Case Name: In the Matter of Jose Burgos, Petitioner, v. James P. Griffin et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2009-03-31
Citations: 60 A.D.3d 1051
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Jose Burgos, Petitioner, v James P. Griffin et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 60
Pages: 1051–1051

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Jose Burgos, Petitioner, v James P. Griffin et al., Respondents.
[875 NYS2d 813]—

Opinion:
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of prohibition to prohibit the respondents from proceeding with a criminal action entitled People v Burgos, pending in the Supreme Court, Queens County, under indictment No. 91/08. Application by the petitioner to prosecute the proceeding as a poor person.
Ordered that the application to prosecute the 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]; Matter of Barton v Griffin, 59 AD3d 615 [2009]).
Here, the petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought. Fisher, J.P., Miller, Balkin and Belen, JJ., concur.