Haroche v. Leary

64 Misc. 2d 191, 314 N.Y.S.2d 553, 1970 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1473
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 8, 1970
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 64 Misc. 2d 191 (Haroche v. Leary) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Haroche v. Leary, 64 Misc. 2d 191, 314 N.Y.S.2d 553, 1970 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1473 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1970).

Opinion

J. Courtney MoGroarty, J.

Petitioner, Gilbert D. Haroche, seeks a judgment pursuant to article 78 of the CPLR enjoining, restraining and prohibiting the Police Commissioner from serving summonses upon its employees, and otherwise interfering with the business of petitioner’s corporations, Liberty Travel Service, Inc., et al., for alleged violations of section 5 of the General Business Law (Sabbath Law, formerly Penal Law § 2143).

In essence, although not so stated, the underlying purpose of this proceeding is to obtain a declaration that the business of [192]*192the plaintiff’s corporations is a “work of necessity ”, and as such exempted from the labors prohibited by section 5 of the General Business Law.

A brief exposition of the background as revealed upon the trial of this matter will serve to bring into focus the facts and contentions of both sides to this controversy, it being noted that the opposition by the Police .Commissioner is most vigorous.

The petitioner is the president of several domestic corporations engaged in the travel business, at various locations within the City of New Tork. Travel bookings, hotel reservations and other such services, in single or package form, are made and tickets issued for plane, steamer or bus and hotel. Some, though not all, of the corporations’ offices in the City of New York remain open for business on Sunday. As a consequence, during the past eight years, 11 summonses have been served by the Police Department for alleged violations of section 5 of the General Business Law. Of these, 10 have been dismissed and one is presently pending, having been adjourned on consent, awaiting the outcome of the present application.

It was stipulated in writing between counsel among other things, that Liberty Travel Service, Inc. is an authorized agent of the scheduled airlines licensed by Civil Aeronautics Board and arranges package tours via various airlines, steamships, railroads and buses; that most travel agencies in New York City, as well as airline local offices (not terminals), are also closed on Sunday; that a letter was sent by petitioner to the Police Commissioner on June 29, 1967, requesting him to cease and desist from issuing further summonses as the travel business is a work of necessity and that the 10 Criminal Court dismissals established this as a bar by way of res judicata and collateral estoppel. The letter was accompanied by a memorandum of law. The answer of the Police Commissioner rejecting the request is dated August 7, 1967. Also included in the stipulation, is an itemized account of the inception and disposition of each of the 10 summonses served upon the corporate employees.

A review of the Criminal Court dismissals or acquittals shows that each of them was based on the dismissal of the first three cases, heard together on May 17, 1963, before Queens County Criminal Court Judge Koehler, Docket Nos. 6247, 6248 and 6336. Two later charges, Docket Nos. 17716 and 18301, came on for trial before Judge Bloom, who found that transportation is a matter of necessity and falls within the express exclusion of the “ Penal Law ”, and dismissed both complaints against the defendant, Stuart Lopata (employee of Liberty). [193]*193With respect to three other charges, Docket Nos. 7-37597, 7-38595 and 7-38607, all of 1965, Criminal Court, Kings County, Criminal Court Judge Fagan, held on March 10, 1966, that: ‘1 People must travel on Sundays as well as on weekdays. * * * The travel agency is the representative of a great many companies engaged in this field. Under the circumstances, it is my opinion that the business in which the defendant is engaged is a work of necessity. I find the defendant not guilty in each case.”

In two later cases, on May 17, 1967, Docket Nos. 6030 and 32434, Kings County Criminal Court Judge Thomas Cullen was apprised of the prior acquittals. Assistant District Attorney Abrams there stated that he had been instructed by the chief of the law division, Kings County District Attorney’s office, to say that in his opinion, a conviction would be reversed on appeal in view of the past history of dismissals. Judge Cullen then dismissed both of the complaints. Parenthetically, that record contains an admonition by the Assistant District Attorney to the police officers to tell their Captain that if he served summonses, the District Attorney would not prosecute, so it was senseless to continue serving summonses. Much the same colloquy and consequent dismissal took place in Bronx County Criminal Court on June 26, 1967, Docket No. 9238. There, Criminal Court Judge Seymoub. Quel, acting on the statement of Assistant District Attorney, Gr. Casey, that the District Attorney did not oppose the motion to dismiss, based on discussion with both his own Appeals Division and that of the Kings County District Attorney, dismissed the complaint upon the ground that res judicata and collateral estoppel barred the prosecution.

The foregoing exposition at length has been found necessary because petitioner contends that the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel are bars to the prosecution for conducting a travel business on Sunday. It is further urged that in view of this fact the continual serving of summonses is unlawful, arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and constitutes harassment and interference with the business of the corporations.

The Corporation Counsel contends that the business of the petitioner is not one of necessity, that the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel do not apply and that the Police Department may not be prohibited or prevented from carrying out its duty to serve summonses upon alleged violators, since each case depends on its own facts.

[194]*194Consideration will now be given to the legal consequences of the petition, the exhibits and the contentions of the parties. The court finds in the first instance that petitioner’s application may not be entertained under article 78 of the CPLR. Pursuant to •CPLR 7803 the only questions which may be raised are:

‘ ‘ 1. whether the body or officer failed! to perform a duty enjoined upon it by law; or

2. whether the body or officer proceeded, is proceeding or is about to proceed without or in excess of jurisdiction; or

‘ ‘ 3. whether a determination was made in violation of lawful procedure, was affected by an error of law or was arbitrary and capricious or an abuse of discretion, including abuse of discretion as to the measure or mode of penalty or discipline imposed; or

4. whether a determination made as a result of a hearing held, and at which evidence was taken, pursuant to direction by law is, on the entire record, supported by substantial evidence.”

There is no demonstration by petitioner that the Police Commissioner failed to perform a duty enjoined upon him by law, or that he has proceeded or is about to proceed in excess of his .jurisdiction, or has made an administrative determination which is arbitrary or capricious, or the result of a hearing held pursuant to law. The letter from the Commissioner rejecting petitioner’s request is not such a determination as may be reviewed under CPLR 7803.

An injunction such as that which is sought by petitioner is generally brought as a plenary action rather than by way of petition to review. However, in view of CPLR 103 (subd.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Strickland v. Maniscalco
111 Misc. 2d 78 (New York Supreme Court, 1981)
People v. Abrahams
353 N.E.2d 574 (New York Court of Appeals, 1976)
206 East 52nd Rest. Corp. v. City of New York
86 Misc. 1048 (New York Supreme Court, 1976)
Haroche v. Leary
38 A.D.2d 972 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1972)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
64 Misc. 2d 191, 314 N.Y.S.2d 553, 1970 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1473, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/haroche-v-leary-nysupct-1970.