News Summary
The Rhode Island Supreme Court has ruled in favor of former Trooper Staci Shepherd, affirming her right to a disability pension after a heart attack during training. The court overturned a previous denial by the State Police superintendent, establishing that employment conditions contributed to her medical condition. This significant ruling emphasizes the need for proper evaluation of the relationship between job conditions and health issues for first responders.
Providence, Rhode Island – The Rhode Island Supreme Court has ruled in favor of former Trooper Staci Shepherd, affirming her right to a disability pension following a heart attack she suffered during a training exercise. In a closely contested 3-2 decision, the court overturned a previous denial from the State Police superintendent, concluding that there was a causal relationship between Shepherd’s employment conditions and her heart attack.
Shepherd, a veteran of the Rhode Island State Police with 22 years of service, experienced her heart attack on May 2, 2017, while participating in a firearms requalification program. After the incident, her physician determined that she could not return to full duty without restrictions. However, her application for a disability pension was initially denied by then-State Police Superintendent Col. James M. Manni, who claimed that Shepherd did not sufficiently prove her heart attack was “causally related” to her employment.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court emphasized the necessity of demonstrating that work conditions could contribute to health issues, rather than requiring proof that they were the sole cause. The court referenced the 1985 Mulcahey v. New England Newspapers, Inc. decision to support its findings, indicating that Manni had applied the wrong standard in evaluating Shepherd’s case. Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg noted that in cases of heart attacks, it is sufficient if employment conditions “contribute” to the injury.
Shepherd’s attorney highlighted the significant stress and demanding hours associated with her role at the State Police, which were acknowledged as contributing factors to her heart attack. The court’s decision pointed out that the State Police’s own expert had previously warned that returning Shepherd to work could pose a risk of further heart attacks or even death.
According to the ruling, the burden is on the superintendent to assess whether a claimant’s job “played a role” in their medical condition rather than requiring absolute proof of direct causation. Prior to her heart attack, Shepherd exhibited no risk factors for cardiovascular disease, maintained a regimen of regular exercise, and was considered in excellent health.
Following her recovery, Shepherd sought a disability retirement due to the ongoing medical issues stemming from the heart attack. In May 2020, a non-adversarial hearing was conducted where her medical records were evaluated, but Manni denied her application three months later, leading to an appeal. Judge Richard D. Raspallo from Providence Superior Court subsequently ruled in favor of Shepherd, concluding that Manni had erred by asking for a higher standard of causation than necessary.
The Supreme Court’s ruling affirmed this judgment, stating that the superintendent failed to appropriately apply the correct standard regarding causation in Shepherd’s case. However, dissenting judges argued that Manni’s discretion in choosing between permissible standards was appropriate and should be granted deference.
Justice William Robinson III raised concerns that Manni’s discretion in his decision was not an abuse of power, suggesting that the choice of standards was a matter of judgment rather than a straightforward error. The ruling is especially significant given that, as of the decision date, only four out of 400 active Rhode Island State Police retirees had successfully obtained disability pensions.
This case highlights ongoing issues related to occupational health and the challenges faced by first responders in securing necessary support for injuries sustained during their service.
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Additional Resources
- RI Trooper Disability Pension Heart Attack Ruling
- Wikipedia: Heart Attack
- RI Supreme Court Rules Against RISP Superintendent’s Firing of Trooper
- Google Search: Rhode Island Supreme Court
- Former RI State Police Trooper Wins Court Fight for Disability Pension
- Google Scholar: Disability Pension Law
- Cemetery Flooding Trespass Injunctive Relief Ruling
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Disability Pension
- ABA Formal Opinion on Jury Discrimination
- Google News: Rhode Island State Police
Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER
PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
