Dale v. Burns

• Decision Date: 08 February 2013
• Citation: 103 A.D.3d 1243,2013 N.Y. Slip Op. 00849,959 N.Y.S.2d 781
• Parties: In the Matter of David DALE, Petitioner, v. Hon. Christopher J. BURNS, Justice of the Supreme Court, and Hon. Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Erie County, Respondents.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

103 A.D.3d 1243

959 N.Y.S.2d 781

2013 N.Y. Slip Op. 00849

In the Matter of David DALE, Petitioner,

v.Hon. Christopher J. BURNS, Justice of the Supreme Court, and Hon. Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Erie County, Respondents.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York.

Feb. 8, 2013.

David Dale, Petitioner Pro Se.

Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Buffalo (Donna A. Milling of Counsel), Respondent Pro Se.

PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., PERADOTTO, CARNI, SCONIERS, AND WHALEN, JJ.

MEMORANDUM:

Petitioner pleaded guilty to one count each of scheme to defraud in the first degree (Penal Law § 190.65[1][b] ) and practice of law by an attorney who has been disbarred (Judiciary Law § 486) in full satisfaction of the indictment at issue herein. Petitioner thereafter commenced this original CPLR article 78 proceeding in the nature of prohibition, seeking dismissal of the indictment on double jeopardy grounds; transfer of the proceeding to another tribunal or, in the alternative, the recusal of certain Justices of this Court; and a stay of “all pending orders and proceedings of the lower court.” He was subsequently sentenced on the conviction and filed a timely notice of direct appeal.

We note as background that petitioner, a former attorney, was disbarred by this Court in November 2005 ( Matter of Dale, 25 A.D.3d 181, 182–183, 805 N.Y.S.2d 758,appeal dismissed6 N.Y.3d 806, 812 N.Y.S.2d 444, 845 N.E.2d 1275,lv. denied6 N.Y.3d 714, 823 N.Y.S.2d 355, 856 N.E.2d 919;see Matter of Dale, 59 A.D.3d 1105, 1106, 872 N.Y.S.2d 687). He nonetheless persisted in holding himself out as an attorney, accepting retainer fees and legal fees, and engaging in the practice of law. In July 2011, this Court granted the motion of the Grievance Committee to confirm the report of a referee that was issued after a hearing, found petitioner guilty of criminal contempt of court pursuant to Judiciary Law § 750(A)(3) and fined him in the amount of $1,000 ( Matter of Dale, 87 A.D.3d 198, 199–200, 927 N.Y.S.2d 267).

Thereafter, petitioner was charged in the indictment at issue herein with one count each of scheme to defraud in the first degree (Penal Law § 190.65[1][b] ), grand larceny in the third degree (§ 155.35[1] ), and grand larceny in the fourth degree (§ 155.30[1] ), and six counts each of petit larceny (§ 155.25) and practice of law by an attorney who has been disbarred (Judiciary Law § 486). The indictment was based upon allegations that petitioner stole funds from six clients by accepting legal fees while disbarred. Several days before the scheduled trial, petitioner moved to dismiss the indictment on constitutional and statutory double jeopardy grounds, asserting that the July 2011 contempt adjudication barred prosecution on the indictment. The court denied the motion, and a Justice of this Court declined to issue a writ of prohibition or an order staying the proceedings. As noted above, petitioner pleaded guilty to two counts of the indictment in full satisfaction thereof, and thereafter commenced this proceeding.

At the outset, we reject petitioner's request that we transfer this matter to another tribunal or that individual Justices of this Court be recused from this case. It is well settled that where, as here, there is no “legal disqualification under Judiciary Law § 14, a ... [j]udge is the sole arbiter of recusal ... When the alleged impropriety arises from information derived during the performance of the court's adjudicatory function, then recusal could surely not be directed as a matter of law. A court's decision in this respect may not be overturned unless it was an abuse of discretion” ( People v. Moreno, 70 N.Y.2d 403, 405–406, 521 N.Y.S.2d 663, 516 N.E.2d 200), and here there was no abuse of discretion. “[T]he fact that a judge [or panel] issues a ruling that is not to a party's liking does not demonstrate either bias or misconduct” ( Gonzalez v. L'Oreal USA, Inc., 92 A.D.3d 1158, 1160, 940 N.Y.S.2d 328,lv. dismissed19 N.Y.3d 874, 947 N.Y.S.2d 48, 969 N.E.2d 1163;see Moreno, 70 N.Y.2d at 405–406, 521 N.Y.S.2d 663, 516 N.E.2d 200;People v. Whitfield, 275 A.D.2d 1034, 1034, 713 N.Y.S.2d 584,lv. denied95 N.Y.2d 971, 722 N.Y.S.2d 489, 745 N.E.2d 409;see also Irizarry v. State of New York, 56 A.D.3d 613, 614, 867 N.Y.S.2d 336;People v. Doyle, 15 A.D.3d 674, 675, 791 N.Y.S.2d 583,lv. denied5 N.Y.3d 761, 801 N.Y.S.2d 256, 834 N.E.2d 1266).

With respect to the merits, we conclude that the petition must be dismissed. Petitioner has already pleaded guilty on the indictment and has been sentenced. Thus, there is no criminal proceeding to stay and no action on the part of respondents to “prohibit”. Further, petitioner's double jeopardy claims may be heard on his pending direct appeal ( see Matter...