Opinion
No. 2007-09647.
May 6, 2008.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of mandamus to compel the respondents to return the sum of $675,840.03 seized from the petitioner's bank account pursuant to a search warrant.
Berkman, Henoch, Peterson Peddy, P.C., Garden City, N.Y. (Joseph E. Macy of counsel), for petitioner.
Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Michael Morelli of counsel), respondent pro se. Andrew M. Cuomo, Attorney General, New York, N.Y. (Roberta L. Martin of counsel), for respondent Guy Mangano, Jr. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y.
(Pamela Seider Dolgow of counsel), for respondent City of New York (no answer filed). Berkman, Henoch, Peterson Peddy, P.C., Garden City, N.Y. (Joseph E. Macy of counsel), for petitioner.
Before: Rivera, J.P., Ritter, Miller and Dillon, JJ.
Adjudged that the petition is denied and the proceeding is dismissed, without costs or disbursements.
The extraordinary remedy of mandamus is available only to compel the performance of a ministerial act, and only when the petitioner has a clear legal right to the relief sought ( see Matter of Crain Communications v Hughes, 74 NY2d 626; Matter of Kevilly v Honorof 287 AD2d 504). Here, the petitioner failed to establish a clear legal right to the return of its property ( see Matter of Moss v Spitzer, 19 AD3d 599; Matter of D'Agnese v Scher, 306 AD2d 408). Therefore, the petition must be denied and the proceeding dismissed.