THE DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND VIOLENT CONDUCT MISBEHAVIOR DETERMINATIONS WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing (modifying) the superintendent’s determination, held that the disorderly conduct and violent conduct determinations were not supported by substantial evidence:
… [T]he determination that the petitioner was guilty of violating rule 100.15, which provides that an incarcerated individual shall not engage in unauthorized sparring, wrestling, body-punching, or other forms of disorderly conduct, was not supported by substantial evidence. The misbehavior report does not state that the petitioner engaged in any particular act of disorderly conduct set forth in the rule, or any other similar act that could be defined as disorderly conduct within the meaning of the rule, which contemplates some form of physical contact by an inmate with another individual. Nor does the misbehavior report constitute substantial evidence to establish that the petitioner was guilty of violating rule 104.11, prohibiting violent conduct. The report does not indicate that the petitioner committed any particular violent act, merely stating that “[f]orce became necessary,” without indicating what the petitioner did to necessitate the use of such force. Furthermore, there is no evidence outside the report to support the determination that the petitioner was guilty of disorderly conduct or violent conduct … . Matter of White v LaManna, 2022 NY Slip Op 06010, Second Dept 10-26-22
Practice Point: Here in these prison disciplinary proceedings there was no proof of violence on the part of the inmate. Therefore the disorderly conduct and violent conduct determinations were not supported by substantial evidence. The allegation that “force became necessary,” referring to the actions of the guards, was not enough.