Case Name: In the Matter of David Bernard, Petitioner, v. Gregory L. Lasak, as Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2009-03-24
Citations: 60 A.D.3d 942
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of David Bernard, Petitioner, v Gregory L. Lasak, as Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 60
Pages: 942–942

Head Matter:
In the Matter of David Bernard, Petitioner, v Gregory L. Lasak, as Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Respondent.
[874 NYS2d 813]—

Opinion:
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of mandamus, inter alia, to compel the respondent, Gregory L. Lasak, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Queens County, to recall and vacate a decision and order dated July 29, 2008, 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, without costs or disbursements.
The extraordinary remedy of mandamus will lie only to compel the performance of a ministerial act and only when there exists a clear legal right to the relief sought (see Matter of Legal Aid Socy. of Sullivan County v Scheinman, 53 NY2d 12, 16 [1981]). The petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought. Fisher, J.P., Dillon, Angiolillo and Belen, JJ., concur.