Opinion
2019–10235 Index No. 81073/18
03-23-2022
In the Matter of Peter Jon WEINMAN, appellant, v. NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BUREAU, etc., et al., respondents.
DeGuerre Law Firm, P.C., Staten Island, NY (Anthony DeGuerre of counsel), for appellant. Letitia James, Attorney General, New York, NY (Judith N. Vale and Eric R. Haren of counsel), for respondents.
DeGuerre Law Firm, P.C., Staten Island, NY (Anthony DeGuerre of counsel), for appellant.
Letitia James, Attorney General, New York, NY (Judith N. Vale and Eric R. Haren of counsel), for respondents.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, REINALDO E. RIVERA, PAUL WOOTEN, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In a hybrid proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Appeals Board dated July 16, 2018, which affirmed a determination of an administrative law judge dated March 15, 2018, made after a hearing, finding that the petitioner/plaintiff violated Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1110(a) and imposing a fine, and action, inter alia, to recover damages for civil rights violations pursuant to 42 USC § 1983, the petitioner/plaintiff appeals from an order and judgment (one paper) of the Supreme Court, Richmond County (Charles M. Troia, J.), dated June 28, 2019. The order and judgment granted the cross motion of the respondents/defendants pursuant to CPLR 3211(a) and 7804(f) to dismiss the petition/complaint, denied the petition, and dismissed the proceeding/action.
ORDERED that the order and judgment is affirmed, with costs.
On April 24, 2017, the petitioner/plaintiff, Peter Jon Weinman, was issued a summons for operating his motorcycle in violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1110(a), for driving his motorcycle in the high occupancy vehicle (hereinafter HOV) lane of the Staten Island Expressway in disobedience of a sign restricting HOV lane travel to vehicles with three or more occupants. A hearing was held on March 15, 2018, before an administrative law judge (hereinafter the ALJ). Following the hearing, the ALJ determined that Weinman violated Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1110(a), and imposed a $50 fine plus surcharge. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Appeals Board (hereinafter the Board) affirmed the ALJ's determination.
Weinman commenced this hybrid proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review the Board's determination and action, inter alia, to recover damages for civil rights violations pursuant to 42 USC § 1983 against the Board, the ALJ, and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Traffic Violations Bureau (hereinafter DMV, and, collectively with the Board and the ALJ, the respondents). The respondents cross-moved pursuant to CPLR 3211(a) and 7804(f) to dismiss the petition/complaint.
By order and judgment dated June 28, 2019, the Supreme Court granted the respondents’ cross motion, denied the petition, and dismissed the proceeding/action. Weinman appeals.
Contrary to Weinman's contention, the Supreme Court properly granted that branch of the respondents’ cross motion which was pursuant to CPLR 7804(f) to dismiss the petition as academic. It is well settled "that the power of a court to declare the law only arises out of, and is limited to, determining the rights of persons which are actually controverted in a particular case pending before the tribunal" ( Matter of Hearst Corp. v. Clyne, 50 N.Y.2d 707, 713, 431 N.Y.S.2d 400, 409 N.E.2d 876 ; see Matter of Colon v. Annucci, 151 A.D.3d 1061, 1061–1062, 57 N.Y.S.3d 512 ). Thus, courts are precluded "from considering questions which, although once live, have become moot by passage of time or change in circumstances" ( Matter of Hearst Corp. v. Clyne, 50 N.Y.2d at 714, 431 N.Y.S.2d 400, 409 N.E.2d 876 ).
Here, the Supreme Court properly concluded that the petition had been rendered academic by the vacatur of Weinman's conviction, the expungement of the conviction and all associated data from his driving record, and the refunding of the fine and related fees paid in connection with the conviction, as Weinman "had received the ultimate relief he was seeking and any ruling on the petition would have no immediate and practical consequences to" him ( Matter of Colon v. Annucci, 151 A.D.3d at 1062, 57 N.Y.S.3d 512 ; see Matter of Conroy v. Melton, 53 A.D.2d 679, 679, 385 N.Y.S.2d 133 ).
Moreover, the Supreme Court properly granted that branch of the respondents’ cross motion which was pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7) to dismiss the cause of action to recover damages for civil rights violations pursuant to 42 USC § 1983 for failure to state a cause action. The DMV and the Board are not persons amenable to suit within the meaning of 42 USC § 1983 (see Will v. Michigan Dept. of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 64, 70–71, 109 S.Ct. 2304, 105 L.Ed.2d 45 ; Jattan v. Queens Coll. of City Univ. of N.Y., 307 A.D.2d 335, 335–336, 762 N.Y.S.2d 824 ; Matter of Thomas v. New York Temporary State Commn. on Regulation of Lobbying, 83 A.D.2d 723, 723, 442 N.Y.S.2d 632, affd 56 N.Y.2d 656, 451 N.Y.S.2d 708, 436 N.E.2d 1310 ), and the ALJ is entitled to absolute immunity from suit (see Montero v. Travis, 171 F.3d 757, 760 [2d Cir.] ). Contrary to Weinman's contention, under such circumstances, dismissal with prejudice was proper (see generally GMAC Mtge., LLC v. Bisceglie, 109 A.D.3d 874, 876, 973 N.Y.S.2d 225 ; Rosenfeld v. Renika Pty. Ltd., 84 A.D.3d 703, 703, 923 N.Y.S.2d 328 ).
Weinman's remaining contentions are without merit.
DILLON, J.P., BRATHWAITE NELSON, RIVERA and WOOTEN, JJ., concur.