Opinion
March 30, 1992
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Westchester County (Ingrassia, J.).
Ordered that the cross appeal by Harold Cipollone, by his representative Municipal Information Services, is dismissed, for failure to perfect the cross appeal in accordance with the rules of this court (see, 22 NYCRR 670.8 [e]); and it is further,
Ordered that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed and cross-appealed from by Dora Rosen, without costs or disbursements.
Although the Small Claims Assessment Review procedure in RPTL, article 7, title 1-A, designated a "judicial review" process in the statute, we look to the nature of the proceeding and the representation required in order to determine if non-attorneys may properly act on behalf of petitioners in such proceedings (see, Realty Appraisals Co. v Astor-Broadway Holding Corp., 5 A.D.2d 36, 38). We conclude that the court correctly determined that representation by non-attorneys was permitted. The informal nature of the hearing, the specialized nature of the expertise required, and the clear authorization in the statute for non-attorney preparation of the initiating petition, all support this conclusion. In addition, such representation furthers the intent of the Legislature to establish a specialized and efficient forum for residential assessment disputes.
We decline to follow Matter of Property Valuation Analysts v Williams ( 164 A.D.2d 131) to the extent that it is inconsistent with this holding. The statement in that case that proceedings to review real property assessments must be initiated by an attorney is dicta, is not controlling, and did not address the Small Claims Assessment Review procedure. Indeed, the precedent cited for this proposition predates RPTL, article 7, title 1-A by more than half a century.
We have considered the parties' remaining contentions and find them to be without merit. Sullivan, J.P., Balletta, Lawrence and Santucci, JJ., concur.