Case Name: In the Matter of Johnathan Johnson, Petitioner, v. Carmen R. Velasquez, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2017-07-26
Citations: 152 A.D.3d 771
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Johnathan Johnson, Petitioner, v Carmen R. Velasquez, Respondent.
Judges: Eng, P.J., Roman, LaSalle and Connolly, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 152
Pages: 771–771

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Johnathan Johnson, Petitioner, v Carmen R. Velasquez, Respondent.
[56 NYS3d 468]

Opinion:
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of prohibition to prohibit the respondent, Carmen R. Velasquez, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Queens County, from staying an action entitled Johnson v R & G Gen. Constr. Co., pending in that court under index No. 20061/12, and application by the petitioner for poor person relief.
Ordered that the application for poor person relief is granted to the extent that the filing fee imposed by CPLR 8022 (b) is waived, and the application is otherwise denied; 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.
Eng, P.J., Roman, LaSalle and Connolly, JJ., concur.