Case Name: In the Matter of Thomas Heaney, Petitioner, v. Ira H. Wexner et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1993-06-21
Citations: 194 A.D.2d 725
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Thomas Heaney, Petitioner, v Ira H. Wexner et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 194
Pages: 725–726

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Thomas Heaney, Petitioner, v Ira H. Wexner et al., Respondents.
[601 NYS2d 806]

Opinion:
—Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of a writ of prohibí tion, inter alia, seeking to bar the prosecution of the petitioner under Nassau County Indictment No. 80668.
Adjudged that the proceeding is dismissed, 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). As the instant indictment appears to be valid on its face, the respondent court is not acting without jurisdiction, and the extraordinary remedy of prohibition does not lie. Thompson, J. P., Bracken, Sullivan, Balletta and Rosenblatt, JJ., concur.