Crime won't pay for convicted felons that try to sue to get money for injuries they receive while breaking the law if Senator Michael Balboni (R-Mineola) has his way.

The state Senate passed a bill sponsored by Balboni that prohibits a convicted felon from initiating a lawsuit for civil damages for injuries he or she receives while committing a crime.

"It is truly absurd that a criminal can sue you and collect money because he got hurt when he was trying to mug you or rob your house," Balboni said. "The law needs to be changed, plain and simple."

According to Balboni, in 1984 Bernard McCummings and two accomplices mugged and beat a 71-year-old man in a subway station in New York City. During the mugging, a police officer shot McCummings when he lunged at him. The shooting paralyzed McCummings, who turned around and successfully sued New York City for $4.2 million. His case was upheld by the state's highest court.

"Once a person steps outside the established rules of civilized behavior to commit a crime, that person should not be able to step back into the civil system to get money for personal injuries that happen because they broke the law," Balboni said.

The bill will go to the Assembly.