Opinion
2017–06987
03-28-2018
In the Matter of Emmanuel OGUNDELE, petitioner, v. Barbara ZAMBELLI, etc., respondent.
Alvin L. Spitzer, Pearl River, NY, for petitioner. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York, N.Y. (Angel M. Guardiola II of counsel), for respondent.
Alvin L. Spitzer, Pearl River, NY, for petitioner.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York, N.Y. (Angel M. Guardiola II of counsel), for respondent.
JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, J.P., SYLVIA O. HINDS–RADIX, HECTOR D. LASALLE, VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ.
DECISION & JUDGMENT Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the respondent, Barbara Zambelli, a Judge of the County Court, Westchester County, dated May 3, 2017, which, after a hearing, revoked the petitioner's pistol license.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, the petition is denied, and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits, with costs.
The petitioner was issued a pistol license by Westchester County in 1998. In August 2016, the petitioner's wife filed a family offense petition against him, alleging that he engaged in acts of domestic violence over the course of a number of years, he regularly threatened to kill her, and, more recently, he threatened to kill her, their children, and himself. The Family Court, Westchester County, issued a temporary order of protection, which, among other things, directed the petitioner to stay away from his wife and their children and to surrender his firearms.
In October 2016, the County Attorney for Westchester County filed an application to suspend, cancel, or revoke the petitioner's pistol license. A hearing was held on the application before the respondent, a Judge of the County Court acting in her administrative capacity as a county licensing officer (see Penal Law § 265.00[10] ). The petitioner appeared with counsel and presented evidence rebutting the allegations against him. In a determination dated May 3, 2017, the respondent revoked the petitioner's pistol license. The petitioner then commenced this proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in this Court seeking to review the determination.
In determining whether to revoke a pistol license pursuant to Penal Law § 400.00(11), a licensing officer is vested with broad discretion to resolve factual and credibility issues, and her or his determination is accorded great weight (see Matter of Moreno v. Cacace, 61 A.D.3d 977, 978, 878 N.Y.S.2d 175 ; Matter of Simmons v New York City Police Dept. License Div., 35 A.D.3d 748, 749, 825 N.Y.S.2d 768 ; Matter of Pacicca v. Allesandro, 19 A.D.3d 500, 798 N.Y.S.2d 462 ). "While a formal adversarial hearing is not required before a pistol license is revoked, the licensee must be given notice of the charges and evidence against him, and be given an opportunity to appear with his lawyer to rebut the charges" ( Matter of Burke v. Colabella, 113 A.D.2d 794, 795, 493 N.Y.S.2d 429 ; see Matter of McAvoy v. Klein, 117 A.D.3d 1058, 1059–1060, 986 N.Y.S.2d 511 ; Matter of Pacicca v. Allesandro, 19 AD3d at 501, 798 N.Y.S.2d 462 ; Matter of Dlugosz v. Scarano, 255 A.D.2d 747, 748, 681 N.Y.S.2d 120 ). Contrary to the petitioner's contention, the record here reflects that the petitioner was afforded due process, as he was given notice of the charges and evidence against him, and he, in fact, appeared with his attorney at the hearing and presented evidence on his own behalf. Moreover, the respondent's determination, which credited statements by the petitioner's wife, has a rational basis and was neither arbitrary nor capricious (see Matter of Warmouth v. Zuckerman, 138 A.D.3d 752, 754, 29 N.Y.S.3d 70 ; Matter of Karagolian v. Walsh, 107 A.D.3d 715, 716, 966 N.Y.S.2d 518 ; Matter of Moreno v. Cacace, 61 A.D.3d at 978, 878 N.Y.S.2d 175 ; Matter of Simmons v. New York City Police Dept. License Div., 35 A.D.3d at 749, 825 N.Y.S.2d 768 ).
LEVENTHAL, J.P., HINDS–RADIX, LASALLE and BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ., concur.