Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: Victor K. THOMAS, Appellant, v. Donald SELSKY, as Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, Respondent.
Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (Teresi, J.), entered June 6, 2005 in Albany County, which, in a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, granted respondent's motion to dismiss the petition for lack of personal jurisdiction.
Petitioner attempted to commence this CPLR article 78 proceeding challenging a prison disciplinary determination. In the order to show cause, Supreme Court directed petitioner to serve the order to show cause, petition, exhibits and supporting documentation by ordinary first class mail upon each named respondent and the Attorney General on or before April 8, 2005. Respondent moved to dismiss the petition on the ground that petitioner failed to comply with the service requirements of the order to show cause. Supreme Court granted the motion and this appeal ensued.
We affirm. It is well established that an inmate's “[f]ailure ․ to satisfy the service requirements set forth in an order to show cause requires dismissal for lack of jurisdiction absent a showing that imprisonment presented obstacles beyond his control which prevented compliance” (Matter of Gittens v. Selsky, 193 A.D.2d 986, 987, 598 N.Y.S.2d 110 [1993]; see Matter of Robinson v. Goord, 21 A.D.3d 1150, 1151, 800 N.Y.S.2d 786 [2005] ). The evidence in the record reveals that on April 13, 2005 petitioner served only the order to show cause, without any other documentation, upon respondent and the Attorney General. Clearly, this was not in compliance with the service requirements of the order to show cause and petitioner has not submitted proof that service was properly effected. Petitioner's attempt to cast blame on prison officials who purportedly delayed his request for funds for photocopying is not compelling (see Matter of Hickey v. Goord, 3 A.D.3d 802, 803, 770 N.Y.S.2d 904 [2004]; Matter of Boomer v. Walker, 242 A.D.2d 801, 802, 661 N.Y.S.2d 884 [1997] ).
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: November 02, 2006
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)