Case Name: In the Matter of Paul E. Thomas, Appellant, v. New York Temporary State Commission on Regulation of Lobbying et al., Respondents
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1982-05-04
Citations: 56 N.Y.2d 656
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Paul E. Thomas, Appellant, v New York Temporary State Commission on Regulation of Lobbying et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 56
Pages: 656–659

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Paul E. Thomas, Appellant, v New York Temporary State Commission on Regulation of Lobbying et al., Respondents.
Argued March 23, 1982;
decided May 4, 1982
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Leonard Krouner and Ronald H. Sinzheimer for appellant.
Robert Abrams, Attorney-General (William J. Kogan and Shirley Adelson Siegel of counsel), for respondent.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs.
Given the nature of the attorney-client relationship and petitioner's position as associate counsel to respondent New York State Temporary Commission on Regulation of Lobbying, it cannot be said that reports of petitioner's active assistance to two public interest lobbying groups regulated by the commission were an improper basis for the commission's decision to terminate petitioner's employment (cf. Arnett v Kennedy, 416 US 134; Cooper v Johnson, 590 F2d 559). Nor was petitioner entitled to a due process hearing inasmuch as he never alleged that there was public dissemination of the reasons for his dismissal. Finally, petitioner, a nontenured employee, has demonstrated no procedural violation in the manner in which his employment was terminated.
Chief Judge Cooke and Judges Jasen, Gabrielli, Jones, Wachtler, Fuchsberg and Meyer concur.
Order affirmed, with costs, in a memorandum.