Matter of Tri-Rail Constr. Inc. v The Environmental Control Bd. of the City of NY

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Matter of Tri-Rail Constr. Inc. v The Environmental Control Bd. of the City of NY 2012 NY Slip Op 32307(U) September 4, 2012 Sup Ct, New York County Docket Number: 102206/12 Judge: Donna M. Mills Republished from New York State Unified Court System's E-Courts Service. Search E-Courts (http://www.nycourts.gov/ecourts) for any additional information on this case. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. [* 1] DON 91712012 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW Y O W - NEW YORK COlJNTY PART PRESENI : DONNA M. MILIS 58 Justice In the Multer ofthe Application of TRI-RAII, C ONSTR IJCTION INC., INDEX No. 1 O22O6/12 MOTIONDATE MOT~ON No. 001 SEQ. l71& ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD OF THF CITY OF NEW Y O N , A DIVISION 01; THE OFFICE OF ADMINLSTRATIVE I [UAI,S AND HEAl<INC.+S, Respondent. - . - MOTION VAL NO. - -.. -_ The rollowing papers, nuiiibercd 1 to were read on this motion Notice of MotiodOrder to Show Cause-hffdwits- Exhibits.... Answering Affidavits- - Exhibits - . . t __ _- -. 13KIDED r ACCORDANCE WITH ATTACI I ED MEMORAN D L M DIXlSI(1N N 9+/Y Dated: I Lk*OONdgkl. MILLS, J.S.CI Check one: f/ FINAL DISPOSI I ION NON-FTN A L DISPOSITION [* 2] 1 TRI-IIATL CONSTRUCTION INC., Pet. t i o n e r , i F o r a n order pursuant t o Article 7 8 o r d e r i n g 2nd i j i r e c k j ny r e s p o n d e n t s I n d e x No. 102206/2022 t o v a c a t - c c e r l - a i n d e f a u 1 . t judgmen1:s; t o v d c a t c alleyed i m p r o p e r h e c l r i n g s and conduct. h e a r i n g s , - against- D E C I S I O N ANI:) OH1)L';K DONNA M . MILLS, J . S . C . P e t i t i o n e r 'l'ri-Rail ConsLruct.ion, lnc. (Trirail) , a general c(-)iit_ra(:tor., a l l e g e s i n t h i s A r - t i c l c '/8p r o c e e d i n g t h a t , when i t a p p l i e d f o r work perrni t.s, r e s p o n d e n t , The E n v i i . o n m e n t a l C o n t r o l Board o f t h e C i t y o f N e w York ( t h e ECB), i n f o r m e d ' l ' r i r a i l t h a t . it. had 15 o u t - s t a n d i n g n o t - i c e s o f v i o l a t i o n (NOV). The p e t - i t i o r ~ allcqes that T r i r a i l b e l i e v e d V.hat all o u t : s t . a n d i n g NOVs h a d e j t l i e r been re-opened or were t h e s u b j e c t of prior A . r t i c l e 7 8 p r o c e e d i rigs. T r i r a i l moves f o r a n order directing r e s p o n d e n t t o grant Trirail's r c q u c s t Lo s c h e d u l e n e w h e a r i n g d a t - c s o n thc o u t s t - a n d i n y N O V s . T r i r a i l i s e l n y a g e d i n the c o n s t r u c t i o r ~business i n the C i t y - *-*. [* 3] 1 'I'he f i f t e e n N O V s a l l relate to o n e p r o j e c t s i t e on of New Y n r E ; . Rer-r-y St.reet:. i n B r o o k l y n , or1 w h i c h T r i r a i l was t . h c g e n e r a l r.:onI.ractor. T r i r a i l a1 1 . e q e s that. i t c e a s e d o p e r a t i o n s a t t h e B r o o k l y n s i t e p r i o r t o the i s s u a n c e of some o f t h e N O V s . 