Opinion
521335.
05-12-2016
In the Matter of Michael ALLEN, Petitioner, v. Donald VENETTOZZI, as Acting Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, Respondent.
Michael Allen, Romulus, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Michael Allen, Romulus, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
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.
During the course of a strip frisk, a correction officer recovered a plexiglass shank from petitioner's right sock. As a result, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with possessing a weapon. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, he was found guilty of the charge and the determination was later affirmed on administrative appeal. This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
Although the proceeding was improperly transferred due to the failure of the verified petition to raise the issue of substantial evidence, we nevertheless retain jurisdiction and address petitioner's claims in the interest of judicial economy (see Matter of
We confirm. Initially, although the hearing transcript discloses certain inaudible portions, the gaps are not so significant as to preclude meaningful review and petitioner's claim that large portions are either missing or inaccurate is simply not substantiated (see Matter of Rizzuto v. Eastman, 134 A.D.3d 1308, 1308, 20 N.Y.S.3d 916 [2015] ; Matter of Clark v. Annucci, 128 A.D.3d 1254, 1255, 8 N.Y.S.3d 607 [2015] ). Moreover, we reject petitioner's assertion that he was denied a videotape of the yard, given that it did not depict the incident in question and was, therefore, irrelevant (see Matter of Byrd v. Fischer, 117 A.D.3d 1263, 1263, 984 N.Y.S.2d 896 [2014] ; Matter of Cody v. Goord, 17 A.D.3d 943, 944–945, 794 N.Y.S.2d 149 [2005] ). Furthermore, the record discloses that the hearing was conducted in a fair and impartial manner, and there is nothing to suggest that the Hearing Officer was biased or that the determination flowed from any alleged bias (see Matter of Paddyfote v. Fischer, 118 A.D.3d 1240, 1241, 987 N.Y.S.2d 719 [2014] ; Matter of Harding v. Prack, 118 A.D.3d 1231, 1232, 987 N.Y.S.2d 712 [2014] ). We have considered petitioner's remaining contentions, including his claim that he was improperly denied the right to call witnesses, including an unidentified investigator from the Inspector General's office concerning petitioner's unresolved grievances, and find them to be unavailing (see Matter of Tafari
v. Fischer, 93 A.D.3d 1054, 1054–1055, 940 N.Y.S.2d 692 [2012], lv. dismissed 19 N.Y.3d 1007, 951 N.Y.S.2d 704, 976 N.E.2d 231 [2012] ; compare Matter of Lopez v. Fischer, 100 A.D.3d 1069, 1069, 952 N.Y.S.2d 694 [2012] ).
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.
PETERS, P.J., McCARTHY, ROSE, DEVINE and CLARK, JJ., concur.
Selah v. LaValley, 117 A.D.3d 1261, 1261 n., 984 N.Y.S.2d 895 [2014] ).