Nieves v. Annucci, 123 A.D.3d 1368 (N.Y. App. Div. 2014). · Go Syfert
Nieves v. Annucci, 123 A.D.3d 1368 (N.Y. App. Div. 2014). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
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cited 2× by 2 distinct cases, 2018–2021 · …personal knowledge of the facts at p. 1369
20 citation events (20 in the last 25 years) across 1 distinct court.
Strongest positive: Matter of Youngs v. McGuinness (nyappdiv, 2025-01-30)
Treatment trajectory · 2015 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2015 2020 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 16 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Youngs v. McGuinness
N.Y. App. Div. · 2025 · confidence medium
Even assuming, without deciding, that the misbehavior report did not comply with the requirements of 7 NYCRR 251-3.1 (b) because it was not endorsed by one of the two officers who approached petitioner's cell on the morning in question, petitioner did not request that either correction officer testify at the hearing, nor has he demonstrated that he was prejudiced by this alleged [*2]omission ( see Matter of Nieves v Annucci , 123 AD3d 1368, 1369 [3d Dept 2014]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Caraway v. Annucci
N.Y. App. Div. · 2021 · confidence medium
However, petitioner failed to demonstrate that there were other employees in the mess hall who had "personal knowledge of the facts" surrounding the incident (7 NYCRR 251-3.1 [b]; see Matter of Brown v Venettozzi , 162 AD3d 1434 , 1435 [2018]; Matter of Nieves v Annucci , 123 AD3d 1368, 1369 [2014]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Dowling v. Venettozzi
N.Y. App. Div. · 2019 · confidence medium
The misbehavior report and the testimony of its author, who indicated that he found the weapon under the left rear corner of the large locker located in petitioner's cube, constitute substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt ( see Matter of Nieves v Annucci , 123 AD3d 1368, 1368 [2014]; Matter of Muller v Fischer , 62 AD3d 1191, 1191 [2009]; Matter of Parrilla v Selsky , 32 AD3d 1086, 1087 [2006], lv denied 8 NY3d 803 [2007]; see generally Matter of McBride v Annucci , 142 AD3d 1218, 1219 [2016]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Diaz v. Lee
N.Y. App. Div. · 2019 · confidence medium
Further, despite his awareness of the correction sergeant's involvement, petitioner did not request that the correction sergeant testify at the hearing ( see Matter of Nieves v Annucci , 123 AD3d 1368, 1369 [2014]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Brown v. Venettozzi
N.Y. App. Div. · 2018 · confidence medium
Moreover, petitioner did not demonstrate that any other correction officers had "personal knowledge of the facts" of the incident so as to require the endorsement of the misbehavior report or a separate report ( see 7 NYCRR 251-3.1 [b]; Matter of Nieves v Annucci , 123 AD3d 1368, 1369 [2014]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Davey v. Annucci
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
Petitioner’s exculpatory claim that the weapon found in his bag did not belong to him presented a credibility issue for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of Nieves v Annucci, 123 AD3d 1368, 1369 [2014]; Matter of Giano v Prack, 105 AD3d 1228, 1228 [2013]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Miller v. Venettozzi
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
Although petitioner testified that he had only been in the cell for 11 days and denied that the weapon was his, this was insufficient to negate the reasonable inference of petitioner’s possession of the weapon, which was found in an area under his control (see Matter of Nieves v Annucci, 123 AD3d 1368, 1368-1369 [2014]; Matter of Stile v Goord, 285 AD2d 693, 693 [2001]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Miller v. Venettozzi
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
Although petitioner testified that he had only been in the cell for 11 days and denied that the weapon was his, this was insufficient to negate the reasonable inference of petitioner’s possession of the weapon, which was found in an area under his control (see Matter of Nieves v Annucci, 123 AD3d 1368, 1368-1369 [2014]; Matter of Stile v Goord, 285 AD2d 693, 693 [2001]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Miller v. Venettozzi
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
Although petitioner testified that he had only been in the cell for 11 days and denied that the weapon was his, this was insufficient to negate the reasonable inference of petitioner’s possession of the weapon, which was found in an area under his control (see Matter of Nieves v Annucci, 123 AD3d 1368, 1368-1369 [2014]; Matter of Stile v Goord, 285 AD2d 693, 693 [2001]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of McBride v. Annucci
N.Y. App. Div. · 2016 · confidence medium
As to the remaining charges, the misbehavior report and hearing testimony provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Rizzuto v Eastman, 134 AD3d 1308, 1308 [2015]; Matter of Nieves v Annucci, 123 AD3d 1368, 1368 [2014]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Kairis v. Smith
N.Y. App. Div. · 2016 · confidence medium
Moreover, we find no merit to petitioner’s claim that the misbehavior report was not properly endorsed in accordance with the requirements of 7 NYCRR 251-3.1 (b) given that the other correction officers who were present in the area did not hear the confrontation and, consequently, did not have personal knowledge of the facts (see Matter of Nieves v Annucci, 123 AD3d 1368, 1369 [2014]; Matter of Nunez v Unger, 93 AD3d 986, 987 [2012]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Sawyer v. Annucci
N.Y. App. Div. · 2016 · confidence medium
The fact that the metal objects were found in an area within petitioner’s control, even if not exclusive, supports the inference of possession (see Matter of Nieves v Annucci, 123 AD3d 1368, 1369 [2014]; Matter of Velez v Prack, 122 AD3d 1041, 1041 [2014]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Giano v. Prack
N.Y. App. Div. · 2016 · confidence medium
Turning to the merits, the misbehavior report, unusual incident report, photograph of the weapon and documentary evidence, together with the testimony of both the correction officer who conducted the cell search and the correction officer who assisted with the search, provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Perkins v Annucci, 129 AD3d 1421, 1421 [2015]; Matter of Diaz v Prack, 127 AD3d 1489, 1490 [2015]; Matter of Nieves v Annucci, 123 AD3d 1368, 1368-1369 [2014]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Perkins v. Annucci
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · confidence medium
The detailed misbehavior report, coupled with the testimony of its author who conducted the cell search, provide substantial evidence supporting the determination of guilt (see Matter of Nieves v Annucci, 123 AD3d 1368, 1368 [2014]; Matter of Matthews v Fischer, 109 AD3d 1038, 1038 [2013]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Diaz v. Prack
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · confidence medium
The detailed misbehavior report, unusual incident report, photograph of the weapon, documentary evidence and hearing testimony provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Nieves v Annucci, 123 AD3d 1368, 1368 [2014]; Matter of Smart v Fischer, 122 AD3d 1023 , 1023 [2014], lv denied 24 NY3d 916 [2015]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Sanchez v. Annucci
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · confidence medium
The misbehavior report, testimony of its author and supporting documentation provide substantial evidence to support this determination (see Matter of Nieves v Annucci, 123 AD3d 1368, 1368 [2014]; Matter of Thompson v Fischer, 89 AD3d 1353, 1354 [2011], lv denied 18 NY3d 809 [2012]).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
In the Matter of Brandon Nieves
v.
Anthony J. Annucci, as Acting Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Dec 24, 2014.
123 A.D.3d 1368
Devine, Egan, Garry, Lahtinen, Lynch.
Cited by 17 opinions  |  Published

