Opinion
2013-12-19
In the Matter of Fernando GUERRERO, Petitioner, v. NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, Respondent.
Franzblau Dratch, PC, New York City (Stephen Dratch of counsel), for petitioner. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Franzblau Dratch, PC, New York City (Stephen Dratch of counsel), for petitioner. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Before: PETERS, P.J., ROSE, McCARTHY and GARRY, 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 which found petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.
When a urine sample provided by petitioner, a prison inmate, twice tested positive for the presence of cannabinoids, he was charged in a misbehavior report with the use of a controlled substance. Petitioner was found guilty of the charge following a tier III disciplinary hearing, and the determination was affirmed on administrative appeal. He then commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
We confirm. The misbehavior report, testimony of the correction officer who performed the drug testing, and positive test results with supporting documentation provide substantial evidence to support the determination ( see Matter of Monje v. Geoghegan, 108 A.D.3d 957, 957, 969 N.Y.S.2d 612 [2013]; Matter of Smith v. Unger, 100 A.D.3d 1171, 1171, 953 N.Y.S.2d 906 [2012] ). The validity of the test results was not undermined by the fact that they were recorded on a single form—rather than separate forms as contemplated by the directive—as the single form was developed to reduce paperwork ( see e.g. Matter of Hall v. Venettozzi, 98 A.D.3d 773, 773, 949 N.Y.S.2d 299 [2012]; Matter of Faraldo v. Bezio, 93 A.D.3d 1007, 1008, 939 N.Y.S.2d 893 [2012] ). Further, petitioner was not denied the right to present documentary evidence by the Hearing Officer's refusal to provide him with a copy of the log book entry for the testing room refrigerator. The record demonstrates that the Hearing Officer viewed the entry and related to petitioner its contents, which was contained in other forms in evidence and, thus, the denial of the entry itself did not prejudice petitioner's defense ( see Matter of Phelps v. Fischer, 108 A.D.3d 1003, 1004, 969 N.Y.S.2d 262 [2013]; Matter of Justice v. Fischer, 67 A.D.3d 1286, 1286–1287, 888 N.Y.S.2d 783 [2009], lv. denied14 N.Y.3d 709, 2010 WL 1755270 [2010] ). Lastly, petitioner was not deprived of effective employee assistance, but, rather, failed to request the documentary evidence from his assistant that he now claims was not provided ( see e.g. Matter of Williams v. Fischer, 98 A.D.3d 1180, 1181, 950 N.Y.S.2d 827 [2012]; Matter of Tafari v. Selsky, 38 A.D.3d 1031, 1032, 832 N.Y.S.2d 311 [2007], lv. denied8 N.Y.3d 816, 839 N.Y.S.2d 455, 870 N.E.2d 696 [2007] ). Petitioner's remaining arguments are either unpreserved for our review or are lacking in merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.