knee while rescuing an unconscious man. He returned to work after surgery but several years later his knee became too painful to function at work. After going on light duty, Carrella alleged criticism from co-workers that ended with him seeking counseling.

Carrella retired as a disabled firefighter in August 2010. He says he continues to receive payments from the state but payments from New Rochelle have stopped arriving.