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Practice History |
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Since 2001, Chet Lukaszewski has successfully represented hundreds of injured civil service and municipal workers, and helped them to secure benefits and compensation from the New York City and State Retirement Systems and Pension Funds, as well as through Social Security Disability, World Trade Center, Civil Service Commission and personal injury matters. In 2008, he formed Chet Lukaszewski, P.C. The mission of the firm was to present clients with a highly personal level of representation, and to parlay an exemplary history of litigation success, into an aggressive and effective means to assist injured workers in obtaining the pension and other benefits to which they are entitled. Mr. Lukaszewski knows the value of personal contact and interaction, and refused to compromise the firm's ability to ensure its clients the utmost in personal service. At Chet Lukaszewski, P.C., clients had a direct line of communication with Mr. Lukaszewski; he himself wrote their legal papers, and personally appeared with or for them in Court, or any other tribunal where their case was venued. Each and every client directly benefited from the knowledge, experience, and exemplary litigation record that Mr. Lukaszewski had amassed over the course of his career, wherein, he came to eventually focus almost exclusively on disability pension work. In June of 2025, Chet Lukaszewski, P.C., merged with McIntyre, Donohue, Accardi, Salmonson & Riordan, LLP (MDASR). Mr. Lukaszewski was named the firms only other active practicing Partner at the time, joining Rich Donahue, Jim Accardi, Scott Salmonson, Sean Riordan and Jim Seganti. The partnership allows Mr. Lukaszewski to assist more injured workers, while still adhering to his philosophies of client service and case handling. All MDASR New York City disability pension clients will now benefit from Mr. Lukaszewski's history, background, and achievements and successes.
Chet Lukaszewski has successfully litigated 102 disability pension Article 78's, won 12 such Appellate Division matters, five of which were first of their kind decisions; as well as the landmark New York State Court of Appeals 9/11 case, that defined how the World Trade Center Presumptive Law is to be applied; along with securing the decision by the Court of Appeals which created the rule of law that a “purposeful act” can be deemed an “accident” for disability pension purposes. (SEE PENSION LITIGATION PAGE FOR SYNOPSIS OF ALL CASES) The first of their kind decisions include: a 'disability versus no disability' matter, for an injured police officer; the first successful 9/11-World Trade Center line of duty death case, for the widow of an FDNY Lieutenant; a decision compelling that the NYPD re-open a disability pension application found to be prematurely closed, and permit the applicant to add a ‘Heart Bill’ claim; the first 9/11-World Trade Center Presumptive Law case approving a disability pension for obstructive sleep apnea; and the first 9/11-WTC Law case approving benefits for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In addition, in December of 2012, Mr. Lukaszewski successfully litigated the historic New York State Court of Appeals, 9/11-WTC Law cancer case, which set a precedent that has, and will continue to benefit countless sick 9/11 responders and their families in the future; as it defined how the law is to be interpreted, and greatly favors 9/11 responders. Also, in May of 2024, based upon Mr. Lukaszewski’s advocacy, the Court of Appeals definitively stated that a “purposeful act”, like a school shooting, or other heinous crimes committed against a City or State worker in the line of duty, can be deemed an “accident” for disability pension purposes; a tremendous victory for civil service and municipal workers, and a defining pension law decision. To the firm's knowledge, no other law office or individual has had as much success in this area of law. Additionally, Mr. Lukaszewski has worked diligently with New York State Legislators to bring about Retirement System reforms and to create new laws that will benefit all municipal workers; and is regularly consulted by news organizations and other attorneys, as an expert in disability pension law. (SEE: NEWS & ARCHIVES , WRITINGS & VIDEOS & PROFILE PAGE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS)
Mr. Lukaszewski has spent the majority of his career assisting injured workers with disability pension application matters, but has other legal experience which has served him well in said efforts, and in running his own practice. Mr. Lukaszewski has handled Social Security Disability matters all across New York State, and possesses a Social Security Disability record which far exceeds the average national success rate. He has experience in Agency Disqualifications, Workers’ Compensation matters, and 9/11 Victims’ Compensation Fund claims. He worked for the top insurance defense firm, Ahmuty, Demers & McManus, where he trained under the firm’s highest level of partners. This experience has allowed Chet Lukaszewski, Esq. to provide top rate representation in all its cases, including personal injury matters; wherein Mr. Lukaszewski enlists the assistance of a renowned veteran New York trial lawyer as special litigation counsel, whose 40 years of experience, including 600(+) trials, provides the firm and its clients with a level of knowledge and expertise that is rare and invaluable.
