Yes. Dr. Tulsa Knox, a school psychologist, voluntarily left her tenured position with the DOE to work in Connecticut. After she resigned, an investigation was ordered to determine whether she had misrepresented her timesheets for 4 days in the last month of her employment. The investigators found that she had and having no legal control over her and no way to recoup salary already paid placed on her on the ineligible/inquiry list based on inappropriate conduct.
The ineligible/inquiry list is a DOE blacklist which effectively prevents persons listed there from ever working for the DOE. Knox argued that the DOE’s placement of her name on the list along with the reason amounted to stigma by a governmental agency which implicated her constitutional rights to a protected property interest. She sought a name clearing hearing to provide her with the requisite due process.
The DOE moved to dismiss her petition arguing that Knox had failed to file a notice of claim before she brought her petition and that while her name was placed on the ineligible/inquiry list it was not “published” a necessary action before Knox would be entitled to a name clearing hearing.
Justice Alice Schlesinger of New York County Supreme Court granted a remand back to the DOE for a name clearing hearing and the Appellate Division affirmed. Dr. Knox was not required to file a notice of claim since she sought no monetary reward. Additionally the list contains enough information for anyone who consults the list to know that she was found to have committed inappropriate conduct. Also the investigator sent a copy of its findings to the Bronx District Attorney, which, alone, would constitute publication.
EdLawFaqs 
Hi Jeff,
Could a different judge rule differently in some of these cases, or is the precedent pretty much the way things must go in the future?
This case was decided by the Appellate Division, First Department, which covers Manhattan and the Bronx. State courts in these boroughs are required to follow this decision. Other courts in the state will usually follow it but are not required. When reading any case it is important to notice where the case is decided to see how powerful its precedential affect may be.