Supreme Court of New Jersey
Joseph J. Cattani, Appellant-Respondent v. Board of Trustees, Police and Firemen’s Retirement System…
March 24, 197669 N.J. 578
Summary
The Supreme Court of New Jersey reversed the Appellate Division and reinstated the Board of Trustees' denial of Joseph J. Cattani's application for accidental disability retirement, holding that his disability was not the direct result of a "traumatic event" as required by N.J.S.A. 43:16A-7. The Court rejected the third prong of the Hillman test and adopted a narrow construction of "traumatic event," while Justice Pashman dissented, arguing that the majority's interpretation unjustly deprived Cattani of benefits.