NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-3546-22
KASEEM ALI-X,
Appellant,
v.
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,
Respondent. ___________________________
Argued May 7, 2025 – Decided June 2, 2025
Before Judges Mayer and DeAlmeida.
On appeal from the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
Kaseem Ali-X, appellant pro se.
Eric Intriago, Deputy Attorney General, argued the cause for respondent (Matthew J. Platkin, Attorney General, attorney; Janet Greenberg Cohen, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel; Eric Intriago, on the brief).
PER CURIAM Appellant Kaseem Ali-X, currently incarcerated at a correctional facility
in Trenton, appeals from a November 17, 2022 final agency decision issued by
respondent New Jersey Department of Corrections (Department) denying his
lost property claim. We affirm.
In February 2019, Ali-X bought twenty pouches of refried beans from an
outside vendor through the correctional facility's "Incentive Food Package"
program. The program allowed inmates who remained "charge-free for at least
one . . . year" to order food from approved vendors.
Based on the vendor's product description, Ali-X ordered beans believing
they were kosher. Upon receipt, Ali-X discovered the beans were not kosher
because they contained lard. Ali-X wrote to the vendor in May 2019 regarding
the non-kosher beans. The vendor apologized and offered to issue a $34 refund
to Ali-X if he returned the beans.
The correctional facility declined to process Ali-X's return shipment of
the beans because it prohibited the shipping of food items from the prison. This
prompted Ali-X to file a grievance on July 27, 2019 (July Grievance). The
Department responded to Ali-X's July Grievance, explaining: "We do not ship
food." Ali-X responded, contending the correctional facility's response was
"unfair" and "disrespectful." On August 1, 2019, the Department replied, stating
A-3546-22 2 the "[g]rievance was answered correctly the first time. You [cannot] appeal it
just because you don[']t agree with the [prison] rules and regulations." Ali-X
did not appeal the Department's decision regarding his July Grievance to this
court.
Ali-X filed another grievance on August 19, 2019 (August Grievance). In
the August Grievance, he argued the Department improperly told him not to
appeal his July Grievance. Ali-X internally appealed, arguing the correctional
facility did not give him notice regarding a policy allowing the prison to refuse
to ship food, and he disputed the existence of such a policy. Ali-X claimed the
correctional facility's action was arbitrary and violated his rights. In an August
20, 2019 response, the Department explained Ali-X's July Grievance had no
legitimate basis because it concerned a complaint about the correctional
facility's rules or regulations. In a September 10, 2019 response, the Department
instructed Ali-X to follow the rules and regulations per the Inmate Handbook.
Ali-X did not appeal the Department's response to his August Grievance to this
On September 29, 2019, Ali-X purportedly submitted an "Inmate Claim
for Lost, Damaged[,] or Destroyed Personal Property" (Property Claim) with the
Department. He resubmitted his Property Claim on October 23, 2022. In his
A-3546-22 3 Property Claim, Ali-X asserted the correctional facility "deprived [him] of . . .
a refund" by refusing to ship his non-kosher beans to the vendor. He demanded
the Department's payment of $34 for the lost refund and $17.85 in postage.
Upon investigating the Property Claim, the Department found Ali-X
placed the bean order in February 2019 and the vendor offered him a refund in
August 2019. However, Ali-X submitted his Property Claim to the Department
on October 23, 2022.
In November 2022, the Department's Property Claims Committee
(Committee) denied Ali-X's Property Claim. Ali-X appealed the Department's
denial of his Property Claim to this court.
We recite Ali-X's arguments on appeal verbatim. In his moving brief and
reply brief, Ali-X argues:
POINT I
[THE DEPARTMENT] IN ABUSE OF AUTHORITY RECKLESSLY DEPRIVED ALI-X OF HIS DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.
POINT II
STATE OFFICIALS ACTING UNDER COLOR OF STATE LAW, IN ABUSE OF AUTHORITY RECKLESSLY DISREGARDED ALI-X'S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS WITH THE EVIL INTENT TO CAUSE HARM.
