Does Section 205-e of the General Municipal Law allow a plaintiff to bring a personal injury action against a police officer?

Section 205-e of the General Municipal Law is a remedial statute which expands the rights of police officers to pursue claims for personal injuries in certain circumstances (see, Ruotolo v. State of New York, 83 N.Y.2d 248, 609 N.Y.S.2d 148, 631 N.E.2d 90). Under the statute every cause of action for the personal injury of a police officer which was pending or actionable at the time of the effective date of the statute (January 1, 1987), was revived, and allowed to be commenced at any time prior to June 30, 1995. There is no doubt that the proposed amendments to the complaint were made after the statutory cut off date. However, it is clear that the personal injury action was indeed brought prior to this date.