Case ID: ad2d_209/html/0405-03.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In the Matter of Salah F. Abdelrahman, Doing Business as Tark Food Center, Petitioner, v New York State Liquor Authority, Respondent.
    [618 NYS2d 102]
   —Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the respondent New York State Liquor Authority, dated December 22, 1992, which confirmed a decision of an Administrative Law Judge, made after a hearing, finding that the petitioner had sold alcoholic beverages to a person under the age of 21 years, and suspending the petitioner’s off-premises beer license for 30 days and imposing a $1,000 bond forfeiture.

Adjudged that the determination is confirmed and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits, with costs.

The hearsay testimony of the police officer who accompanied the undercover police officer into the petitioner’s store established that the undercover officer was under 21 years of age on the date that she purchased beer from the petitioner’s store. Such ”[h]earsay evidence can be the basis of an administrative determination” where it is sufficiently relevant and probative to support the findings of the Administrative Law Judge (Matter of Gray v Adduci, 73 NY2d 741, 742). The Administrative Law Judge was free to accept the testimony of the testifying officer and to reject the testimony of the petitioner’s witness (see, Matter of Collins v Codd, 38 NY2d 269, 270-271). Where there is conflicting testimony and questions of credibility, the reviewing court may not weigh the evidence or reject the administrative agency’s determination of credibility (see, Matter of Berenhaus v Ward, 70 NY2d 436, 443-444). The respondent’s determination was supported by substantial evidence in the record (see, 300 Gramatan Ave. Assocs. v State Div. of Human Rights, 45 NY2d 176, 181). Further, the penalty imposed was not so disproportionate to the offense, in light of all of the circumstances, as to be shocking to one’s sense of fairness (see, Matter of Pell v Board of Educ., 34 NY2d 222, 233; Rumors Disco v New York State Liq. Auth., 137 AD2d 514). O’Brien, J. P., Pizzuto, Altman and Hart, JJ., concur.