MATTER OF SAWYER v. Griffin

• Decision Date: 14 January 2002
• Citation: 738 N.Y.S.2d 585,290 A.D.2d 452
• Parties: In the Matter of WILLIAM SAWYER, Petitioner,<BR>v.<BR>JAMES P. GRIFFIN, as Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, et al., Respondents.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

290 A.D.2d 452

738 N.Y.S.2d 585

In the Matter of WILLIAM SAWYER, Petitioner,

v.JAMES P. GRIFFIN, as Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, et al., Respondents.

Decided January 14, 2002.

Santucci, J.P., Goldstein, McGinity and Crane, JJ., concur.

Ordered that the application for poor person relief is granted to the extent that the filing fee imposed by CPLR 8022 (b) is waived, and the application is otherwise denied as academic; and it is further,

Adjudged that the petition is denied and the proceeding is dismissed, without costs or disbursements.

"Because of its extraordinary nature, prohibition is available only where there is a clear legal right, and then only when a court—in cases where judicial authority is challenged—acts or threatens to act either without jurisdiction or in excess of its authorized powers" (Matter of Holtzman v Goldman, 71 NY2d 564, 569; see, Matter of Rush v Mordue, 68 NY2d 348, 352). The petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought.