CREW III, J.
Claimant, a prison inmate, filed a claim on August 27, 2001 alleging that various correction officers had harassed him on or about May 18, 2001. As the claim was not timely filed, claimant thereafter sought permission to file a late claim pursuant to Court of Claims Act § 10 (6), contending that the subject delay was occasioned by his misinterpretation of CPLR 2103 and the inability to secure the services of a notary public. Finding claimant's proffered excuse inadequate and the underlying claim of questionable merit, the Court of Claims denied claimant's application. This appeal ensued.
We affirm. Recognizing the broad discretion afforded the Court of Claims when entertaining a motion for permission to file a late claim (see Matter of Gonzalez v. State of New York, 299 A.D.2d 675), this Court has declined to disturb the denial of such an application where, as here, "the excuse offered for the delay is inadequate and the proposed claim is of questionable merit" (Matter of Perez v. State of New York, 293 A.D.2d 918, 919). Inasmuch as "ignorance of the law is not an acceptable explanation for the failure to serve a timely notice of claim" (Matter of Sandlin v. State of New York, 294 A.D.2d 723, 724, lv dismissed 99 N.Y.2d 589; Matter of Perez v. State of New York, supra), claimant's misinterpretation of CPLR 2103 does not provide a basis for the requested relief, nor does his unsubstantiated assertion that he was denied access to a notary public until shortly before the underlying claim was filed. As to the claim itself, which appears to assert a cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress, the case law makes clear that such cause of action cannot be maintained against a governmental entity (see Liranzo v. New York City Health Hosps. Corp., 300 A.D.2d 548). We, therefore, find no abuse of discretion in the denial of claimant's application.
Cardona, P.J., Peters, Mugglin and Kane, JJ., concur.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs.