Opinion
2021–01725
01-12-2022
In the Matter of Steven P. POLLETTA, petitioner, v. Edward T. MCLOUGHLIN, respondent.
Jonna Spilbor Law, Poughkeepsie, NY (Dorothy B. Trochez of counsel), for petitioner. Letitia James, Attorney General, New York, NY (Melissa Ysaguirre of counsel), for respondent.
Jonna Spilbor Law, Poughkeepsie, NY (Dorothy B. Trochez of counsel), for petitioner.
Letitia James, Attorney General, New York, NY (Melissa Ysaguirre of counsel), for respondent.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., LINDA CHRISTOPHER, PAUL WOOTEN, DEBORAH A. DOWLING, JJ.
DECISION & JUDGMENT Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, inter alia, to review a determination of the respondent, Edward T. McLoughlin, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Dutchess County, dated June 17, 2020, which, without a hearing, denied the petitioner's application for a pistol license.
ADJUDGED that the proceeding is dismissed, without costs or disbursements.
In August 2019, the petitioner applied for a license to carry a concealed firearm. On June 17, 2020, the respondent denied the petitioner's application. In March 2021, the petitioner commenced this proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, inter alia, to review the determination. In his answer, the respondent asserted, among other things, that the petitioner failed to properly serve the respondent and the Office of the Attorney General with the petition as required by CPLR 307(2). In reply, the petitioner submitted, inter alia, an affidavit of service attesting that the petition was served by Federal Express overnight delivery on the respondent and the Office of the Attorney General.
CPLR 307(2) provides that personal service on a state officer sued solely in his or her official capacity is required to obtain personal jurisdiction over such officer. Personal service on a state officer may be made by, among other things, mailing the summons by certified mail, return receipt requested, to such officer, and by "personal service upon the state," which "shall be made by delivering the summons to an assistant attorney-general at an office of the attorney-general or to the attorney-general within the state" ( id. § 307[1], [2] ). Here, there is no indication in the record that the petition was personally delivered to an assistant attorney general at the Office of the Attorney General or to the Attorney General (see Matter of Randolph v. Office of the N.Y. State Comptroller, 168 A.D.3d 1195, 1196, 92 N.Y.S.3d 423 ; see also LaFrance v. State of New York, 144 A.D.2d 911, 912, 535 N.Y.S.2d 655 ["we do not equate Federal Express delivery [to the Attorney General] with personal service"]). Moreover, the mailing of the petition to the respondent by Federal Express overnight delivery was insufficient to satisfy the petitioner's obligation to mail the petition by certified mail, return receipt requested (see CPLR 307[2] ; Matter of Garcha v. City Ct. [City of Beacon], 39 A.D.3d 645, 646, 833 N.Y.S.2d 611 ). Thus, the petitioner's attempt to effect service was insufficient, and the proceeding is jurisdictionally defective (see Matter of Randolph v. Office of the N.Y. State Comptroller, 168 A.D.3d at 1196, 92 N.Y.S.3d 423 ; Matter of Finnan v. Ryan, 50 A.D.3d 1306, 855 N.Y.S.2d 726 ).
The petitioner's remaining contentions either are without merit or need not be reached in light of our determination.
Accordingly, we dismiss the proceeding.
DILLON, J.P., CHRISTOPHER, WOOTEN and DOWLING, JJ., concur.