'I'he c h a l l e n y e d NOVs f a l l i n t o two c a t e g o r i e s . S i x of t h e (the f i r s t c a t e g o r - y N O V s ) i n v o l v e a p p l i c a r i o n s b y T r i r a l 1 t o NOVs r e o p e n h e a r i n g s o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t 'Trirdil never r e c e i.ved n o t i.c:e o f a n y d e n i a l o f its a p p l i c a t i o n s t o r e o p e n t h o s e NOVs. first c l t e g CI I y c The NOVs corrip r i sc 01 7 65 2272 0, 03 4 7 993 09N, 017 8 82 8 5 4 0, 0178769122, 107882853:l., a n d 1078769131. N i n e of t h e NOVs ( t h e second c a t e g o r y NOVs) involve d e t c r m i n a t . i ons after a h e a r i n g , b u t T'rirdi 1 a1 leges t h a t t h e t h r e e p u r p o r t e d r e p r e s e n t a t - i v e s f o r i t a t t h e h e a r i n g s were n o t a u t h o r i z e d r e p r e s e n t : a t - . i v e s of Trirdil , a n d t h ~ k r i r a i l h a s no T k n o w l c d g e o f t . h c i d e n t i t i e s o f these p e o p l e , Mari.a Pollack, Josh N i m a r o f f , a n d P a m e l a L e w i s , who a r e l i s t e d o n t h e transcripts d s ills r e p r e s e n t - a t i v e s . The s e c o n d c:at.eqory N O V s c o m p r i s e 01.77053452, 01'1770.534 1 , 10770533470, 107 6514178, 0176492250, 6 017649224.1, 01770.53480, a n d 0176286303. The F i r s t C a t e g o r y N O V s W i t . 1 1 r e s p e c t t o t h e c a t e g o r y one N O V ' s , T r i r a i l acknowledges that i t r e c e i v e d a March 5 , 2012 l e t t e r frorri t.he ECB d e n y i n g T r i r a i l ' s a p p l i c a t i o n for a new h e a r i n g o n a l l s i x o f t h e c a t e g o r y one NOVs. That. l . e t t . c r s t a t - e s t h a t 2 t h i s i s t h e second [* 4] a p p l i c a t i o n t o reopen t h e s e N O V s , and t h a l . t h e ECB's S p e c i a l Mot.i.on Part h a d p r c v i o u s l y d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n t o r e - o p e n . Trirail arques that. t h i s 1 . c t t e r i s i n s u f f i c i e n t b e c a u s e it i s only s i g n e d by FI clerk, r a t h e r t . h a n an a d m i n i s t r a t - i v e l a w j u d g e , aiicl a l s o h e c a u s e it d o e s n o t :;tat.e a r e a s o n f o r t h e denial. The ECR a r g u e s t h a t t h i s a c t i o n i:; u n t i m e l y w i t h respect. t o t h c c a t e g o r y o n e NOVs. 2012. Tt1i.s a c t i o n was commenced o n M a r c h 1 2 , P e t i t . i o n e r ' s a p p l i c a t i o n s to vacate i t s defaults arid r e o p e n t . h e c a t e g o r y o n e NOVs were i n i . t i a l l y denied ,in a s e r i e s o f t h r e e l e t t e r s , t h e l a t e s t . b e a r i n g t h e date March 1 6 , 2 0 1 1 . p e t i t . i o n e r w a s i n f o r m c d of the e x i s t e n c e o f t.he 1 5 NOVs, After it a g a i n moved t.o v a c a t . e i1.s d e f a u l t , r e s u l t i n g i n t h e M a r c h 5 , 203.2 l e t t e r - , d e n y i n g r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of thc c a t e g o r y one NOVs. Thc E C B a r q u e s t . h a t t h e p e t . i t i o n i s u n t i m e l y a s t o t h e f i r s t cailecjory N O V s b e c a u s c t h e p e t i t i o n was f i l e d b e y o n d t h e four- m0nt.h s t a t l i t - e of- 1 - i m i t a t i o n s f o r A r t i c l e 7 8 