Opinion
2013-01-23
In the Matter of Rony BERKOVIZ, petitioner, v. William LEE, etc., respondent.
Rony Berkoviz, Stormville, N.Y., petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York, N.Y. (Michael S. Belohlavek and Sudarsana Srinivasan of counsel), for respondent.
Rony Berkoviz, Stormville, N.Y., petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York, N.Y. (Michael S. Belohlavek and Sudarsana Srinivasan of counsel), for respondent.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, SHERI S. ROMAN, and JEFFREY A. COHEN, JJ.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the Superintendent of the Green Haven Correctional Facility, dated May 11, 2011, which confirmed a determination of a hearing officer dated March 30, 2011, made after a Tier II disciplinary hearing, finding the petitioner guilty of violating prison disciplinary rules 116.10 (7 NYCRR 270.2[B][17][i] ) and 114.10 (7 NYCRR 270.2[B][15][i] ), and imposing penalties.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs or disbursements, the petition is denied, and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits.
Contrary to the petitioner's contention, the misbehavior report and the hearing testimony provided substantial evidence to support the hearing officer's determination that the petitioner violated the subject prison disciplinary rules ( see Matter of Topsy v. Venettozzi, 98 A.D.3d 520, 521, 949 N.Y.S.2d 197;Matter of Stapleton v. Connolly, 96 A.D.3d 861, 946 N.Y.S.2d 482;Matter of Carlisle v. Lee, 96 A.D.3d 837, 946 N.Y.S.2d 483;Matter of Medina v. Sing Sing Correctional Facility, 95 A.D.3d 1331, 1332, 944 N.Y.S.2d 910;Matter of Mills v. Fischer, 85 A.D.3d 1033, 925 N.Y.S.2d 851).
Further, the misbehavior report contained the necessary specificity to apprise the petitioner of the charges against him so as to enable him to prepare an adequate defense ( see Matter of Medina v. Sing Sing Correctional Facility, 95 A.D.3d at 1332, 944 N.Y.S.2d 910;Matter of Wallace v. Prack, 93 A.D.3d 1056, 1057, 940 N.Y.S.2d 695;Matter of Salvatierra v. Weeden, 88 A.D.3d 728, 729, 930 N.Y.S.2d 479;Matter of Mills v. Fischer, 85 A.D.3d at 1034, 925 N.Y.S.2d 851).