PEOPLE EX REL STRONG v. GRIFFIN (2018)

DECISION & ORDER

In a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 70 for a writ of habeas corpus, the petitioner appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Dutchess County (James D. Pagones, J.), dated June 2, 2015.  The judgment, without a hearing, denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding.

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

The petitioner was convicted, upon a jury verdict, of arson in the second degree and criminal contempt in the first degree.  He remains incarcerated pursuant to that judgment of conviction, rendered July 28, 2004.  By order to show cause dated February 25, 2015, the petitioner commenced this proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 70 for a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that he has been imprisoned after having been deprived of fundamental constitutional and statutory rights.  In response, the respondent argued, among other things, that the petitioner failed to strictly comply with the service requirements of the order to show cause.  The Supreme Court denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding.  The petitioner appeals.

“The method of service provided for in an order to show cause is jurisdictional in nature and must be strictly complied with” (U.S. Bank N.A. v. Feliciano, 103 A.D.3d 791, 791, 959 N.Y.S.2d 453 [internal quotation marks omitted];  see City of New York v. Miller, 72 A.D.3d 726, 727, 898 N.Y.S.2d 643).  Here, we agree with the Supreme Court's determination to dismiss the proceeding for lack of personal jurisdiction due to the petitioner's failure to follow the directive of the order to show cause to serve the respondent and the Attorney General with a copy of the papers upon which the order to show cause was based.  Given the petitioner's failure to comply with the service requirements of the order to show cause, dismissal of the proceeding was warranted (see Matter of Barclay v. State of New York Dept. of Correctional Servs., 22 A.D.3d 974, 802 N.Y.S.2d 389;  Matter of Villalba v. State of N.Y., Div. of Parole, Exec. Dept., 260 A.D.2d 811, 811, 687 N.Y.S.2d 306).

In light of our determination, we need not reach the parties' remaining contentions.

BALKIN, J.P., AUSTIN, SGROI and BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ., concur.