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Criminal Law- Reckless Endangerment And Coercion- Union Officials May Be Liable To Criminal Prosecution In Strike Of Essential Public Employees. People V. Vizzini, 78 Misc. 2d 1040, 359 N.Y.S.2d 143 (Sup. Ct. 1974)., James Clark Quinn

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Defendants, officers of the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA), were charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree, attempted coercion, reckless endangerment of property, and related crimes. The basis of these charges was the five and one-half hour New York City fireman's strike called by defendants despite express Taylor Law prohibitions against strikes by public employees. Defendants moved to dismiss the indictment on the grounds that a strike by firemen could not be the basis of a criminal prosecution, arguing that the Taylor Law provided the exclusive remedies and sanctions for public employee labor disputes. The New York Supreme Court denied …