Opinion
December 30, 1999
Determination unanimously confirmed without costs and petition dismissed.
PRESENT: DENMAN, P. J., PINE, WISNER, PIGOTT, JR., AND CALLAHAN, JJ.
Memorandum:
We reject petitioners' contention that the claims of respondent New York State Department of Labor (Department) are barred by the six-month Statute of Limitations in Labor Law § 220 Lab.(7). That period is directory, not mandatory, and thus delay beyond the six-month period, standing alone, does not warrant dismissal ( see, Matter of Cayuga-Onondaga Counties Bd. of Coop. Educ. Servs. v. Sweeney, 224 A.D.2d 989, affd 89 N.Y.2d 395, rearg denied 89 N.Y.2d 1031; see also, Matter of Meyers v. Maul, 249 A.D.2d 796, lv denied 92 N.Y.2d 807).
The contention that the claims of the Department are barred by the Statute of Limitations in CPLR 214 (2) was not raised at the agency level. Thus, administrative remedies have not been exhausted, and this Court has no discretionary power to reach that contention ( see, Matter of Nelson v. Coughlin, 188 A.D.2d 1071, appeal dismissed 81 N.Y.2d 834).
The failure of the Department to proceed expeditiously ( see, Labor Law § 220 Lab.[8]) is not a ground for dismissal absent substantial actual prejudice attributable to the delay ( see, Matter of Diaz Chem. Corp. v. New York State Div. of Human Rights, 91 N.Y.2d 932, 933; Matter of Corning Glass Works v. Ovsanik, 84 N.Y.2d 619, 623-624). On this record, we conclude that petitioners have not demonstrated substantial actual prejudice.
The contention of petitioner Nelson's Lamp Lighters, Inc. (Nelson's) that it did not receive a credit of $13,135.20 for supplements previously paid is without merit. The record establishes that in the Hearing Officer's report, which respondent Commissioner adopted, Nelson's was credited for that amount. Nelson's also failed to establish that the classification of its employees as electricians by the Department did not reflect the nature of the actual work performed by such employees. Thus, the determination of the Commissioner in that respect will not be disturbed ( see, Matter of Marangos Constr. Corp. v. New York State Dept. of Labor, 216 A.D.2d 758, 758-759). We further conclude that the Commissioner's assessment of interest against Nelson's, which excluded those periods attributable to the Department's unreasonable delay in processing the case, was appropriate ( see, Matter of Passucci Gen. Constr. Co. v. Hudacs, 221 A.D.2d 987, 988, lv denied 87 N.Y.2d 811).
Finally, we conclude that the contention of petitioners Sarbro Realty Corporation (Sarbro) and Sarco Industries, Inc. (Sarco) that the Department's claims should be dismissed against them because of bias on the part of the Department is without merit. The record does not establish bias against Sarbro and Sarco or, in any event, that the outcome of the hearing flowed from any alleged bias ( see, Matter of Hughes v. Suffolk County Dept. of Civ. Serv., supra) . (Original Proceeding Pursuant to CPLR art 78.)