IN RE: Kings Point Holdings (2011)

Argued—March 9, 2011

DECISION & ORDER

In a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to prohibit the respondents from prosecuting six summonses and issuing any additional summonses for alleged violations of Kings Point Code § 161–50.2(A) on the ground that any such actions are barred by a previous prosecution, the petitioner appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Adams, J.), dated November 4, 2009, which, in effect, denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

Kings Point Holdings, LLC (hereinafter KPH), is the owner of residential property located on Kings Point Road in the Village of Kings Point.   In May 2008, after receiving approval from the Army Corps of Engineers and a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (hereinafter the DEC), KPH performed certain alterations to an existing dock adjacent to the subject premises.

On June 9, 2008, after complaints were received and an inspection was conducted, KPH was issued a summons for violating Kings Point Village Code § 161–50.2(A), which prohibits the construction of a dock without a permit issued by the Kings Point Building Department.   Subsequently, in August 2008, KPH commenced certain work necessary to bring the dock into compliance with the permit previously issued by the DEC. KPH, after receiving and rejecting a “Stop Work Order” from the Building Inspector, was then, on six separate occasions between August 11, 2008, and September 4, 2008, issued summonses for additional violations of Kings Point Village Code § 161–50.2(A).   KPH, which entered a plea and paid a fine in satisfaction of the summons issued on June 9, 2008, commenced the instant proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to prohibit the respondents from prosecuting any of the six outstanding summonses and from issuing any additional summonses on the ground that any such actions violate the prohibition against double jeopardy.   KPH also alleged that it was the victim of selective and discriminatory prosecution due to personal animus against its principal, Adam Katz.

Contrary to KPH's contentions, the Supreme Court properly concluded that there was no statutory double jeopardy violation (see generally People v. Dean, 56 A.D.2d 242, 246, affd 45 N.Y.2d 651).   The outstanding summonses are not based upon the same act as that for which the summons dated June 9, 2008, was issued, and additional prosecutions for separate and distinct violations of law do not violate KPH's rights as prescribed in CPL 40.20 (see Matter of Kessler v. Sherman, 51 A.D.2d 52, affd 41 N.Y.2d 851).   Moreover, CPL 40.40, which prohibits separate prosecution of jointly prosecutable offenses, “applies only if the defendant has requested consolidation thereof for trial purposes and the request is denied” (People v. Dean, 56 A.D.2d at 246;  see People v. Madden, 49 AD3d 1264, 1265;  Weiner v New York State Dept. of Motor Vehs., 79 A.D.2d 1022).   Here, KPH did not move to consolidate the outstanding summonses with the summons issued June 9, 2008.

Finally, while intentional or purposeful discrimination in the administration of an otherwise nondiscriminatory law violates equal protection (see Yick Wo v. Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356;  People v. Goodman, 31 N.Y.2d 262, 268), KPH failed to meet its “ ‘heavy burden’ ” of showing “ ‘conscious, intentional discrimination’ ” (People v. Goodman, 31 N.Y.2d at 268, quoting People v. Utica Daw's Drug Co., 16 A.D.2d 12, 19) or a “consciously practiced pattern of discrimination” (People v. Goodman, 31 N.Y.2d at 268, citing People v. Friedman, 302 N.Y. 75;  see People v. Acme Mkts., Inc., 37 N.Y.2d 326, 330;  People v. Rodriguez, 192 A.D.2d 683).   KPH did not submit evidence establishing that the law was not applied to others similarly situated, or that the “ ‘selective application ․ was deliberately based upon an impermissible standard such as race, religion or some other arbitrary classification’ ” (People v. Rodriguez, 192 A.D.2d at 683, quoting Matter of 303 W. 42nd St. Corp. v Klein, 46 N.Y.2d 686, 693).

Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly, in effect, denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding.

COVELLO, J.P., DICKERSON, BELEN and LOTT, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Matthew G. Kiernan

Clerk of the Court