Opinion
March 27, 1986
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Albany County.
Petitioner was the subject of an investigation conducted by the State Department of Agriculture and Markets (Department) with the assistance of United States Department of Agriculture Compliance Officer Edward L. Fayer. That investigation focused on the alleged sale by petitioner of nonkosher meat misbranded as kosher meat. After petitioner was charged with violating Agriculture and Markets Law § 199-a (1) and § 201-a, the Department conducted a hearing on the charges. After the hearing was concluded, the hearing officer recommended that petitioner be found guilty of violating the aforementioned statutory provisions and that it be fined $10,600. Respondent adopted the hearing officer's findings of fact but imposed a fine of $25,000. Petitioner then commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
We note at the outset that, contrary to respondent's contention, this proceeding is not barred by the Statute of Limitations. Respondent argues that the 30-day limitation set forth in Agriculture and Markets Law § 202-b governs this case. That statute, dealing with the seizure and quarantine of unfit or unsafe food, mandates that a party wishing to challenge a determination by respondent with regard to the destruction of such food must commence a proceeding within 30 days from the service of respondent's determination upon the party. Here, however, petitioner is seeking review not of the determination to dispose of the seized meat, but of the determination that it misbranded nonkosher meat. Accordingly, the four-month Statute of Limitations of CPLR 217 is applicable, and this proceeding was thus timely commenced.
Petitioner first argues that it was denied due process at the Department's hearing because the hearing officer was employed by the Department. Standing alone, the fact that the hearing officer was a Department employee is insufficient to show a violation of petitioner's due process rights (see, Matter of Beres Sons Dairy v. Barber, 75 A.D.2d 930, 931, affd 52 N.Y.2d 1026). In order to demonstrate a denial of due process, petitioner would have had to have made "a factual showing of some impropriety in the hearing process" (Matter of Alhmeyer v. New York State Policemen's Firemen's Retirement Sys., 82 A.D.2d 954, 955). Petitioner has failed to make such a showing and, in fact, concedes that it "could not say with certainty that the Hearing Officer was biased and/or prejudiced". Such being the case, we must reject any argument that petitioner's due process rights were violated merely because the hearing officer was employed by the Department.
Petitioner next asserts that respondent's determination lacks substantial evidentiary support. We disagree. Fayer provided extensive testimony at the hearing. That testimony, outlining the procedures involved in his investigation, clearly shows that the meat in question, while nonkosher in origin, was represented as being kosher to certain of petitioner's customers. It is true that Fayer's testimony conflicted with that of Nat Kagan, president of petitioner, and Edward McKune, a butcher employed by petitioner. However, it is the province of the hearing officer to determine issues of credibility (see, Matter of Collins v. Codd, 38 N.Y.2d 269, 270-271), and where substantial evidence exists to support his determination, as it does here, that determination must be sustained (see, Matter of Pollman v. Fahey, 106 A.D.2d 771, 773).
Finally, petitioner alleges error in the calculation of the penalty imposed against him. The penalty imposed is not self-executing, however, and its assessment must await action by the Attorney-General. Because the record does not reveal that any such action has been taken, the assessment is nonfinal at this juncture and, hence, not reviewable in this proceeding (see, Agriculture and Markets Law § 44; Matter of Glen Mohawk Milk Assn. v. Barber, 77 A.D.2d 127, 130, lv denied 52 N.Y.2d 704, appeal dismissed 52 N.Y.2d 828; Matter of Brings Shortenings v Wickham, 36 A.D.2d 553, 554).
Determination confirmed, and petition dismissed, with costs. Kane, J.P., Main, Weiss, Mikoll and Yesawich, Jr., JJ.