Opinion
Argued April 25, 1977
Decided April 28, 1977
Appeal from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department, JOHN W. SWEENY, J.
Philip M. Gassel and Lawrence Alexander for appellants.
Louis J. Lefkowitz, Attorney-General (Peter A. Berkowsky, Samuel A. Hirshowitz and Herbert J. Wallenstein of counsel), for Abe Lavine, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Social Services, respondent.
Order reversed, with costs, and the judgment of Supreme Court, Orange County, reinstated on the opinion by Mr. Justice JOHN W. SWEENY at Special Term and the dissenting memorandum by Mr. Justice JAMES D. HOPKINS at the Appellate Division. In the interests of administrative and judicial economy the better discretion would have been to proceed expeditiously with the fair hearings.
Concur: Chief Judge BREITEL and Judges JASEN, GABRIELLI, JONES, WACHTLER, FUCHSBERG and COOKE.