Case Name: In the Matter of the Gates of Goodness and Mercy, by Denise Wallace, Petitioner, v. John A. Johnson, as Commissioner of New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2008-03-14
Citations: 49 A.D.3d 1295
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Gates of Goodness and Mercy, by Denise Wallace, Petitioner, v John A. Johnson, as Commissioner of New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 49
Pages: 1295–1295

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Gates of Goodness and Mercy, by Denise Wallace, Petitioner, v John A. Johnson, as Commissioner of New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Respondent.
[852 NYS2d 866]

Opinion:
Memorandum: Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding seeking to annul the determination revoking petitioner's license to operate a group family daycare home. Contrary to petitioner's contention, the determination is supported by substantial evidence (see generally 300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v State Div. of Human Rights, 45 NY2d 176, 181-182 [1978]). The hearsay evidence presented by respondent was admissible in this administrative proceeding, and it was sufficiently relevant and probative to constitute substantial evidence (see Matter of Gray v Adduci, 73 NY2d 741, 742 [1988]; People ex rel. Vega v Smith, 66 NY2d 130, 139 [1985]; see also Matter of BiCounty Brokerage S. Corp. v State of N.Y. Ins. Dept., 4 AD3d 470 [2004]). We further conclude that the penalty is not "so disproportionate to the offense as to be shocking to one's sense of fairness" (Matter of Pell v Board of Educ. of Union Free School Dist. No. 1 of Towns of Scarsdale & Mamaroneck, Westchester County, 34 NY2d 222, 237 [1974]; see Matter of Kelly v Safir, 96 NY2d 32, 38 [2001], rearg denied 96 NY2d 854 [2001]). Present—Scudder, P.J., Centra, Lunn, Fahey and Green, JJ.