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Worker Sues For Benefits and Monetary Compensation

A third law enforcement official in Fair Lawn this year has recently filed a lawsuit for supposed "unlawful employment practices."

Hiram Taylor, 61, of Edison, filed a claim against his employer and department he works for, Police Chief Erik Rose, Police Capt. Joseph Cook and Scibal Associates on Nov. 18 accusing them of executing in a series of retaliation tactics against him after he filed for workers' compensation following an injury sustained while working in September.
Taylor also claims in the lawsuit that Viki Abrams, a claims adjuster with Scibal Associates, worked with Rose and Cook to turn him down for workers' compensation benefits. He is seeking monetary compensation in addition to other fees.

Since last year, Taylor has been in pain after sustaining a shoulder injury he while working for which his physician has recommended "light work duty," according to the lawsuit. Taylor claims that he lost compensation between October 2010 and January 2011 on many occasions when he was unable to go to work as a result of his shoulder injury and that neither Rose nor Cook provided him with a reason that he was denied compensation on those days.

In his lawsuit, Taylor alleges he was ordered to use his sick days and vacation days to avoid losing compensation and, as a result, went without compensation for several weeks., After he reported back to duty again, Taylor alleges he was "singled out" by police administrators to wear a gun holster while performing desk duty, which is an "unwritten rule" in the police department, and was told to leave when he could not fulfill the requirement since his gun arm was in a sling. Taylor alleges that this supposed action by the police administration neglected to accommodate his disability.
Both Taylor and Sgt. Michael Messina, who filed a claim earlier this year against the borough and police administrators over the supposed refusal of his workers' compensation pay, have alleged that Cook selectively mandated the "unwritten rule" requiring only specific injured cops on light work duty to wear a gun.