
    In the Matter of John F. Lombard, Petitioner, v Clerk of County of Queens et al., Respondents.
    [682 NYS2d 893]
   —Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of prohibition, inter alia, to enjoin the prosecution of an action to foreclose a mortgage entitled Queens County Sav. Bank v Lombard, pending in Queens County, under Index No. 028474/94, and application for poor person relief.

Upon the petition and papers filed in support of the proceeding, it is,

Ordered that the application for poor person relief is granted; and it is further,

Adjudged that the petition is denied and the proceeding is dismissed, without costs or disbursements.

“Because of its extraordinary nature, prohibition is available only where there is a clear legal right, and then only when a court — in cases where judicial authority is challenged — acts or threatens to act either without jurisdiction or in excess of its authorized powers” (Matter of Holtzman v Goldman, 71 NY2d 564, 569; see, Matter of Rush v Mordue, 68 NY2d 348, 352). The petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought. Bracken, J. P., Ritter, Santucci and Altman, JJ., concur.  