Lahey v. Kelly

• Decision Date: 19 December 1986
• Citation: 510 N.Y.S.2d 187,125 A.D.2d 923
• Parties: In the Matter of the Application of Vincent LAHEY, Respondent, v. Walter R. KELLY, Superintendent, Attica Correctional Facility, et al., Appellants.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 187

510 N.Y.S.2d 187

125 A.D.2d 923

In the Matter of the Application of Vincent LAHEY, Respondent, v. Walter R. KELLY, Superintendent, Attica Correctional Facility, et al., Appellants.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division Fourth Department.

Dec. 19, 1986.

Robert Abrams by Mark Walling, Buffalo, for appellants.

Norman P. Effman, Attica, for respondent.

Before DOERR, J.P., and BOOMER, GREEN, PINE and BALIO, JJ.

MEMORANDUM:

Since the only critical issue raised in this article 78 proceeding is whether the determination of the hearing officer is supported by substantial evidence, Special Term should not have decided the matter but, rather, should have transferred it to this court (CPLR 7804[g] ). However, we may consider the matter as if it had been transferred properly (Matter of Curl v. Kelly [Matter of Howard v. Kelly], 125 A.D.2d 948, 510 N.Y.S.2d 346; Matter of Hop-Wah v. Coughlin, 118 A.D.2d 275, 276, 504 N.Y.S.2d 806; Matter of O'Brien v. Steisel, 104 A.D.2d 817, 480 N.Y.S.2d 46).

Petitioner, an inmate at the Attica Correctional Facility, was asked to submit a urine specimen which was tested for cannabinoids on the Syva Emit-st Drug Detection System [EMIT test]. Two tests, performed on the same sample, were positive. A misbehavior report charging petitioner with violating a rule (by taking drugs) was filed and, following a Tier II Disciplinary Hearing at which the only proof offered was the test results, petitioner was found guilty as charged. The penalty imposed was confinement to cell for 30 days and loss of privileges. Petitioner commenced an article 78 proceeding seeking to expunge the determination from his institutional record, alleging in effect that the determination was not supported by substantial evidence. In opposition, respondent argues that the EMIT test results should be deemed admissible evidence sufficient to sustain the charge. Petitioner argues that the reliability of the EMIT test was not sufficiently established to warrant admission of the test. We agree.

It is well settled that "scientific evidence will only be admitted at trial if the procedure and results are generally accepted as reliable in the scientific community" (People v. Hughes, 59 N.Y.2d 523, 537, 466 N.Y.S.2d 255, 453 N.E.2d 484). While a disciplinary hearing is not a trial in the true adversarial sense, we see no reason why reliability of the test results should not be accorded similar evidentiary demands on the party who seeks to impose penalties based upon the results of such test. Failing this, the substantial evidence requirement is not met. The EMIT test is of relatively recent origin, and although it has been accepted by some courts (see, e.g., Matter of Vasquez v. Coughlin, 118 A.D.2d 897, 499 N.Y.S.2d 461; Jensen v. Lick, 589 F.Supp. 35; Smith v. State, 250 Ga. 438, 298 S.E.2d 482), other courts have rejected it requiring confirmation by a different type of test (Matter of Brown v. Smith, 132 Misc.2d 686, 505 N.Y.S.2d 743; Higgs v. Wilson, 616 F.Supp. 226 [W.D.Ky.], vacated sub nom. Higgs v. Bland, 793 F.2d 1291 [6th Cir.]; Matter of Johnson v. Walton, No. 561-84 Rm. [Vt.Superior Ct.]; Kane v. Fair, 33 Crim.L.Rptr. 2492 [Mass.Superior Ct.] ). The record before us is completely barren of scientific evidence which would establish the reliability of the test. Given this state of the record and the conflicting views on the matter, we cannot say that EMIT test results are generally accepted as reliable in the scientific community (see, Peranzo v. Coughlin, 608 F.Supp. 1504, 1509-1510; 1513-1515). The party offering the evidence bears the burden of establishing its admissibility and, absent an adequate basis for the reliability of the test itself, mere evidence of the test result is insufficient evidence to sustain a finding of misbehavior.

We have considered the other issues raised in the petition and find them to be without merit.

Determination annulled on the law and petition granted.

All concur, except BALIO, J., who dissents and votes to confirm the determination in the following Memorandum:

I must dissent. By applying standards for the admissibility of scientific evidence at trials to a prison disciplinary hearing, the majority has, in my view, erroneously elevated the evidentiary requirements at such hearings.

Evidence that would be inadmissible in court may be considered in administrative proceedings (see, for example, May v. Shaw, 79 A.D.2d 970, 434 N.Y.S.2d 284 [polygraph test results] ) and may, by itself, constitute substantial evidence (People ex rel. Vega v. Smith, 66 N.Y.2d 130, 139, 495 N.Y.S.2d 332, 485 N.E.2d 997). The issue is whether the determination is supported by relevant proof which a reasonable mind would accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact (People ex rel. Vega v. Smith, supra ). Substantial evidence is less than a preponderance of evidence, but more than mere surmise, conjecture or speculation (see, 300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v. State Div. of Human Rights, 45 N.Y.2d 176, 180-181, 408 N.Y.S.2d 54, 379 N.E.2d 1183; Matter of Stoker v. Tarentino, 101 A.D.2d 651, 652, 475 N.Y.S.2d 562, mod. on other grounds 64 N.Y.2d 994, 489 N.Y.S.2d 43, 478 N.E.2d 184). Thus, the mere fact that prison officials have not presented opinion testimony on the general reliability of the test to the extent required for admission at trial does not necessarily bar admission of the test results at an administrative hearing.

There is no requirement that the record of an administrative hearing contain proof of reliability, and a hearing is not necessary to establish the general reliability of a scientific test. Reliability can be ascertained by examination of a variety of sources which reveal the general acceptance of the test by the scientific community (see, People v. Middleton, 54 N.Y.2d 42, 49-50, 444 N.Y.S.2d 581, 429 N.E.2d 100; People v. Magri, 3 N.Y.2d 562, 170 N.Y.S.2d 335, 147 N.E.2d 728). In this respect, the two major studies performed relative to the EMIT test procedures utilized in this case found double EMIT testing (where a second test is conducted on the same urine sample to confirm the result of the EMIT test) to be 96% and 97.7% accurate, prompting one court to deny an application...