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IN RE: Patrick SUTHERLAND, Appellant, v. Donald SELSKY, as Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, et al., Respondents.
Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (Devine, J.), entered December 11, 2007 in Albany County, which dismissed petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, to review a determination of the Commissioner of Correctional Services finding petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
Petitioner, a prison inmate, was charged in a misbehavior report with facilitating a work stoppage and creating a disturbance. At the ensuing tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of both charges. That determination was affirmed on administrative appeal, prompting petitioner to commence this CPLR article 78 proceeding seeking annulment. Supreme Court dismissed the petition and this appeal followed.
We affirm. Contrary to petitioner's assertion, the Hearing Officer properly refused to call certain civilian witnesses because they had no personal knowledge of the incident and, thus, their testimony would have been redundant or irrelevant to the charges (see Matter of Morris v. Goord, 50 A.D.3d 1327, 1327, 855 N.Y.S.2d 307 [2008]; Matter of Moore v. State Dept. of Correctional Servs., 50 A.D.3d 1350, 1351, 854 N.Y.S.2d 827 [2008]; Matter of Hannah v. Burge, 43 A.D.3d 1234, 1234, 841 N.Y.S.2d 719 [2007]; Matter of Lee v. Goord, 36 A.D.3d 1176, 1177, 827 N.Y.S.2d 373 [2007] ). On this issue, we cannot consider the witness affidavit attached to petitioner's brief on appeal because it was not included in the record before Supreme Court (see Matter of Lebron v. McGinnis, 20 A.D.3d 793, 797 N.Y.S.2d 923 [2005], lv. denied 5 N.Y.3d 714, 806 N.Y.S.2d 165, 840 N.E.2d 134 [2007]; Matter of Ali v. Goord, 15 A.D.3d 699, 700, 788 N.Y.S.2d 736 [2005] ). As for petitioner's contention that he was deprived of adequate employee assistance, any alleged deficiencies were cured by the Hearing Officer during the hearing (see Matter of Jenkins v. Selsky, 51 A.D.3d 1239, 1240, 858 N.Y.S.2d 447 [2008] ). Petitioner's remaining claims, to the extent not specifically addressed herein, have been examined and found to be unavailing.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.
[Decision vacated by 61 AD3d 1188.]
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Decided: November 06, 2008
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York.
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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.
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