Summary
In Finn, where the certificate of acceptance made reference to the general election rather than the primary election, the Court found that such an "error presents no basis to invalidate the designating petition."
Summary of this case from Paladino v. KyriakidesOpinion
2011-09-19
In the Matter of Geoffrey FINN, et al., appellants,v.William SHERWOOD, et al., respondents-respondents, et al., respondent.
PETER B. SKELOS, J.P., JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, L. PRISCILLA HALL, and PLUMMER E. LOTT, JJ.
In a proceeding pursuant to Election Law §§ 6–146 and 16–102, inter alia, to invalidate a petition designating William Sherwood, James B. White, and Karl C. Javanes as candidates in a primary election held on September 13, 2011, for the nomination of the Independence Party as its candidates for the public offices of Supervisor, Member of the Town Council, and Member of the Town Council, respectively, of the Town of Stony Point, Rockland County, the petitioners appeal from a final order of the Supreme Court, Rockland County (Brands, J.), dated August 16, 2011, which, in effect, denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding.
ORDERED that the final order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
Initially, we note that, under the particular circumstances of this case, the appeal is not academic.
The petitioners contend that the Supreme Court erred in failing to invalidate the challenged designating petition on the ground that it was permeated with fraud. Generally, a designating petition will only be invalidated on the ground of fraud where there is a showing that the entire designating petition is permeated with fraud ( see Matter of Harris v. Duran, 76 A.D.3d 658, 659, 905 N.Y.S.2d 777; Matter of Robinson v. Edwards, 54 A.D.3d 682, 683, 865 N.Y.S.2d 223; Matter of Drace v. Sayegh, 43 A.D.3d 481, 482, 844 N.Y.S.2d 314). Even when the designating petition is not permeated with fraud, the designating petition will generally be invalidated where the candidate has participated in or is chargeable with knowledge of the fraud ( see Matter of Harris v. Duran, 76 A.D.3d at 659, 905 N.Y.S.2d 777; Matter of Perez v. Galarza, 21 A.D.3d 508, 509, 800 N.Y.S.2d 574; see Matter of Drace v. Sayegh, 43 A.D.3d at 482, 844 N.Y.S.2d 314). Here, although there were some irregularities relating to the designating
petition, the petitioners failed to meet their burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that it was permeated with fraud or that the candidates participated in or were chargeable with knowledge of any fraud ( see Matter of Harris v. Duran, 76 A.D.3d at 659, 905 N.Y.S.2d 777; Matter of Hennessey v. DiCarlo, 21 A.D.3d 505, 506, 800 N.Y.S.2d 576; Matter of McRae v. Jennings, 307 A.D.2d 1012, 1013, 763 N.Y.S.2d 504).
The petitioners also failed to meet their burden of establishing that all of the signatures on the designating petition should have been invalidated on the ground that Douglas J. Jobson, the notary public who witnessed the signatures, failed to obtain a statement from each of the signatories attesting to the truth and accuracy of the matter to which they subscribed their names ( see Election Law § 6–132[3] ). Jobson testified that he introduced himself to each signatory, explained to them what they were signing, and administered to and took an oath from each signatory. Jobson thereby substantially complied with Election Law § 6–132(3) ( see Matter of Kutner v. Nassau County Bd. of Elections, 65 A.D.3d 643, 644–645, 888 N.Y.S.2d 65; Matter of Liebler v. Friedman, 54 A.D.3d 697, 697–698, 863 N.Y.S.2d 719). “Since the Supreme Court had the advantage of hearing and seeing the witnesses, the Supreme Court's assessment of [Jobson's] credibility is entitled to substantial deference” ( Matter of Harris v. Duran, 76 A.D.3d at 659, 905 N.Y.S.2d 777; see Matter of Drace v. Sayegh, 43 A.D.3d at 482, 844 N.Y.S.2d 314).
Further, we reject the petitioners' contention that the designating petition should have been invalidated on the ground that candidate William Sherwood failed to file a certificate of acceptance as required by Election Law § 6–146(1). Sherwood filed a certificate of acceptance containing his complete and correct name, his correct address, the correct political party, and the correct office. The certificate was duly acknowledged by a notary public. While the certificate made reference to the general election rather than the primary election, such an “error presents no basis to invalidate the designating petition” ( Matter of Reagon v. LeJeune, 307 A.D.2d 1015, 1015, 763 N.Y.S.2d 502; see Matter of Conklin v. Canary, 112 A.D.2d 1062, 493 N.Y.S.2d 45, affd. 65 N.Y.2d 952, 494 N.Y.S.2d 106, 484 N.E.2d 135; Matter of Helfer v. Amos, 159 Misc.2d 65, 602 N.Y.S.2d 1005).
The petitioners' remaining contentions are without merit. Therefore, the Supreme Court properly, in effect, denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding.