Court Opinion

ID: 4086722
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-08 00:09:20.489208+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:37.382011
License: Public Domain

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
           Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department

1458
TP 11-00046
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., FAHEY, PERADOTTO, CARNI, AND SCONIERS, JJ.

IN THE MATTER OF LEYDY S. BELLO, PETITIONER,

                    V                               MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY
ASSISTANCE, RESPONDENT.

LEYDY S. BELLO, PETITIONER PRO SE.

ERIC T. SCHNEIDERMAN, ATTORNEY GENERAL, ALBANY (KATHLEEN M. TREASURE
OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.

     Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to the
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Fourth Judicial
Department by order of the Supreme Court, Niagara County [Richard C.
Kloch, Sr., A.J.], entered October 6, 2010) to review a determination
of respondent. The determination required petitioner to repay
emergency assistance funds.

     It is hereby ORDERED that the determination is unanimously
confirmed without costs and the petition is dismissed.

     Memorandum: Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding
seeking to annul the determination following a fair hearing that
required her to repay the emergency assistance funds paid to her
electric and gas services providers. “[T]he role of a court reviewing
an administrative determination is limited to ensuring that the
determination arrived at following an adversarial hearing is supported
by substantial evidence” (Matter of Jason B. v Novello, 12 NY3d 107,
114; see CPLR 7803 [4]; Faber v Merrifield, 11 AD3d 1009).
“Substantial evidence means such relevant proof as a reasonable mind
may accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact”
(Matter of Johnson v Town of Amherst, 74 AD3d 1896, 1897, lv denied 15
NY3d 712 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see 300 Gramatan Ave.
Assoc. v State Div. of Human Rights, 45 NY2d 176, 180-181).

     Here, respondent concluded that petitioner was required to repay
the emergency assistance funds in question inasmuch as her gross
monthly income exceeded the applicable public assistance standard of
need (see 18 NYCRR 352.5 [e]; see generally New York State Off. of
Temporary & Disability Assistance Administrative Directive 2002
ADM-02). Petitioner contends that the determination is not supported
by substantial evidence because respondent erroneously characterized
an “interest-free loan” as income in calculating her gross monthly
                                 -2-                          1458
                                                         TP 11-00046

income. We reject that contention. Respondent was faced with
conflicting evidence whether certain funds received by petitioner were
loans rather than income. “ ‘[I]t is for the administrative tribunal,
not the courts, to weigh conflicting evidence, assess the credibility
of witnesses, and determine which [evidence] to accept and which to
reject’ . . . This Court may not substitute its judgment for that of
respondent” in rejecting petitioner’s position that the funds at issue
constitute loans rather than income (Faber, 11 AD3d at 1010; see
Matter of Padulo v Reed, 63 AD3d 1687, 1688, lv denied 13 NY3d 716).

     Contrary to petitioner’s further contention, pursuant to
respondent’s “Energy Manual,” it is not required to pay miscellaneous
charges, including reconnect fees (see 18 NYCRR 352.5 [e]).

Entered:   December 30, 2011                    Frances E. Cafarell
                                                Clerk of the Court