Case Name: In the Matter of David Johnson, Petitioner, v. Randall T. Eng, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1994-10-11
Citations: 208 A.D.2d 629
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of David Johnson, Petitioner, v Randall T. Eng, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 208
Pages: 629–630

Head Matter:
In the Matter of David Johnson, Petitioner, v Randall T. Eng, Respondent.
[618 NYS2d 244]

Opinion:
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of mandamus, inter alia, to compel the respondent to assign a private investigator to assist the petitioner in preparing his defense to criminal charges.
Upon the petition and papers filed in support of the proceeding, and the papers filed in opposition thereto, it is
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. v Scheinman, 53 NY2d 12, 16). The petitioner here has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought. Thompson, J. P., Sullivan, Friedmann and Krausman, JJ., concur.