An appeals court has ruled that a correction officer is eligible for duty-related disability retirement benefits over state objections that his injury occurred after, and not during, a physical confrontation with a prisoner.

The Appellate Division, Third Department, judges said unanimously in Naughton v. DiNapoli, 519474, that Scott Naughton showed he suffered a qualifying line-of-duty injury to his right knee during a struggle with the inmate.