While now focusing primarily on disability pension work (SEE PENSION APPROVALS PAGE), it has always been, and will remain Mr. Lukaszewski's intent, to utilize his diverse and extensive litigation background and experience, to maximize his ability to skillfully represent all his firm’s clients. He particularly believes disability pension clients will greatly benefit from his pension litigation success; as he feels that based upon his Court record, the City and State Pension Funds and Retirement Systems will be more hesitant to force his clients into litigation, thereby presenting them with the greatest chance for approval at the administrative level. Since becoming an attorney, and particularly since forming his firm, Mr. Lukaszewski has prevailed in hundreds of cases and secured life changing compensation and benefits for his clients and their families; and he looks forward to continuing to do so far into the future.
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Recent Items |
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January 2026 – Chet Lukaszewski represents the first FDNY Firefighter to be approved for a ¾'s disability pension by the Department's Pension Fund under 'The Cancer Bill', which provides a 5-year post-retirement window for members to apply for Accident Disability Retirement benefits, if they incur disabling cancer in that period of time. As counsel, Mr. Lukaszewski assisted, where application was not initially approved; in demonstrating that the permanent aftereffects of the disease and treatments and care, rendered the applicant unfit for the full duty requirements of the job, were they still employed, as per the requirement of the new law.
December 2025 – In response to the filing of an Article 78 Proceeding by Chet Lukaszewski, the NYPD's Pension Fund agreed to take back a World Trade Center Accident Disability Retirement application, for reconsideration. The case involved a retired 9/11 responder, who developed serious gastrointestinal issues and conditions which the Fund and its Medical Board, found to be disabling for police work, but said were not connected to WTC toxic exposures, and the certified conditions from which he suffers. A Petition and Memorandum of Law challenging the decision were filed, at which time, instead of putting in a defense and taking the case to judgment, the application was taken back. Client and counsel are hopeful for a WTC pension reclassification approval on reconsideration.
November 2025 – New York City Police Department Police Officer, approved by the NYPD’s Pension Fund for a ¾’s Accident Disability Retirement pension, for a low back injury resulting from the arrest of a violent perpetrator, which despite extensive medical treatment and care, did not allow for a safe and effective return to full duty; with the assistance of Chet Lukaszewski as counsel.
October 2025 – Retired FDNY Firefighter, approved by the New York City Fire Department’s Pension Fund, for a World Trade Center Accident Disability Retirement pension reclassification, for serious psychological issues which worsened significantly over the years, notably upon his leaving service; stemming from his highly traumatic World Trade Center response, rescue, recovery and clean-up efforts; with the assistance of Chet Lukaszewski as counsel.
September 2025 – A NYPD Sergeant is approved by the Police Pension Fund for an Accident Disability Retirement pension (3/4’s), for an orthopedic disability of the hip, caused by a line of duty trauma that occurred earlier in his career, and thereafter became disabling; with the assistance of Chet Lukaszewski as counsel.
August 2025 – Retired NYC Correction Officer approved by the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) for a Performance of Duty Disability Retirement pension on judicial remand, in a matter where Chet Lukaszewski had successfully demonstrated to an Appellate Court, that the retirement system had improperly found no disability for full duty in previously denying the application (where the applicant was not represented by Mr. Lukaszewski during the application process). The ¾'s pension was awarded retroactively.
July 2025 – FDNY Firefighter, approved by the New York Fire Department’s Pension Fund, for an Accident Disability Retirement ¾'s pension, for shoulder injuries incurred in two serious line of duty accidents; with the assistance of Chet Lukaszewski as counsel.
June 2025 – Chet Lukaszewski, now a partner with MDASR, prevailed in an Article 78 Proceeding in the Supreme Court, Kings County, involving a New York City Department of Sanitation worker, who was denied an Accident Disability Retirement. The Court ruled that the New York City Employees’ Retirement system improperly denied a line of duty ¾’s disability pension to the Sanitation Worker, based upon a finding he was not disabled by an “accident” for pension purposes. The Court found NYCERS’s Board of Trustees had not properly considered the case, and that its determination was not supported by adequate evidence, and there were key unanswered questions as to the injurious event. The Court remanded the application to NYCERS to present petitioner with a full and fair opportunity to present his case.
This is the first litigation victory Chet has had while a member of MDASR. It is his 102nd disability pension Article 78 win. He also has prevailed in 12 such Appellate Division matters, and twice been successful at the New York State Court of Appeals.
May 2025 – Retired NYPD Detective, approved by the Police Pension Fund for a World Trade Center Accident Disability Retirement pension reclassification, for severe eye and vision issues, resulting from injuries sustained during building collapse on 9/11/01, and the trauma and toxic exposures incurred therein; with the assistance of Chet Lukaszewski as counsel.
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