Court Opinion

ID: 9942014
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-20 14:07:34.690587+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:47:35.627349
License: Public Domain

Martin v New York State Unified Ct. Sys.
               2024 NY Slip Op 30472(U)
                    February 13, 2024
           Supreme Court, New York County
        Docket Number: Index No. 161366/2023
                  Judge: Arlene P. Bluth
Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip
 Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York
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  York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service.
 This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official
                       publication.
                                                                                                                       INDEX NO. 161366/2023
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 23                                                                                             RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/13/2024

            SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
            COUNTY OF NEW YORK: PART 14
            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------X
             SEAN MARTIN,                                                                          INDEX NO.         161366/2023

                                                         Petitioner,
                                                                                                   MOTION DATE        02/02/2024
                                                -v-
                                                                                                   MOTION SEQ. NO.        001
             NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM, NEW
             YORK STATE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION,
             JOSEPH A. ZAYAS AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE
             OF THE NYS COURTS                                                                      DECISION + ORDER ON
                                                                                                          MOTION
                                                         Respondents.
            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------X

            HON. ARLENE P. BLUTH:

            The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 001) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
            8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
            were read on this motion to/for                             ARTICLE 78                              .

                      The petition to annul petitioner’s disqualification from the New York State Court Officer

            Trainee Program is denied.

            Background

                      Petitioner applied to the New York State Court Officer Trainee program. In 2019, he

            passed the court officer trainee examination. As part of the hiring process, petitioner was subject

            to a background check in which he submitted responses to a questionnaire regarding his prior

            work history, periods of unemployment, and the existence of any disciplinary complaints. After

            evaluating him, respondent decided not to hire him: that decision is challenged here.

                      During petitioner’s evaluation, he acknowledged that he had at least 7 periods of

            unemployment, four of which were for extended periods of time. Petitioner also stated that he

            had a complaint from a previous employer in which he was asked to wear a mask by an

            employee of a contracted client, to which he responded “let them tell me that,” (referring to the
             161366/2023 MARTIN, SEAN vs. NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM ET AL                                    Page 1 of 6
             Motion No. 001

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  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 23                                                                       RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/13/2024

            employee’s boss) and the client filed a complaint stating the response was aggressive (NYSCEF

            Doc. No. 15 at 3). Additionally, petitioner admitted that for one job position, he was paid in cash

            that he never reported on his taxes.

                    In a follow-up email, the evaluator requested more information regarding petitioner’s

            prior unemployment, the client complaint, and if he was involved in any car accidents. Petitioner

            responded to the email with detailed answers to each of the evaluator’s concerns.

                    The Office of Court Administration (“OCA”) denied petitioner’s application due to

            “Continued off-the-books employment, Poor Work History, Falsification/Untruthfulness,”

            (NYSCEF Doc. No. 2 at 18). Petitioner appealed and explained that any implication he was

            attempting to conceal income was “a misunderstanding” and “cannot be reconciled with the

            facts,” (NYSCEF Doc. No. 18 at 19). Regarding poor work history, petitioner emphasized that

            he had “never been terminated from any job in [his] entire life,” (id. at 20). Petitioner also

            asserted that he could not elaborate on a defense to untruthfulness as he was “uncertain of the

            allegations of untruthfulness as they are not listed,” (id. at 21).

                    Petitioner’s appeal was subsequently denied, stating, “after reviewing your submission, it

            has been determined that you are not qualified for appointment from this list for the reason[s] set

            forth in the attached letter to you on 05/09/2023,” (NYSCEF Doc. No. 19).

                    Petitioner now brings this proceeding and contends that the determination by OCA did

            not adequately explain the reasoning for petitioner’s disqualification. Petitioner further argues

            that the administrative record contains no rational basis of the OCA’s determination as petitioner

            provided reasonable explanations in his appeal for the denial reasons.

                    In opposition, respondents argue that OCA has discretion to disqualify candidates who do

            not possess the requisite characteristics essential to the court officer position. Respondents

             161366/2023 MARTIN, SEAN vs. NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM ET AL                Page 2 of 6
             Motion No. 001

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  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 23                                                                         RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/13/2024

            contend that petitioner was disqualified from the appointment because of “deficiencies related to

            his requisite personal characteristics,” (NYSCEF Doc. No. 20 at 11). According to respondents,

            based on this deficiency, OCA properly exercised its discretion to disqualify petitioner.

            Respondents assert that the disqualification reasons constituted enough information for petitioner

            to object to his disqualification, and that petitioner’s appeal letter demonstrated that petitioner

            understood the reasons for his disqualification.

                   In reply, petitioner contends that respondents did not disqualify petitioner based on any of

            the enumerated reasons contained in the regulation that specifies grounds for disqualification.

            Petitioner further asserts that the determination was made without regard to the facts, as

            petitioner provided legitimate reasons for his periods of unemployment and for why he failed to

            timely file a tax return for cash income. Furthermore, petitioner argues the employer complaint

            made against him did not result in disciplinary action and should not be part of his court officer

            trainee eligibility. Finally, petitioner argues that the evaluation report references petitioner’s

            body language and incomplete forms by previous employers. Petitioner asserts neither of these

            issues were indicated in the disqualification letter as being a reason for petitioner’s

            disqualification.

            Discussion

                   In an Article 78 proceeding, “the issue is whether the action taken had a rational basis

            and was not arbitrary and capricious. An action is arbitrary and capricious when it is taken

            without sound basis in reason or regard to the facts. If the determination has a rational basis, it

            will be sustained, even if a different result would not be unreasonable,” (Matter of Ward v City of

            Long Beach, 20 NY3d 1042, 1043, 962 NYS2d 587 [2013]).