A-3546-22 4 POINT III
PUNITIVE DAMAGES AS TREBLE[D] SHOULD BE AWARDED FOR [THE DEPARTMENT]'S EMPLOYEES WILLFUL AND WANTON 1 MISCONDUCT. (Not raised below)
Our review of an appeal from a final agency decision is limited. In re
Stallworth, 208 N.J. 182, 194 (2011). "[A] strong presumption of
reasonableness attaches to" an agency's decision. In re Carroll, 339 N.J. Super.
429, 437 (App. Div. 2001) (quoting In re Vey, 272 N.J. Super. 199, 205 (App.
Div. 1993)). We will not reverse an administrative agency decision unless the
decision is "arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable or . . . not supported by
substantial credible evidence in the record as a whole." Henry v. Rahway State
Prison, 81 N.J. 571, 579-80 (1980).
We afford "[w]ide discretion . . . to administrative decisions because of
an agency's specialized knowledge." In re Request to Modify Prison Sentences,
242 N.J. 357, 390 (2020). "[A]lthough the determination of an administrative
agency is entitled to deference, our appellate obligation requires more than a
1 Ali-X included a fourth point in a reply brief. However, the reply brief was deemed deficient in an October 10, 2024 letter from the Clerk's Office. In a November 7, 2024 order, Ali-X was directed to file an "amended reply brief removing any reference to his supplemental appendix by November 27, 2024." Ali-X failed to submit an amended reply brief per the November 7 order. A-3546-22 5 perfunctory review." Figueroa v. N.J. Dep't of Corr., 414 N.J. Super. 186, 191
(App. Div. 2010) (quoting Blackwell v. Dep't of Corr., 348 N.J. Super. 117, 123
(App. Div. 2002)). "[O]ur function is not to merely rubberstamp an agency's
decision." Ibid. (citing Williams v. Dep't of Corr., 330 N.J. Super. 197, 204
(App. Div. 2000)). Instead, we must "engage in 'a careful and principled
consideration of the agency record and findings.'" Ibid. (quoting Williams, 330
N.J. Super. at 204).
When an inmate asserts his or her personal property has been lost,
damaged, or destroyed, the inmate must file a Property Claim. N.J.A.C. 10A:2-
6.1(a). The inmate must complete the claim form "within [fifteen] . . . days of
the incident or discovery of the incident." N.J.A.C. 10A:2-6.3(a).
After the inmate files a lost property claim, the Department is required to
investigate and prepare a report. N.J.A.C. 10A:2-6.1(b). Once the Department
completes the investigation, the inmate's claim form and a copy of the
investigative report must be submitted to the correctional facility for review.
N.J.A.C. 10A:2-6.1(c).
When issuing a decision on the inmate's claim, the Department considers:
1.
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-3546-22
KASEEM ALI-X,
Appellant,
v.
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,
Respondent. ___________________________
Argued May 7, 2025 – Decided June 2, 2025
Before Judges Mayer and DeAlmeida.
On appeal from the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
Kaseem Ali-X, appellant pro se.
Eric Intriago, Deputy Attorney General, argued the cause for respondent (Matthew J. Platkin, Attorney General, attorney; Janet Greenberg Cohen, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel; Eric Intriago, on the brief).
PER CURIAM Appellant Kaseem Ali-X, currently incarcerated at a correctional facility
in Trenton, appeals from a November 17, 2022 final agency decision issued by
respondent New Jersey Department of Corrections (Department) denying his
lost property claim. We affirm.
In February 2019, Ali-X bought twenty pouches of refried beans from an
outside vendor through the correctional facility's "Incentive Food Package"
program. The program allowed inmates who remained "charge-free for at least
one . . . year" to order food from approved vendors.
