Lopez v. Coombe, 229 A.D.2d 639 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996). · Go Syfert
Lopez v. Coombe, 229 A.D.2d 639 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
9 citation events (6 in the last 25 years) across 1 distinct court.
Strongest positive: Matter of Wester v. Department of Corr. & Community Supervision (nyappdiv, 2025-04-10)
Top citers, strongest first. 3 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Wester v. Department of Corr. & Community Supervision (2×)
N.Y. App. Div. · 2025 · confidence medium
Although we are mindful that substantial evidence is a minimal standard, without any such confirmation or other evidence indicating that petitioner was affiliated with a gang, these photographs could in no rational way "result in an inference being drawn" in that regard (7 NYCRR 270.2 [B] [6] [iv]; see Matter of France v Bezio , 78 AD3d 1352, 1353 [3d Dept 2010]; Matter of Lopez v Coombe , 229 AD2d 639, 639 [3d Dept 1996]; see generally Matter of Palermo v Fischer , 110 AD3d 1293, 1294 [3d Dept 2013]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Telesford v. Annucci
N.Y. App. Div. · 2018 · confidence medium
Accordingly, the determination must be annulled and all references thereto expunged from petitioner's institutional record ( see Matter of Ferril v Annucci , 134 AD3d 1264, 1265 [2015]; Matter of Lopez v Coombe , 229 AD2d 639, 639 [1996]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hemphill v. Selsky
N.Y. App. Div. · 2006 · confidence medium
Although the misbehavior report apprised petitioner of the charges, it was not sufficiently detailed, by itself, to “constitute the type of relevant proof that a reasonable mind would accept as adequate to support the determination at issue” (Matter of Lopez v Coombe, 229 AD2d 639, 639 [1996]).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
In the Matter of Alex Lopez
v.
Philip Coombe, Jr., as Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Jul 3, 1996.
229 A.D.2d 639
III.
Cited by 249 opinions  |  Published
Crew III, J.

Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Albany County) to review a determination of respondent Commissioner of Correctional Services which found petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.

Insofar as is relevant to this proceeding, petitioner, an inmate at Clinton Correctional Facility in Clinton County, was charged with and found guilty of engaging in unauthorized organizational, i.e., gang-related, activities and a penalty was imposed. Petitioner has commenced this proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to challenge that determination contending, inter alia, that the determination is not supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole. We agree. Although adequate to apprise petitioner of the charges against him, the misbehavior report, standing alone, is not sufficiently detailed to sustain the underlying determination, and the conclusory testimony offered by the correction officer who testified at petitioner’s disciplinary hearing does not, in our view, constitute the type of relevant proof that a reasonable mind would accept as adequate to support the determination at issue (see generally, Matter of Williams v Coughlin, 190 AD2d 883, 884, lv denied 82 NY2d 651).* As the underlying determination cannot be said to be supported by substantial evidence, it must be annulled and, inasmuch as it appears that petitioner has al[*640] ready served his administrative penalty, the appropriate remedy is expungement.

Mikoll, J. P., Mercure, Yesawich Jr. and Peters, JJ., concur. Adjudged that the determination is annulled, without costs, petition granted and respondents are directed to expunge all references to this matter from petitioner’s institutional record.

Although the testimony provided by the confidential informant would have been sufficient, in our view, to establish petitioner’s rule violation, a review of the Hearing Officer’s decision plainly reflects that he did not rely upon the confidential informant’s testimony in reaching his determination, and we cannot confirm an administrative determination on a ground not[*640] invoked by the agency (see generally, Matter of Berchielli v Zoning Bd. of Appeals, 202 AD2d 733, 734, lv denied 83 NY2d 757).