Opinion
519485.
04-30-2015
In the Matter of Michel TOLIVER, Petitioner, v. NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION et al., Respondents.
Michel Toliver, Wallkill, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondents.
Michel Toliver, Wallkill, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondents.
Before: GARRY, J.P., EGAN JR., DEVINE and CLARK, JJ.
Opinion Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Ulster County) to review a determination of respondent Superintendent of Shawangunk Correctional Facility which found petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
Petitioner, an inmate, was involved in an incident in which he began yelling obscenities from his cell that continued after he was ordered to stop. He was charged in a misbehavior report with creating a disturbance, refusing a direct order and interfering with an employee. Following a tier II disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of creating a disturbance and refusing a direct order, but not guilty of interfering with an employee. The determination was affirmed on administrative appeal and this CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
Although the proceeding should not have been transferred inasmuch as the petition does not raise a question of substantial evidence, we nevertheless will retain jurisdiction in the interest of judicial economy (see Matter of
We confirm. Initially, contrary to petitioner's contention, the record reflects that he was served a copy of the misbehavior report at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of the hearing (see 7 NYCRR 254.6 [a][1] ). We further reject petitioner's claim that he was improperly removed from the hearing. Petitioner became extremely agitated during the hearing and requested to be taken to the mental health unit. The Hearing Officer adjourned the hearing to afford an opportunity for a facility mental health social worker to evaluate petitioner. Following the evaluation, the social worker testified that she found no mental health issues that would prevent petitioner from properly participating in the hearing. After the hearing resumed, petitioner again became agitated and uncooperative, despite the Hearing Officer's warning that he would be expelled from the hearing if his conduct persisted (see Matter of Alsaifullah v. Fischer, 118 A.D.3d 1239, 1240, 987 N.Y.S.2d 717 [2014], lv. denied 24 N.Y.3d 906, 2014 WL 5368870 [2014] ). Under these circumstances, we cannot say that the Hearing Officer abused his discretion in removing petitioner from the hearing (see Matter of Huggins v. Noeth, 106 A.D.3d 1351, 1352, 965 N.Y.S.2d 667 [2013] ; Matter of Blocker v. Hetrick, 100 A.D.3d 1302, 1303, 955 N.Y.S.2d 247 [2012] ). We have considered petitioner's remaining claims and find them to be lacking in merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.
Selah v. LaValley, 117 A.D.3d 1261, 1261 n., 984 N.Y.S.2d 895 [2014] ).