Opinion
2011-11-23
In the Matter of Zebadiah HART, Petitioner, v. Brian FISCHER, as Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Zebadiah Hart, Alden, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
Zebadiah Hart, Alden, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
Before: MERCURE, J.P., LAHTINEN, MALONE JR., KAVANAGH and EGAN JR., JJ.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Albany County) to review a determination of respondent which found petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.
Petitioner, a prison inmate, was charged in a misbehavior report with the use of a controlled substance after his urine twice tested positive for the presence of cannabinoids. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty. That determination was upheld on administrative appeal, with a downward modification to the penalty assessed, and petitioner thereafter commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
We confirm. To the extent that petitioner challenges the evidentiary basis for the determination, we find that the misbehavior report, positive drug tests, supporting documentation and hearing testimony provide substantial evidence of his guilt ( see Matter of Hughes v. Bezio, 84 A.D.3d 1598, 1598, 924 N.Y.S.2d 298 [2011]; Matter of Ellison v. Fischer, 79 A.D.3d 1538, 1538–1539, 917 N.Y.S.2d 325 [2010] ).
Turning to the procedural contentions, we find that any deficiencies in petitioner's employee assistance were cured at the hearing when the Hearing Officer furnished the requested documents and provided ample time to petitioner to review them before proceeding ( see Matter of Mayo v. Fischer, 82 A.D.3d 1421, 1422, 918 N.Y.S.2d 676 [2011], lv. denied 17 N.Y.3d 702, 2011 WL 2237041 [2011]; Matter of Williams v. Fischer, 73 A.D.3d 1364, 1364–1365, 900 N.Y.S.2d 792 [2010] ). We also disagree with petitioner's contention that he was impermissibly denied his right to call witnesses. With regard to petitioner's requested inmate witness, there is no evidence that he had ever agreed to testify and the record demonstrates that he refused when called upon to do so ( see Matter of Barca v. Fischer, 80 A.D.3d 1038, 1039, 915 N.Y.S.2d 392 [2011], lv. denied 16 N.Y.3d 711, 2011 WL 1643302 [2011]; Matter of Tafari v. Fischer, 78 A.D.3d 1405, 1406, 913 N.Y.S.2d 777 [2010], lv. denied 16 N.Y.3d 704, 2011 WL 501326 [2011] ). We also reject petitioner's contention that it was error to deny his request for a witness from a prisoner's rights group to testify that one of his medications could have caused a false positive, inasmuch as a report from that group was admitted, making such testimony redundant ( see Matter of Perkins v. Goord, 290 A.D.2d 700, 701, 736 N.Y.S.2d 462 [2002]; see e.g. Matter of Gomez v. Fischer, 74 A.D.3d 1399, 1400, 902 N.Y.S.2d 212 [2010], lv. dismissed 15 N.Y.3d 858, 909 N.Y.S.2d 688, 936 N.E.2d 454 [2010] ). Petitioner was not entitled to cross-examine the confidential witness ( see Matter of Perretti v. Fischer, 58 A.D.3d 999, 1002, 871 N.Y.S.2d 746 [2009], lv. denied 12 N.Y.3d 709, 2009 WL 1259064 [2009] ). Finally, we find that the determination of guilt resulted from the evidence presented at the hearing, rather than any alleged hearing officer bias ( see Matter of Abreu v. Fischer, 84 A.D.3d 1597, 923 N.Y.S.2d 783 [2011] ).
We have examined petitioner's remaining contentions, including that the hearing was not conducted in a timely manner, and find them to be either unpreserved or without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.