Based on the vendor's product description, Ali-X ordered beans believing
they were kosher. Upon receipt, Ali-X discovered the beans were not kosher
because they contained lard. Ali-X wrote to the vendor in May 2019 regarding
the non-kosher beans. The vendor apologized and offered to issue a $34 refund
to Ali-X if he returned the beans.
The correctional facility declined to process Ali-X's return shipment of
the beans because it prohibited the shipping of food items from the prison. This
prompted Ali-X to file a grievance on July 27, 2019 (July Grievance). The
Department responded to Ali-X's July Grievance, explaining: "We do not ship
food." Ali-X responded, contending the correctional facility's response was
"unfair" and "disrespectful." On August 1, 2019, the Department replied, stating
A-3546-22 2 the "[g]rievance was answered correctly the first time. You [cannot] appeal it
just because you don[']t agree with the [prison] rules and regulations." Ali-X
did not appeal the Department's decision regarding his July Grievance to this
court.
Ali-X filed another grievance on August 19, 2019 (August Grievance). In
the August Grievance, he argued the Department improperly told him not to
appeal his July Grievance. Ali-X internally appealed, arguing the correctional
facility did not give him notice regarding a policy allowing the prison to refuse
to ship food, and he disputed the existence of such a policy. Ali-X claimed the
correctional facility's action was arbitrary and violated his rights. In an August
20, 2019 response, the Department explained Ali-X's July Grievance had no
legitimate basis because it concerned a complaint about the correctional
facility's rules or regulations. In a September 10, 2019 response, the Department
instructed Ali-X to follow the rules and regulations per the Inmate Handbook.
Ali-X did not appeal the Department's response to his August Grievance to this
On September 29, 2019, Ali-X purportedly submitted an "Inmate Claim
for Lost, Damaged[,] or Destroyed Personal Property" (Property Claim) with the
Department. He resubmitted his Property Claim on October 23, 2022. In his
A-3546-22 3 Property Claim, Ali-X asserted the correctional facility "deprived [him] of . . .
a refund" by refusing to ship his non-kosher beans to the vendor. He demanded
the Department's payment of $34 for the lost refund and $17.85 in postage.
Upon investigating the Property Claim, the Department found Ali-X
placed the bean order in February 2019 and the vendor offered him a refund in
August 2019. However, Ali-X submitted his Property Claim to the Department
on October 23, 2022.
In November 2022, the Department's Property Claims Committee
(Committee) denied Ali-X's Property Claim. Ali-X appealed the Department's
denial of his Property Claim to this court.
We recite Ali-X's arguments on appeal verbatim. In his moving brief and
reply brief, Ali-X argues:
POINT I
[THE DEPARTMENT] IN ABUSE OF AUTHORITY RECKLESSLY DEPRIVED ALI-X OF HIS DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.
POINT II
STATE OFFICIALS ACTING UNDER COLOR OF STATE LAW, IN ABUSE OF AUTHORITY RECKLESSLY DISREGARDED ALI-X'S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS WITH THE EVIL INTENT TO CAUSE HARM.
A-3546-22 4 POINT III
PUNITIVE DAMAGES AS TREBLE[D] SHOULD BE AWARDED FOR [THE DEPARTMENT]'S EMPLOYEES WILLFUL AND WANTON 1 MISCONDUCT. (Not raised below)
Our review of an appeal from a final agency decision is limited. In re
Stallworth, 208 N.J. 182, 194 (2011). "[A] strong presumption of
reasonableness attaches to" an agency's decision. In re Carroll, 339 N.J. Super.
429, 437 (App. Div. 2001) (quoting In re Vey, 272 N.J. Super. 199, 205 (App.
Div. 1993)). We will not reverse an administrative agency decision unless the
decision is "arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable or . . . not supported by
substantial credible evidence in the record as a whole." Henry v. Rahway State
Prison, 81 N.J. 571, 579-80 (1980).