p r o c e e d ; n g s . This presumes t h a t the ECB a c t - u a l l y m a i l e d t h e ( l e t - e r m i n a t i o n s t o (.he addr-esscs f u r r i i s h e d . T r i r a i l h a d p r o v i d e d t h e ECB w i t h t w o addresses, o n e f o r itself arid o n e f o r i t s counsel, t o w h i c h all c o m m u n i c a t . i o n s were t o be sent. T r i r a i l a l l e g e s t h a t i l . n e v e r received a n y n o t i f i c a t i o n o f t h e denial:; t o v a c a t e i k s defaults i n the c a t e g o r y (.)ne NOVs, hut. i t. a c k n o w l e d g e s r e c e i v i n g t h e March 5 , 2005 let-ter. T r i r a i 1 s u b m i t s t h e a f f i d 3 v i . t of C h a r l e s [* 5] Vcntimigl i a , the p r e s i d e n t 01 T r ' i rail, s t a t i n g t h a t ' T r i r a i l n e v e r received ariy comnunicatiLon f r o m t h e ECB d e n y i n g T r i r a j 1's a p p l i c a l : . i o n t.o r e o p e n f i r s t c a t e g o r y NOV's. I n opposit.ion, t . h e ECB s u b m i L s ~;(.)pi.es of not.ic:es allegedly sen!. to bo1.h a d d r e s s e s , bul: does n o t submit a n y e v i d e n c e that. t.he n o t i c e s wcre actually s e n t . " R e s p o n d e n t ECB h a s f a i l e d t o s u b m i t p r - o o f , i n a d m i s s i b l e Iorm, t h a t i t s f i r s t . determination d e n y i n g petiLioncr's a p p l i c a t i o n t o vacate t h e defaull: was a c t - u a l l y mailed t.o p e t - i t i o n e r - - ." (Chen v C i t . y of N c w Y'nr-k Environmcnta~ C C ) I I ~ T Bd., 2012 WL 2619124, "2, 2012 NY Misc T , e x i s 3 1 4 5 " 3 O~ Ct, N Y Coun!:y 20121). Trirail's [Sup s u b m i s s i o n o f t h e a f f i d a v i t of i t s p r - e s i d c n t s t a t i n q t h a t i t n e v e r received t h e d e n i a l l e t t e r s f r o m Vhe ECB, a n d t.he E C R h a s no!: met i . t s b u r d e n o f s u b m i t t i n g rebut t:al e v i d e n c e i n a d m i s s i b l e f o r m t h a t . t h e l e t t e r s were a c : t . u a l l y sent. (see G a l 1 0 v City of N e w Y o r k , 2012 WL 2434967, *7 [ S u p Ct, N Y C o u n t y 20121). The Second C a t e g o r y NOVs The KCR d e n i e d T r i r a i l ' s appl i (:at-ion t o v a c a t e i t s d e f a u l t s on t h e s e c o n d cateqory NOVs o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t T r i a l r a i l was n o t i n d e f a u l t on L.hose N O V s , w h i c h had a l l been cleni.ed after h e a r i n g s b e f o r e ECR a d m i n i s t r a t i v e j u d q e s . In s u p p o r t o f t h e v e r i - f i e d petition, t h c V e n t i m i g l i a a f f i d a v i t s t - a t e s k h a t . t h e r e p r e s e x i t . a t i v c s who a p p e a r e d f o r ' Trirail a t those a d m i n i s t r a t - i v c h e a r i n g s were n o t a u t . h o r i z e d 4 [* 6] r e p r e s e n t a t - i v e s of T r i r a i l , arid t h a t h e i s t.he o n l y person a t T r i r a i l w i t h a u b h o r i t y L o h i r e a r e p r e s e n t a t . i v e t o a p p e a r for T r i 2 . ' . r a i i i.n I:he p r o c e e d i n g s b e f o r e t h e ECB (.)I-) t h c NOVs. V e n t i r n i g l i a s k a t e s L.hat h e d i d n o t h i r e and h a s n o knowledge o f t h e t h r e c p e r s o n s who p u r p o r t e d t.o a p p e a r f o r Trirail a t t h e ECR h e a r i n g s on t - h e s e c o n d c a t e g o r y N O V S . The ECB has not: s u b m i t t e d a n y e v i d e n c e i.ii a d m i s s i b l e form challenging t-his asscrtion. 