Summary
reversing grant of Article 78 relief as courts should not interfere unless there is no rational basis for contested decision
Summary of this case from Aquinas Inst. Rochester v. CeroneOpinion
2014-07-3
In the Matter of Roger D. HENSON, doing Business as TNT Towing Service, Waymon Henson, doing Business as Metro Collision, and Waymon D. Henson, Inc., doing Business as Henson's Towing Service, Petitioners–Respondents, v. CITY OF SYRACUSE, Respondent–Appellant, et al., Respondent.
Mary Anne Doherty, Corporation Counsel, Syracuse (Ann Magnarelli Alexander of Counsel), for Respondent–Appellant. Tisdell, Moore & Walter, Syracuse (Robert L. Tisdell of Counsel), for Petitioners–Respondents.
Mary Anne Doherty, Corporation Counsel, Syracuse (Ann Magnarelli Alexander of Counsel), for Respondent–Appellant. Tisdell, Moore & Walter, Syracuse (Robert L. Tisdell of Counsel), for Petitioners–Respondents.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., PERADOTTO, SCONIERS, WHALEN, and DeJOSEPH, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Petitioners commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding seeking to annul the determination removing them from the rotational towing list of respondent City of Syracuse (City) and to reinstate them to the list until they received proper notice and a hearing. Supreme Court granted the petition, holding that Henson v. City of Syracuse, 147 Misc.2d 1064, 559 N.Y.S.2d 86, which involved the same parties as here, established that petitioners had a property interest in the towing list and could not be removed from it without due process. That was error. Supreme Court erred in determining that collateral estoppel applies and that a property interest existed between petitioners and the City based on Henson.
Collateral estoppel “applies only ‘if the issue in the second action is identical to an issue which was raised, necessarily decided and material in the first action, and the plaintiff had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in the earlier action’ ” ( City of New York v. Welsbach Elec. Corp., 9 N.Y.3d 124, 128, 848 N.Y.S.2d 551, 878 N.E.2d 966;see Plumley v. Erie Blvd. Hydropower, L.P., 114 A.D.3d 1249, 1249, 980 N.Y.S.2d 855).
We conclude that there is no identity of issue here inasmuch as the instant case involves different facts from those in Henson ( see Reiss v. Maynard, 129 A.D.2d 999, 1000, 514 N.Y.S.2d 309,appeal dismissed70 N.Y.2d 748, 520 N.Y.S.2d 1023, 514 N.E.2d 1375;cf. Academic Health Professionals Ins. Assn. v. Kaleida Health [Appeal No. 2], 305 A.D.2d 1055, 1056, 759 N.Y.S.2d 409,appeal dismissed100 N.Y.2d 614, 767 N.Y.S.2d 395, 799 N.E.2d 618,lv. dismissed100 N.Y.2d 614, 767 N.Y.S.2d 395, 799 N.E.2d 618). In Henson, 147 Misc.2d at 1065, 559 N.Y.S.2d 86, the City removed petitioners from the rotational towing list because they gave “an unlawful gratuity” to an employee of the Department of Motor Vehicles. In the instant case, the City removed petitioners from the rotational towing list because they charged “extra fees” and because of their attitude toward City police officers. The doctrine of collateral estoppel therefore does not apply ( see Plumley, 114 A.D.3d at 1249, 980 N.Y.S.2d 855;Reiss, 129 A.D.2d at 1000, 514 N.Y.S.2d 309). Even assuming, arguendo, that collateral estoppel applies, we note that Henson is not controlling because subsequent cases have held that a towing company does not have a “property ... interest in its inclusion on a municipal rotational tow list that would entitle it to ... a hearing” (Matter of Alltow, Inc. v. Village of Wappingers Falls, 94 A.D.3d 879, 881, 942 N.Y.S.2d 147;see Matter of Prestige Towing & Recovery, Inc. v. State of New York, 74 A.D.3d 1606, 1608, 904 N.Y.S.2d 251;see also Matter of Loyal Tire & Auto Ctr. v. New York State Thruway Auth., 227 A.D.2d 82, 85–86, 652 N.Y.S.2d 804,lv. denied90 N.Y.2d 804, 661 N.Y.S.2d 831, 684 N.E.2d 281).
We agree with the City that petitioners are not entitled to mandamus relief inasmuch as inclusion or removal from the rotational towing list is discretionary and the City's determination was not irrational, arbitrary, or capricious. “[M]andamus does not lie to enforce the performance of a duty that is discretionary, as opposed to ministerial” ( New York Civ. Liberties Union v. State of New York, 4 N.Y.3d 175, 184, 791 N.Y.S.2d 507, 824 N.E.2d 947,rearg. denied4 N.Y.3d 882, 798 N.Y.S.2d 726, 831 N.E.2d 971;see Alltow, Inc., 94 A.D.3d at 880, 942 N.Y.S.2d 147;Matter of Eck v. Mayor of Vil. of Attica, 28 A.D.3d 1195, 1196, 816 N.Y.S.2d 630). “[W]hen the issue concerns the exercise of discretion ..., [t]he courts cannot interfere unless there is no rational basis for the exercise of discretion or the action complained of is arbitrary and capricious” (Matter of Pell v. Board of Educ. of Union Free School Dist. No. 1 of Towns of Scarsdale & Mamaroneck, Westchester County, 34 N.Y.2d 222, 230–231, 356 N.Y.S.2d 833, 313 N.E.2d 321 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Prestige Towing & Recovery, Inc., 74 A.D.3d at 1607, 904 N.Y.S.2d 251;Matter of City of Buffalo [Buffalo Police Benevolent Assn.], 13 A.D.3d 1202, 1203, 786 N.Y.S.2d 789). We conclude upon our review of the record that there was a rational basis for the City's determination, and that the City did not act in an arbitrary or capricious manner in removing petitioners from the towing list ( see Alltow, Inc., 94 A.D.3d at 881, 942 N.Y.S.2d 147;Prestige Towing & Recovery, Inc., 74 A.D.3d at 1607–1608, 904 N.Y.S.2d 251).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs and the petition is dismissed.