Matter of Wesolowski v Donahue
2007 NY Slip Op 09472 [45 AD3d 1224]
November 29, 2007
Appellate Division, Third Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, January 16, 2008


In the Matter of Robert Wesolowski, Petitioner, v Richard Donahue, as Hearing Officer, et al., Respondents.

[*1] Robert Wesolowski, Comstock, petitioner pro se.

Andrew M. Cuomo, Attorney General, Albany (Patrick Bennett-Mulligan of counsel), for respondents.

Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Chemung County) to review a determination of respondent Superintendent of Southport Correctional Facility which found petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.

Following a tier II disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of providing unauthorized legal assistance. The determination was affirmed on administrative appeal and this CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.

We confirm. The misbehavior report, corroborating hearing testimony from the correction officer who authored it and the handwriting sample constitute substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Santana v Selsky, 23 AD3d 722, 723 [2005]). Petitioner's denial of the charge created a credibility issue for resolution by the Hearing Officer (see Matter of Callender v Selsky, 41 AD3d 1065, 1066 [2007]).

Petitioner's remaining contentions, including his claims that he was not afforded an impartial hearing and the misbehavior report was fatally deficient and issued as a means of retaliation, have been examined and found to be unavailing. [*2]

Cardona, P.J., Crew III, Carpinello, Mugglin and Kane, JJ., concur. Adjudged that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.