Book Review Highlight-2009 Discipline Book Supplement

On April 10, 2008, I reviewed the Discipline Book which is the only work of its type which reviews public sector labor and employment disciplinary cases in New York. That review is available here.  Additional information about how to purchase that work for $75.00 is available here. I am delighted to now report that the authors, Harvey Randall and Eric D. Randall have written a 2009 supplement which includes internet links to most of the cited material. The supplement is available from Book Locker for $45.00, here. Excerpts from the book may be viewed for free by going to http://booklocker.com/pdf/3813s.pdf

The supplement spans 223 pages and is like a mini-treatise in and of itself. It includes a comprehensive index and includes such subjects as abandonment of position, misuse of computers, arbitration vacatur, destruction of evidence, use of 911 recordings as evidence, use of GPS records, name clearing hearings, sick leave abuse, and drug tolerance policies. It also includes a useful index of cases. Many of the decisions are not officially reported, so this book is particularly useful for lawyers who may not have access to this information.

Neither the original book or the supplement reads like a traditional treatise or Casebook. Rather, it is more like a Manuel with a series of detailed case briefs. This can be very useful to attorneys. However, the book does not appear to be designed to be used by professors or students.

In any event, given the cost of this book and its supplement, it is a "must have" for any lawyer who practices in this area. It may even be the difference between a winning and losing brief.

Harvey Randall is a well respected lawyer who also runs New York Public Personnel Law, which is a blog I often cite too and from which much of the material comes from.

Mitchell H. Rubinstein