'I'he ECB m e r e l y asserts in i t s b r i e f t h a t . i I b e l i e v e s i-.hat. t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s who appeared : p u r p o r t - c d l y on behalf o f T r i r a i l a r e e m p l o y e e s o f Jack J a f f a & A s s o c i a t e s , a company that i s often h i r e d t.o r e p r - e s e n t p a r t i e s i s s u e d NOVs a t adminisL:rative h e a r i n g s (see E C B Memorandum of I,aw, p 1 6 , r~ 4 ) . Lf i n fact t h e p u r p o r t e d r e p r e s e n t . a t i v e s o f T'rir-ciil who a p p e a r e d aL the a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h e a r i n q s o n behalf o f T r i r a i l were n o t a u t h o r i z e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , t h e n t h e p r o c e e d i n g s are a nul l i t y , arid t h e a p p e a r a n c e b y such u n a u t h o r i z e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s canriot supporL t h e g r o u n d c i l . e d i n t h e ECB' s d e n i a l o f T r i r a i l ' s a p p l i c a t - i o n tko v a c a t e i t s d e f a u l t i n t . h e s e c o n d c a t e g o r y NOVs, t h a t T r i r a i l w a s riot. i n d e f a u l t . The p c t i t - i o n i s granted t o t h e e x t e n t o f d i r e c t i n g t h e ECB t o g r a n t n e w h e a r i n g d a t c s on all o.f t h e NOVs l i s t e d i . n t h e v e r i f i e d p e t i t i o n , and t o deterrrine a s a f a c t u a l i S T r i r - a i l r e c e i v e d nol.j.c:e o f i t s d e f a u l t s 5 i r i S U ~ whet-her t h e c a t e g o r y one NOVs, [* 7] arid w h c t h e r thc! r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s who a p p e a r e d on b e h a l f of T r j r a i . 1 i n the h e a r i n g s o n t . h e s e c o n d c a l e y o r y N O V s were p r o p e r l y a 12t.hor i z e d r epr e sen 1.a t i. v e s of ?'ri r a i 1 l h e E C B h a s n o t e s t a b l i s h e d t.hat. t . h e m a t t e r i s moot b e c a u s e T r - i r a i l pa:i.d thc f i n e s on the NOVs. Accordi r i q l y , il. is A D J U D G E D t h a t . t.he p e t i t i o n o f T r i - R a i l Construction, Inc., is g r a n t e d , t.o t . h e e x t e n t o f d i r e c t . i n g t h e Environment.al.C o n t r o l b o a r d o f the Cil:.y o f N e w York a D i v i s i o n of t h e O f f i c e of A d m i n i s t r a t - i v e Trials a n d H e a r i n g s , t o s c h e d u l e new h e a r i n g d a t e s or1 t h e f o l l o w i r i y Notices: o f V i o l a t j . o n : 0176522720, 034799909N, 0178829540, 01 78769122, 1078828531, 1078769131, 0177053452, 65 01'1.1'7 3 4 61, 107 7 05 33 4 7 0, 10'7 14 17 8, 017 64922 50, 017 64922 4 1, 05 01770.53480, a n d 01'16286303, and the matter i s rerrianded for f u r t h e r - p r o c e e d i n g s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h the f o r c g o i n q UNFILED JUDGMENT This judgment has not tieen wilered by the Countv Clerk '* 6

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