Summary
In Hessney (supra) the petitioner was seeking to have the court determine her credentials for the purpose of hiring, which is a dispute properly within the sole province of the Commissioner and requiring special expertise.
Summary of this case from Kranson v. MADISON-ONEIDA BD.Opinion
June 20, 1996
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Westchester County (Nicolai, J.).
On June 26, 1990, respondent Board of Education of the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns abolished one teaching position in the business education tenure area and terminated petitioner's services as a business education teacher. She was then placed on a preferred eligible list of candidates for an appointment to any future vacancy in a similar position. When a vacancy occurred within the school district for a computer teacher position, petitioner unsuccessfully applied for it. Thereafter, she commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding alleging that the computer teaching position was similar to her previous position and that respondents had violated Education Law § 3013 (3) by not offering it to her. Respondents moved to dismiss the proceeding alleging, inter alia, that petitioner failed to appeal the matter to the Commissioner of Education. Supreme Court, finding the doctrine of primary jurisdiction applicable, granted the motion, prompting this appeal.
Even though a claim is cognizable in the judicial forum, if it involves a question within the jurisdiction of an administrative agency and its determination depends upon the specialized knowledge and experience of such agency, courts, under the doctrine of primary jurisdiction, will refrain from exercising jurisdiction ( see, Staatsburg Water Co. v. Staatsburg Fire Dist., 72 N.Y.2d 147, 156; Haddad v. Salzman, 188 A.D.2d 515, 517; Matter of Patti Ann H. v. New York Med. Coll., 88 A.D.2d 296, 300-301, affd 58 N.Y.2d 734). Here, it is apparent that the Commissioner of Education is uniquely suited to resolve this matter as he possesses the specialized knowledge and experience required to determine the factual issue of whether the duties of the subject teaching positions are similar. Therefore, we concur with Supreme Court's application of the doctrine of primary jurisdiction to this proceeding and, accordingly, affirm.
Mercure, J.P., Casey, Peters and Spain, JJ., concur. Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.