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

A search of petitioner’s cell disclosed a sharpened can lid taped to the inner lip of a locker in his double bunk cell, in which he was the sole occupant. As a result, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with possession of a weapon. Following a tier III hearing, petitioner was found guilty of that charge, and the determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal. This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.

We confirm. The misbehavior report and testimony of its author, who conducted the cell search, provide substantial evidence to support the determination (see Matter of Aguirre v Fischer, 111 AD3d 1219, 1220 [2013]). Petitioner was the sole[*1369] occupant of the cell with presumably exclusive access to the locker and, even if his access was not exclusive, “[a] reasonable inference of possession arises by virtue of the fact that the weapon was found in an area within [his] control” (Matter of Fisher v Fischer, 105 AD3d 1286, 1286 [2013]; see Matter of Johnson v Fischer, 109 AD3d 1070, 1071 [2013]). Petitioner’s claims that the locker and personal items inside it did not belong to him, and that the locker had been occupied by another inmate until five days earlier, presented credibility issues for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of Aguirre v Fischer, 111 AD3d at 1220).

With regard to petitioner’s contention that the misbehavior report was defective because it was not endorsed by the officer who assisted in the search of the cell, petitioner did not demonstrate that the assisting officer had “personal knowledge of the facts” (7 NYCRR 251-3.1 [b]), petitioner did not request that the assisting officer be called as a witness and no prejudice is established by the lack of that officer’s endorsement (see Matter of Sorrentino v Fischer, 101 AD3d 1210, 1211 [2012], lv denied 20 NY3d 862 [2013]). Further, while “a Hearing Officer must consider an inmate’s mental condition in rendering a determination when the inmate’s mental state is at issue” (Matter of Siao-Pao v Selsky, 274 AD2d 698, 699 [2000], lv denied 95 NY2d 767 [2000]; see Matter of Huggins v Coughlin, 76 NY2d 904, 905 [1990]), petitioner did not raise his mental health as a defense to the charge (see Matter of Ferguson v Fischer, 107 AD3d 1272, 1273 [2013]; Matter of Joseph v LaClair, 79 AD3d 1496, 1496 [2010]), and there is no indication that his mental health was relevant to the charge. Finally, respondent’s answer was timely filed and petitioner’s remaining claims were not raised at the hearing or upon the administrative appeal and, as such, are not preserved for our review.

Lahtinen, J.P., Garry, Egan Jr., Lynch and Devine, JJ., concur.

Adjudged that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.