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Matter of Smith v. Coughlin

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Feb 21, 1991
170 A.D.2d 845 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991)

Opinion

February 21, 1991

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Franklin County.


Petitioner has failed in his burden of proving that the Hearing Officer was not impartial by virtue of the manner in which he asked petitioner's questions to the witnesses (see, Matter of Nieves v Coughlin, 157 A.D.2d 943, 944; Matter of Diaz v Coughlin, 143 A.D.2d 485). In any event, petitioner is not entitled to confront or cross-examine witnesses (see, Matter of Laureano v Kuhlmann, 75 N.Y.2d 141, 146). Furthermore, there is no merit to petitioner's contention that the misbehavior report was constitutionally deficient. Even if the correction officer's signature was improperly missing from petitioner's copy of the misbehavior report, petitioner has shown no prejudice from this as he knew the author of the report by its context, which specifically named the correction officer, and it adequately informed him of the charges against him (see, Matter of Vogelsang v Coombe, 105 A.D.2d 913, affd 66 N.Y.2d 835). Finally, the testimony of the correction officers and the misbehavior report itself provide substantial evidence to support the conclusion that petitioner's sudden movements could have been viewed as a threat, especially after petitioner had just refused a direct order (see, Matter of Johnson v Coughlin, 157 A.D.2d 991, 992).

Determination confirmed, and petition dismissed, without costs. Weiss, J.P., Mikoll, Yesawich, Jr., Levine and Mercure, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

Matter of Smith v. Coughlin

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Feb 21, 1991
170 A.D.2d 845 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991)
Case details for

Matter of Smith v. Coughlin

Case Details

Full title:In the Matter of PETER SMITH, Petitioner, v. THOMAS A. COUGHLIN, III, as…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department

Date published: Feb 21, 1991

Citations

170 A.D.2d 845 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991)
566 N.Y.S.2d 673

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