Opinion
2014-11-21
DAWUD H., Claimant–Appellant, v. STATE of New York, Defendant–Respondent. (Claim No. 117862.).
Karen Murtagh, Executive Director, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Albany (James Bogin of Counsel), for Claimant–Appellant. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Robert M. Goldfarb of Counsel), for Defendant–Respondent.
Karen Murtagh, Executive Director, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Albany (James Bogin of Counsel), for Claimant–Appellant. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Robert M. Goldfarb of Counsel), for Defendant–Respondent.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., SMITH, PERADOTTO, CARNI, and SCONIERS, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Claimant commenced this action seeking a civil penalty and compensatory damages for the allegedly unauthorized disclosure of his “ confidential HIV related information” by employees of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision at Mid–State Correctional Facility (Public Health Law § 2780[7]; see§ 2783[1][b] ). The Court of Claims properly denied claimant's motion for summary judgment inasmuch as claimant failed to establish as a matter of law that the information disclosed satisfies the definition of “confidential HIV related information” ( cf. Tatta v. State of New York, 20 A.D.3d 825, 826, 799 N.Y.S.2d 610, lv. denied5 N.Y.3d 716, 807 N.Y.S.2d 17, 840 N.E.2d 1031; Doe v. Roe, 190 A.D.2d 463, 468, 599 N.Y.S.2d 350, lv. dismissed82 N.Y.2d 846, 606 N.Y.S.2d 597, 627 N.E.2d 519).
We decline defendant's request to search the record and grant summary judgment dismissing the claim inasmuch as defendant failed to establish that the disclosure was authorized by statute or regulation ( seePublic Health Law § 2782[1], [2]; 7 NYCRR 7.5[b][6] ), or that it was otherwise entitled to judgment as a matter of law ( see generally Village of Ilion v. County of Herkimer, 63 A.D.3d 1546, 1547, 879 N.Y.S.2d 875).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.