Case Name: In the Matter of Donald Felix, Petitioner, v. Donald P. DeRiggi, Respondent. Denis Dillon, Nonparty
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2002-08-05
Citations: 297 A.D.2d 286
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Donald Felix, Petitioner, v Donald P. DeRiggi, Respondent. Denis Dillon, Nonparty.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 297
Pages: 286–286

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Donald Felix, Petitioner, v Donald P. DeRiggi, Respondent. Denis Dillon, Nonparty.
[745 NYS2d 923]

Opinion:
Motion by the respondent to dismiss the proceeding.
Ordered that the motion is granted; and it is further,
Adjudged that the petition is denied and the proceeding is dismissed, 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; see Matter of Rush v Mordue, 68 NY2d 348, 352). Similarly, 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).
The petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought. O'Brien, J.P., Friedmann, McGinity and H. Miller, JJ., concur.