Opinion
No. 2021-06477 Index No. 518723/21
07-24-2024
In the Matter of Lookman Afolayan, et al., petitioners, v. Industrial Board of Appeals, et al., respondents.
Alter & Barbaro, Brooklyn, NY (Bernard M. Alter of counsel), for petitioners. Letitia James, Attorney General, New York, NY (Karen Cacace, Seth Kupferberg, and Donya Fernandez of counsel), for respondents.
Alter & Barbaro, Brooklyn, NY (Bernard M. Alter of counsel), for petitioners.
Letitia James, Attorney General, New York, NY (Karen Cacace, Seth Kupferberg, and Donya Fernandez of counsel), for respondents.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., ROBERT J. MILLER, DEBORAH A. DOWLING, HELEN VOUTSINAS, JJ.
DECISION & JUDGMENT
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the State of New York Industrial Board of Appeals dated June 2, 2021, which, after a hearing, upheld an order of the Commissioner of Labor of the State of New York dated February 13, 2020, finding that the petitioners had violated Labor Law articles 5, 6, and 19, and directing them to pay unpaid wages, interest, liquidated damages, and civil penalties.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, the petition is denied, and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits, with costs.
In July 2021, the petitioners commenced this proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the State of New York Industrial Board of Appeals (hereinafter the IBA) dated June 2, 2021, which, after a hearing, upheld an order of the Commissioner of Labor of the State of New York (hereinafter the Commissioner), dated February 13, 2020, finding that the petitioners had violated Labor Law articles 5, 6, and 19, and directing the petitioners to pay unpaid wages, interest, liquidated damages, and civil penalties. The Supreme Court transferred the proceeding to this Court pursuant to CPLR 7804(g).
"'Judicial review of an administrative determination made after a hearing required by law, and at which evidence was taken, is limited to whether that determination is supported by substantial evidence'" (Matter of Mannino v State of N.Y. Indus. Bd. of Appeals, 215 A.D.3d 846, 848, quoting Matter of Liang v State of N.Y. Indus. Bd. of Appeals, 152 A.D.3d 689, 689; see CPLR 7803[4]). "Substantial evidence means such relevant proof as a reasonable mind may accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact" (Matter of Liang v State of N.Y. Indus. Bd. of Appeals, 152 A.D.3d at 689). "The burden of proof before the IBA is 'on the party who initiated the proceeding,'" (Matter of Mannino v State of N.Y. Indus. Bd. of Appeals, 215 A.D.3d at 848, quoting State Administrative Procedure Act § 306[1]; see 12 NYCRR 65.39[a]; Matter of Ramirez v Commissioner of Labor of State of N.Y., 110 A.D.3d 901, 901). Here, the petitioners did not sustain their burden of demonstrating that the method used to calculate the amount of underpayment of wages was unreasonable (see CPLR 7803[4]; Matter of Ramirez v Commissioner of Labor of State of N.Y., 110 A.D.3d at 901). When a petitioner fails, as here, to produce complete and accurate records, the Commissioner "is entitled to make just and reasonable inferences and use other evidence to establish the amount of underpaid wages, even though the results may be approximate" (Matter of Mannino v State of N.Y. Indus. Bd. of Appeals, 215 A.D.3d at 848; see Matter of Ramirez v Commissioner of Labor of State of N.Y., 110 A.D.3d at 901).
Moreover, "[t]his Court has a limited scope of review applicable to administrative penalties" (Matter of Edwards v City of Middletown, N.Y., 191 A.D.3d 668, 669; see Matter of Mannino v State of N.Y. Indus. Bd. of Appeals, 215 A.D.3d at 848). "The penalty must be upheld unless it shocks the judicial conscience, and, therefore, constitutes an abuse of discretion as a matter of law" (Matter of Edwards v City of Middletown, N.Y., 191 A.D.3d at 669). Here, the penalty was assessed after due consideration to the relevant factors set forth in Labor Law § 218(1), and did not shock the conscience (see Matter of Ramirez v Commissioner of Labor of State of N.Y., 110 A.D.3d at 902).
DILLON, J.P., MILLER, DOWLING and VOUTSINAS, JJ., concur.