Ruzas v. Goord, 268 A.D.2d 742 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000). · Go Syfert
Ruzas v. Goord, 268 A.D.2d 742 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
8 citation events (8 in the last 25 years) across 1 distinct court.
Strongest positive: McCaskell v. Rodriguez (nyappdiv, 2017-03-16)
Top citers, strongest first. 6 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) McCaskell v. Rodriguez
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
Significantly, the record discloses a lack of compliance with the regulations governing the procedures to be followed in testing the substance and in using the test results (see 7 NYCRR 1010.4, 1010.5), as well as the absence of any hearing testimony concerning the testing procedures that were actually followed (see Matter of Hernandez v Selsky, 306 AD2d 595, 596 [2003], lv denied 100 NY2d 514 [2003]; Matter of Ruzas v Goord, 268 AD2d 742, 743-744 [2000]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) McCaskell v. Rodriguez
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
Significantly, the record discloses a lack of compliance with the regulations governing the procedures to be followed in testing the substance and in using the test results (see 7 NYCRR 1010.4, 1010.5), as well as the absence of any hearing testimony concerning the testing procedures that were actually followed (see Matter of Hernandez v Selsky, 306 AD2d 595, 596 [2003], lv denied 100 NY2d 514 [2003]; Matter of Ruzas v Goord, 268 AD2d 742, 743-744 [2000]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cespedes v. New York State Department of Correctional Services
N.Y. App. Div. · 2009 · confidence medium
Inasmuch as respondent concedes that such documentation was not provided and no testimony was adduced concerning the testing procedures employed, substantial evidence does not support that part of the determination finding petitioner guilty of drug possession (see Matter of Ruzas v Goord, 268 AD2d 742, 744 [2000]; Matter of Davis v McClellan, 202 AD2d 770, 771 [1994]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gonzalez v. Selsky (2×)
N.Y. App. Div. · 2005 · confidence medium
Accordingly, the results of the test cannot be considered as evidence of petitioner’s guilt (see Matter of Hernandez v Selsky, 306 AD2d 595, 596 [2003], lv denied 100 NY2d 514 [2003]; Matter of Ruzas v Goord, 268 AD2d 742, 743 [2000]; Matter of Giannattasio v Coombe, 237 AD2d 287, 288 [1997]; Matter of Davis v McClellan, 202 AD2d 770, 770-771 [1994]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Carini v. Selsky
N.Y. App. Div. · 2005 · confidence medium
In any event, petitioner’s admission of guilt with respect to the remaining charges renders any such error harmless (see Matter of Ruzas v Goord, 268 AD2d 742, 743 [2000]; Matter of Maldonado v Selsky, 257 AD2d 876, 876 [1999]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hernandez v. Selsky
N.Y. App. Div. · 2003 · confidence medium
Consequently, that part of the determination finding petitioner guilty of possession of a controlled substance is not supported by substantial evidence and, therefore, must be annulled (see Matter of Ruzas v Goord, 268 AD2d 742, 743 [2000]; Matter of Giannattasio v Coombe, supra at 288; Matter of Davis v McClellan, 202 AD2d 770, 771 [1994]; Matter of Rollison v Scully, 181 AD2d 734 [1992]).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
In the Matter of John Ruzas
v.
Glenn S. Goord, as Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Jan 13, 2000.
268 A.D.2d 742
2000 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 284
Mercure.
Cited by 7 opinions  |  Published
Mercure, 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 which found petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.

Petitioner, a prison inmate, was charged in a misbehavior[*743] report with violating prison disciplinary rules which prohibit possession of contraband, possession of a controlled substance and smuggling. During a tier III hearing, petitioner made certain admissions which the Hearing Officer construed as a plea of guilty of possession of a controlled substance. At the conclusion of the hearing, petitioner was found guilty of all charges and, after the denial of his administrative appeal, petitioner commenced this proceeding to review the determination.

Petitioner raises a number of arguments regarding alleged procedural errors and sufficiency of the evidence. In light of the detailed misbehavior report, the testimony of its author and petitioner’s admissions, the only argument which merits discussion concerns the proper foundation for the Hearing Officer’s reliance on the positive NIK test result to establish that petitioner possessed marihuana. Despite petitioner’s specific objection to the lack of documentation regarding the test, neither the statement of scientific principles and procedures nor a copy of the individual test instructions appears in the record as required by 7 NYCRR 1010.5 (d) and (e). Nor was there any testimonial evidence of the testing procedures employed. In these circumstances, the result of the test cannot be utilized (see, Matter of Davis v McClellan, 202 AD2d 770).

Respondent contends that the error was harmless. Although a knowing and voluntary guilty plea in a prison disciplinary proceeding generally precludes a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence of guilt (see, Matter of Grant v Goord, 247 AD2d 662) and may render procedural errors harmless (see, Matter of Maldonado v Selsky, 257 AD2d 876), the record does not demonstrate a knowing and voluntary guilty plea to the drug possession charge. While petitioner initially admitted that he possessed the item as alleged in the misbehavior report, he argued that he could be guilty of only one of the two possession charges because he only possessed one item. Thus, when asked whether he was pleading not guilty to the contraband charge and guilty to the drug possession charge, petitioner responded, “Or vice versa. Either one.” The Hearing Officer then stated, “For the record, the plea to the contraband is not guilty. The plea to the drug possession is guilty,” and he directed petitioner to sign a form which so indicated. In light of the equivocal nature of petitioner’s plea, the procedural error regarding the NIK test is not harmless, particularly in view of petitioner’s objection to the lack of documentation at the hearing and the Hearing Officer’s reliance on the test results in his finding of guilt (cf., Matter of Miller v Goord, 262 AD2d 906).

[*744] Absent the test result, the finding that petitioner possessed a controlled substance is not supported by substantial evidence. Petitioner’s admission that he “knew what it was,” which was prompted by the Hearing Officer’s reference to the positive test result, is insufficient to establish that the contraband was in fact marihuana. The appropriate remedy is to modify the determination by annulling the finding regarding possession of a controlled substance and direct expungement of all references thereto in petitioner’s institutional record (see, Matter of Contrera v Coombe, 236 AD2d 661).

Cardona, P. J., Crew III, Carpinello and Graffeo, JJ., concur. Adjudged that the determination is modified, without costs, by annulling so much thereof as found petitioner guilty of possession of a controlled substance; petition granted to that extent and respondent is directed to expunge all references thereto from petitioner’s institutional record; and, as so modified, confirmed.