Case Name: In the Matter of Patrick Lynch, Appellant, v. Thomas A. Coughlin, III, as Commissioner of Department of Correctional Services, et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1993-11-19
Citations: 198 A.D.2d 889
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Patrick Lynch, Appellant, v Thomas A. Coughlin, III, as Commissioner of Department of Correctional Services, et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 198
Pages: 889–889

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Patrick Lynch, Appellant, v Thomas A. Coughlin, III, as Commissioner of Department of Correctional Services, et al., Respondents.
[606 NYS2d 1020]

Opinion:
—Judgment unanimously vacated, determination confirmed and petition dismissed. Memorandum: Because petitioner's CPLR article 78 proceeding presented a substantial evidence question, it should have been transferred to this Court (see, CPLR 7804 [g]; Matty of Benesch v Village of Clayton, 185 AD2d 688, lv denied 81 NY2d 702, rearg denied 81 NY2d 912; Matter of Melvin v Kelly, 126 AD2d 956, lv denied 69 NY2d 609). We consider the matter de novo, as if it had been properly transferred (see, Matter of Benesch v Village of Clayton, supra; Matter of Melvin v Kelly, supra).
Respondents' determination that petitioner violated institutional rules by refusing a direct order (see, 7 NYCRR 270.2 [B] [7] [i]) and making threats (see, 7 NYCRR 270.2 [B] [3] [i]) is supported by substantial evidence. Petitioner remained in the custody of prison officials during his treatment at Erie County Medical Center (see, Correction Law § 23 [2]) and was not free to decide "which orders to obey and which to ignore" (Matter of Rivera v Smith, 63 NY2d 501, 516). (Appeal from Judgment of Supreme Court, Wyoming County, Griffith, J. — Article 78.) Present — Callahan, J. P., Green, Balio, Fallon and Boehm, JJ.