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: Stephen RUSSELL, appellant, v. NEW YORK CITYWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, et al., respondents.
In a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, sued herein as New York Citywide Administrative Services, dated February 7, 2006, terminating the petitioner's temporary employment, and to review a determination of the New York City Transit Authority dated April 13, 1989, terminating the petitioner's employment, the petitioner appeals from an order and judgment (one paper) of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Kramer, J.), dated January 19, 2007, which granted the motion of the New York City Transit Authority pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(5) and 7804(f) to dismiss the petition insofar as asserted against it as barred by the statute of limitations and the principles of res judicata, denied the petition insofar as asserted against the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, sued herein as New York Citywide Administrative Services, and dismissed the proceeding.
ORDERED that the order and judgment is affirmed, with one bill of costs.
The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, sued herein as New York Citywide Administrative Services (hereinafter DCAS), terminated the petitioner's temporary employment as a bridge and tunnel officer, based upon an investigation which revealed that he had failed to disclose pertinent information on his employment application. Contrary to the petitioner's contention, DCAS had a rational basis for its finding that he omitted information on his employment application relating to a prior misdemeanor criminal conviction, prior revocations and suspensions of his driver's license, and a prior termination from employment by the New York City Transit Authority (hereinafter NYCTA). Thus, the Supreme Court correctly concluded that the DCAS's decision to terminate the petitioner's temporary employment was not arbitrary and capricious, had a rational basis, and was not made in bad faith (see CPLR 7803[3]; Matter of Smith v. Kingsboro Psychiatric Ctr. (KPC ), 35 A.D.3d 751, 752, 828 N.Y.S.2d 419; Matter of Lagarenne v. Leake, 243 A.D.2d 258, 664 N.Y.S.2d 512; Matter of Roman v. Brown, 202 A.D.2d 321, 609 N.Y.S.2d 209; Matter of Moran v. Baxter, 193 A.D.2d 460, 597 N.Y.S.2d 688; Matter of Stewart v. Civil Serv. Commn. of N.Y., 84 A.D.2d 491, 446 N.Y.S.2d 948).
The Supreme Court also properly granted that branch of NYCTA's motion which was pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(5) and 7804(f) to dismiss the petition insofar as asserted against it upon the ground that it is barred by the applicable statute of limitations. A proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 must be commenced within four months after the administrative determination to be reviewed becomes “final and binding upon the petitioner” (CPLR 217[1] ). Here, the petitioner was terminated from his position at NYCTA in April 1989, and the determination terminating his employment became final and binding upon him, at the very latest, when a request by his union for reinstatement was denied in July 1995 (see Matter of Drake v. Reuter, 27 A.D.3d 736, 810 N.Y.S.2d 916; Matter of Mazzilli v. New York City Fire Dept., 224 A.D.2d 621, 638 N.Y.S.2d 681). Accordingly, this proceeding, commenced in July 2006, is clearly untimely insofar as it seeks review of the NYCTA's determination.
The petitioner's remaining contentions are without merit.
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: October 07, 2008
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second 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)