COLOMBO v. SCHWARTZ (2005)

In an action, inter alia, to recover damages for libel, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (Molia, J.), entered September 4, 2003, which granted the defendants' motion pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7) to dismiss the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.

The Supreme Court properly dismissed the complaint insofar as asserted against the defendant University Hospital, SUNY at Stony Brook for lack of subject matter jurisdiction (see CPLR 3211[a][2] ).   The State of New York is the real party in interest in such litigation (see Education Law § 352;  Graham v. Stillman, 100 A.D.2d 893, 474 N.Y.S.2d 580;  State Univ. of N.Y. v. Syracuse Univ., 285 App.Div. 59, 61, 135 N.Y.S.2d 539;  cf. Easley v. New York State Thruway Auth., 1 N.Y.2d 374, 153 N.Y.S.2d 28, 135 N.E.2d 572).   Therefore, exclusive jurisdiction is vested in the Court of Claims (see Court of Claims Act §§ 8, 9;  Graham v. Stillman, supra;  Turner v. State of New York, 49 A.D.2d 269, 270, 374 N.Y.S.2d 731).

The defendant Dr. Michael Schwartz has judicial immunity from suit regarding the work he performed as a court-appointed psychiatric expert in connection with the plaintiff's spousal support litigation (see Hom v. Reubins, 268 A.D.2d 461, 702 N.Y.S.2d 603;  Braverman v. Halpern, 259 A.D.2d 306, 684 N.Y.S.2d 782).   Since all three causes of action insofar as asserted against Dr. Schwartz are based on the contents of the report he made to the court, the claims are barred by this judicial immunity.   Even absent such immunity, the plaintiff's claims fail to state a cause of action against either defendant.

The plaintiff's remaining contentions are without merit.