Case Name: In the Matter of Goldie Willoughby, Petitioner, v. Martin P. Murphy et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2008-08-19
Citations: 54 A.D.3d 419
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Goldie Willoughby, Petitioner, v Martin P. Murphy et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 54
Pages: 419–419

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Goldie Willoughby, Petitioner, v Martin P. Murphy et al., Respondents.
[863 NYS2d 470]

Opinion:
Proceeding, inter alia, pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of prohibition to prohibit the respondents from proceeding with a criminal action entitled People v Willoughby pending in the Supreme Court, Kings County, under indictment Nos. 80448/06 and 3453/ 07. Application by the petitioner to prosecute this proceeding as a poor person.
Ordered that the application to prosecute this proceeding as a poor person is granted to the extent that the filing fee imposed by CPLR 8022 (b) is waived, and the application is otherwise denied as academic; and it is further,
Adjudged that the petition is denied and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits, without costs or disbursements.
"Because of its extraordinary nature, prohibition is available only where there is a clear legal right, and then only when a court—in cases where judicial authority is challenged—acts or threatens to act either without jurisdiction or in excess of its authorized powers" (Matter of Holtzman v Goldman, 71 NY2d 564, 569 [1988]; see Matter of Rush v Mordue, 68 NY2d 348, 352 [1986]). The petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought. Rivera, J.P., Ritter, Miller and Dillon, JJ., concur.