Leskow v. Office of Court Administration — 248 A.D.2d 1004

Majority

p. 1004

In the Matter of Gary J. Leskow, Appellant, v Office of Court Administration, State of New York, Unified Court System, Respondent.

[670 NYS2d 148]

—Judgment unanimously affirmed without costs. Memorandum: Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding seeking judicial review of his termination as an at-will employee of respondent. Supreme Court properly granted respondent’s cross motion to dismiss the petition for failure to state a cause of action. There is a “very strong presumption” that respondent acted appropriately (Mat ter of Diaz v Goldman, 225 AD2d 344 , 346),. and petitioner bore the burden of pleading and proving that respondent acted in bad faith (see, Matter of Thomas v Abate, 213 AD2d 251 ; Matter of D'Arpe v Brown, 197 AD2d 455 ; Matter of Soto v Koehler, 171 AD2d 567 , 568, Iv denied 78 NY2d 855 ). Petitioner’s conclusory allegations of bad faith based upon speculation are insufficient as a matter of law to meet that burden and to require a hearing on the issue of bad faith (see,

p. 1005

Matter of Thomas v Abate, supra; Matter of Cortijo v Ward, 158 AD2d 345 ; Matter of Whelan v Rozzi, 155 AD2d 603 ). (Appeal from Judgment of Supreme Court, Onondaga County, Major, J. — CPLR art 78.)

Present — Pine, J. P., Wisner, Callahan, Boehm and Fallon, JJ.

Cases cited

Diaz v. Goldman 225 AD2d 344 N.Y. App. Div. 1996-03-12 at 346 p. 1004
Thomas v. Abate 213 AD2d 251 N.Y. App. Div. 1995-03-16 p. 1004
D'Arpe v. Brown 197 AD2d 455 N.Y. App. Div. 1993-10-21 p. 1004
Soto v. Koehler 171 AD2d 567 N.Y. App. Div. 1991-03-26 at 568 p. 1004
Whelan v. Rozzi 155 AD2d 603 N.Y. App. Div. 1989-11-20 p. 1005