Summary
noting that urinalysis testing equipment manual contained at least one page pertaining to cross-reactivity issues
Summary of this case from Steele-Warrick v. Microgenics Corp.Opinion
01-26-2017
Jean Frantz, Elmira, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Jeffrey W. Lang of counsel), for respondent.
Jean Frantz, Elmira, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Jeffrey W. Lang of counsel), for respondent.
Before: PETERS, P.J., McCARTHY, GARRY, ROSE and MULVEY, JJ.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Albany County) to review a determination of the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision finding petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.
Petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with using a controlled substance after a sample of his urine twice tested positive for THC. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, he was found guilty and this determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal. This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
We confirm. The misbehavior report, positive drug test results, related documentation and hearing testimony provide substantial evidence to support the determination finding petitioner guilty of using a controlled substance (see Matter of Belle v. Prack, 140 A.D.3d 1509, 1510, 35 N.Y.S.3d 513 [2016] ; Matter of Martinez v. Annucci, 134 A.D.3d 1380, 1380–1381, 21 N.Y.S.3d 771 [2015] ). Petitioner's challenge to the foundation of the positive test results—due to the fact that the sample identification numbers entered on the two test result forms differed by one number—is unpreserved for our review in light of petitioner's failure to raise this issue at the hearing (see Matter of Monje v. Geoghegan, 108 A.D.3d 957, 957–958, 969 N.Y.S.2d 612 [2013] ; Matter of Ortiz v. Fischer, 64 A.D.3d 1111, 1112, 882 N.Y.S.2d 669 [2009] ).
We reject petitioner's contention that he was denied the right to call a particular witness. Petitioner requested that the Hearing Officer call a pharmacist to testify in support of his claim that his prescription for ibuprofen could have produced a false positive test result. The record reflects that both a facility nurse and a facility trainer for the drug testing system had already testified at the hearing that petitioner's prescription would not have caused a false positive test result. Petitioner was also provided a page from the testing equipment's cross-reactivity manual, which provides a list of potential prescription drugs that could cause a false positive test result, indicating that petitioner's prescription could not produce a false positive result. Accordingly, the Hearing Officer did not err in denying petitioner's request to call the pharmacist as a witness (see Matter of Williams v. Annucci, 134 A.D.3d 1378, 1379, 21 N.Y.S.3d 769 [2015], lv. denied 27 N.Y.3d 904, 2016 WL 1692239 [2016] ; Matter of Webb v. Leclaire, 52 A.D.3d 1131, 1132, 862 N.Y.S.2d 129 [2008] ). Finally, upon reviewing the record, we find no indication that the Hearing Officer was biased or that the determination flowed from any alleged bias (see Matter of
Medina v. Annucci, 141 A.D.3d 1052, 1053, 35 N.Y.S.3d 663 [2016] ; Matter of Sawyer v. Annucci, 140 A.D.3d 1499, 1500 [2016] ).
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.