             161366/2023 MARTIN, SEAN vs. NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM ET AL                   Page 3 of 6
             Motion No. 001

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                                                                                                      INDEX NO. 161366/2023
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 23                                                                        RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/13/2024

                    “The state civil service department and municipal commissions may refuse to examine an

            applicant, or after examination to certify an eligible (a) who is found to lack any of the

            established requirements for admission to the examination or for appointment to the position for

            which he applies. Wide discretion is afforded to civil service commissions in determining the

            fitness of candidates. The exercise of that discretion is to be sustained unless it has been clearly

            abused,” (Metzger v. Nassau County Civil Service Com., 54 AD2d 565, 566, 386 NYS2d 890 [2d

            Dept 1976] [internal citations and quotations omitted]).

                    According to 22 NYCRR § 25.13 (d)(i)-(viii), an applicant may be disqualified for a

            myriad of reasons, including “intentionally [making] a false statement of any material fact in his

            or her application…practic[ing], or attempted to practice, any deception of fraud in his or her

            application…lack[ing] good moral character[.]” Respondents expand on these qualifications via

            an affidavit by the HR director at OCA and submission of petitioner’s evaluation report which

            measure “responsibility/dependability, honest/truthfulness/integrity/morality, calmness/self-

            control/self-restraint/poise/self-discipline/ability to act under stress, and emotional

            maturity/emotional stability” (NYSCEF Doc. No. 11 at 8; NYSCEF Doc. No. 15 at 3-6). In

            short, OCA possesses broad discretion in disqualification of applicants, and such discretion will

            be sustained absent a showing of abuse (see Metzger, 54 AD2d 565).

                    Here, the record demonstrates that petitioner received in off-the-books payments for

            which he never reported on income tax returns (id. at 4). That is, petitioner did not accurately

            account for his earnings. Petitioner’s appeal indicated that he subsequently filed a tax return

            soon after his disqualification in an attempt to remedy this issue. However, this type of remedial

            measure is not a basis upon which this Court can conclude that respondents acted irrationally by

            disqualifying petitioner in the first instance.

             161366/2023 MARTIN, SEAN vs. NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM ET AL                   Page 4 of 6
             Motion No. 001

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  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 23                                                                        RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/13/2024

                    In fact, petitioner attempted to justify his error by noting that no income was claimed

            because “that is not how things are done at the company,” and suggested he did not know he had

            to report this income (id.; NYSCEF Doc. No. 18 at 4). Filing an updated tax return did not

            change the fact that he had not properly reported this extra income. It is not this Court’s role to

            second guess OCA’s evaluation of petitioner’s failure to report this income. It is wholly rational

            for OCA to conclude that an applicant who concealed the amount of money he made in a given

            year is not qualified for the court officer trainee position.

                    Additionally, the administrative record shows that petitioner’s work history was

            inconsistent. Petitioner was unemployed for sporadic periods of time, including one occasion that

            lasted at least one year (NYSCEF Doc. No. 18 at 15). Petitioner requested information as to how

            petitioner supported himself, to which he added that he received help from his parents,

            unemployment, and savings (NYSCEF Doc. No. 15 at 7). Evidently, OCA found that the

            inconsistency in petitioner’s work history did not suggest that petitioner was a suitable candidate

            for the position. There is nothing in the record to suggest that OCA acted arbitrarily or

            capriciously in rendering this decision as the record clearly reflects a work history that is riddled

            with instances of unemployment. OCA has broad discretion in choosing the most qualified

            candidates for the court officer trainee position, and there is no indication that this discretion was

            abused here.

            Summary

                    The court officer position requires applicants with the highest integrity. Court officers

            possess the solemn responsibility of courthouse security; they are entrusted with government

             161366/2023 MARTIN, SEAN vs. NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM ET AL                 Page 5 of 6
             Motion No. 001

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                                                                                                   INDEX NO. 161366/2023
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 23                                                                         RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/13/2024

            issued firearms, assist court employees and the public in cases of emergency, and protect judges.

            Determining an applicant’s moral character is an imperative part of the hiring process as the

            position can only be entrusted to candidates with integrity, dependability, and maturity. The

            evaluation process here is meant to measure these exact qualities. Petitioner did not demonstrate

            that OCA was irrational in its determination, and it is obvious to this Court that OCA relied upon

            this evaluation process in making its assessment.

                    In short, OCA is tasked with measuring the character of an applicant to a position within

            the court system. In order to exercise the extent of this responsibility, OCA must have discretion

            to render decisions regarding applicants. History cannot be changed; for example, reporting prior

            income earned only now, to try to clean up a problem, does not change the fact that petitioner

            failed to report the income when he received it. The administrative record before this Court

            shows that OCA relied on clear, documented instances of actions and behavior that OCA

            believed did not correlate with the characteristics of a successful court officer trainee. That

            petitioner disagrees with that assessment is not a basis for this Court to reverse OCA’s

            determination.

                    Accordingly, it is hereby

                    ADJUDGED that the petition is denied and this proceeding is dismissed without costs or

            disbursements.

                   2/13/2024                                                             $SIG$
                      DATE                                                       ARLENE P. BLUTH, J.S.C.
             CHECK ONE:               X   CASE DISPOSED                  NON-FINAL DISPOSITION

                                          GRANTED          X   DENIED    GRANTED IN PART          X     OTHER

             APPLICATION:                 SETTLE ORDER                   SUBMIT ORDER

             CHECK IF APPROPRIATE:        INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN     FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT          REFERENCE

             161366/2023 MARTIN, SEAN vs. NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM ET AL                   Page 6 of 6
             Motion No. 001

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