We afford "[w]ide discretion . . . to administrative decisions because of
an agency's specialized knowledge." In re Request to Modify Prison Sentences,
242 N.J. 357, 390 (2020). "[A]lthough the determination of an administrative
agency is entitled to deference, our appellate obligation requires more than a
1 Ali-X included a fourth point in a reply brief. However, the reply brief was deemed deficient in an October 10, 2024 letter from the Clerk's Office. In a November 7, 2024 order, Ali-X was directed to file an "amended reply brief removing any reference to his supplemental appendix by November 27, 2024." Ali-X failed to submit an amended reply brief per the November 7 order. A-3546-22 5 perfunctory review." Figueroa v. N.J. Dep't of Corr., 414 N.J. Super. 186, 191
(App. Div. 2010) (quoting Blackwell v. Dep't of Corr., 348 N.J. Super. 117, 123
(App. Div. 2002)). "[O]ur function is not to merely rubberstamp an agency's
decision." Ibid. (citing Williams v. Dep't of Corr., 330 N.J. Super. 197, 204
(App. Div. 2000)). Instead, we must "engage in 'a careful and principled
consideration of the agency record and findings.'" Ibid. (quoting Williams, 330
N.J. Super. at 204).
When an inmate asserts his or her personal property has been lost,
damaged, or destroyed, the inmate must file a Property Claim. N.J.A.C. 10A:2-
6.1(a). The inmate must complete the claim form "within [fifteen] . . . days of
the incident or discovery of the incident." N.J.A.C. 10A:2-6.3(a).
After the inmate files a lost property claim, the Department is required to
investigate and prepare a report. N.J.A.C. 10A:2-6.1(b). Once the Department
completes the investigation, the inmate's claim form and a copy of the
investigative report must be submitted to the correctional facility for review.
N.J.A.C. 10A:2-6.1(c).
When issuing a decision on the inmate's claim, the Department considers:
1. Whether the investigation revealed any neglect by the correctional facility;
A-3546-22 6 2. Whether care was exercised by facility staff preventing property loss, damage or destruction;
3. Whether the inmate exercised care in preventing property loss, damage or destruction;
4. Whether it has been proven that the inmate was authorized to have and did, in fact, possess the item(s) named in the claim;
5. Whether sufficient information has been supplied by the inmate, including proper receipts, witnesses and investigative reports;
6. Whether the inmate submitted the claim in a timely manner;
7. Whether the loss or damage exceeds authorized amounts of correctional facility personal property limits;
8. Whether the personal property is considered contraband; and
9. Whether other reviewers recommended denial of the claim and the reasons therefor.
[N.J.A.C. 10A:2-6.2(a).]
If a claim is denied, the Department must notify the inmate "in writing . . . with
substantiating reasons." N.J.A.C. 10A:2-6.1(f).
Ali-X's notice of appeal listed only the Department's November 17, 2022
final agency decision. "[O]nly the orders designated in the notice of appeal . . .
are subject to the appeal process and review." W.H. Indus., Inc. v. Fundicao
A-3546-22 7 Balancins, Ltda, 397 N.J. Super. 455, 458 (App. Div. 2008) (quoting Sikes v.
Twp. of Rockaway, 269 N.J. Super. 463, 465-66 (App. Div. 1994)). Thus, we
limit our review to the Department's November 17, 2022 denial of Ali-X's
Property Claim.
Ali-X submitted his Property Claim on October 23, 2022. According to
the record, the vendor acknowledged its error and notified Ali-X in August 2019
that it would issue a refund if he returned the beans. After investigating the
Property Claim, the DOC found it was clear Ali-X failed to submit his claim
within fifteen days of the August 2019 incident.
On this record, we are satisfied the Department properly denied Ali-X's
untimely Property Claim. There was substantial credible evidence in the record
supporting the Department's November 17, 2022 decision, and the decision was
not arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable.
To the extent we have not addressed any of Ali-X's remaining claims, they
are without sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a written opinion. R. 2:11-
3(e)(1)(D) and (E).
Affirmed.
A-3546-22 8