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DEFENDANT GENERAL CONTRACTOR DID NOT EXERCISE SUPERVISORY CONTROL OVER THE PLAINTIFF OR PLAINTIFF’S CO-WORKER WHO INJURED PLAINTIFF, THE FACT THAT DEFENDANT GENERAL CONTRACTOR SUPPLIED THE EQUIPMENT WHICH INJURED PLAINTIFF DID NOT GIVE RISE TO LIABILITY ON THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR’S PART (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, modifying Supreme Court, granted the defendant general contractor’s motion for summary judgment in this common law negligence and Labor Law 200 action. The Fourth Department further found that the plaintiff’s Labor Law 241(6) and Vehicle and Traffic Law 388 causes of action were properly dismissed. Plaintiff worked for the property owner, GTO, and did not work for defendant general contractor. Plaintiff was injured by a GTO  co-worker who was using a piece of equipment owned by the defendant (a skid steer used in landscaping work). The defendant did not exercise supervisory control over the skid steer operator and demonstrated entrusting the skid steer to the co-worker did not constitute negligent entrustment of a dangerous instrument. The plaintiff, a landscaper, was not engaged in construction work within the meaning of Labor Law 241(6) and the skid steer was not operated on a public highway within the meaning of the Vehicle and Traffic Law:

Here, the evidence submitted by defendant established that plaintiff and the coworker were both employed by GTO, not by defendant. They were performing landscaping work in the parking lot of the complex, and were not involved in the construction work that was being performed by defendant. Defendant did not give any instructions to plaintiff and the coworker about what work to perform or how to perform their work, and no one from GTO was required to use the skid steer to perform his or her duties. The coworker chose to use the skid steer to move topsoil, and defendant permitted him to do so for such use. Although we are mindful that there might be circumstances in which a party may be said to exercise control over the manner of work based on the provision of the equipment to be used, we conclude that defendant did not exercise such control in this case … . The fact that defendant allowed a GTO employee to use its equipment to perform work on the grounds did not give defendant supervisory control over the manner in which the landscaping work was being performed by the GTO employees. To the contrary, the record establishes that defendant exercised no supervisory control over the landscaping work that was being performed by plaintiff and the coworker and, thus, defendant cannot be held liable for any injuries that were caused by the manner in which that work was being performed. Calvert v Duggan & Duggan Gen. Contr., Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 01841, Fourth Dept 3-16-18

LABOR LAW-CONSTRUCTION LAW (DEFENDANT GENERAL CONTRACTOR DID NOT EXERCISE SUPERVISORY CONTROL OVER THE PLAINTIFF OR PLAINTIFF’S CO-WORKER WHO INJURED PLAINTIFF, THE FACT THAT DEFENDANT GENERAL CONTRACTOR SUPPLIED THE EQUIPMENT WHICH INJURED PLAINTIFF DID NOT GIVE RISE TO LIABILITY ON THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR’S PART (FOURTH DEPT))/GENERAL CONTRACTOR (LABOR LAW-CONSTRUCTION LAW, (DEFENDANT GENERAL CONTRACTOR DID NOT EXERCISE SUPERVISORY CONTROL OVER THE PLAINTIFF OR PLAINTIFF’S CO-WORKER WHO INJURED PLAINTIFF, THE FACT THAT DEFENDANT GENERAL CONTRACTOR SUPPLIED THE EQUIPMENT WHICH INJURED PLAINTIFF DID NOT GIVE RISE TO LIABILITY ON THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR’S PART (FOURTH DEPT))/VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW (LABOR LAW-CONSTRUCTION LAW, DEFENDANT GENERAL CONTRACTOR DID NOT EXERCISE SUPERVISORY CONTROL OVER THE PLAINTIFF OR PLAINTIFF’S CO-WORKER WHO INJURED PLAINTIFF, THE FACT THAT DEFENDANT GENERAL CONTRACTOR SUPPLIED THE EQUIPMENT WHICH INJURED PLAINTIFF DID NOT GIVE RISE TO LIABILITY ON THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR’S PART (FOURTH DEPT))

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FAMILY COURT DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO FIND A FOSTER HOME FOR A FAMILY’S PET CAT (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing Family Court, determined the Department of Social Services made reasonable efforts to prevent or eliminate the need for the temporary removal of the children while the neglect petition is pending. The court noted that Family Court did not have the power to find a foster home for the family’s cat:

… [T]he court lacked the authority to order it to find a foster home for respondents’ cat, and we therefore further modify the order accordingly. “Family Court is a court of limited jurisdiction that cannot exercise powers beyond those granted to it by statute” … , or by the New York Constitution (see NY Const, art VI, § 13). Inasmuch as animals are property … , and Family Court does not have jurisdiction over matters concerning personal property, we conclude that the court exceeded its authority in directing petitioner to find foster care for respondents’ cat. Matter of Ruth H. (Marie H.), 2018 NY Slip Op 01840, Fourth Dept 3-16-18

FAMILY LAW (PETS, FOSTER CARE, FAMILY COURT DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO FIND A FOSTER HOME FOR A FAMILY’S PET CAT (FOURTH DEPT))/FOSTER CARE (FAMILY LAW, PETS, FAMILY COURT DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO FIND A FOSTER HOME FOR A FAMILY’S PET CAT (FOURTH DEPT))/PETS (FAMILY LAW, FOSTER CARE, FAMILY COURT DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO FIND A FOSTER HOME FOR A FAMILY’S PET CAT (FOURTH DEPT))

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FINDING THAT PETITIONER HAD NONCONSENSUAL SEX WITH ANOTHER COLLEGE STUDENT NOT SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, DETERMINATION ANNULLED AND RECORD EXPUNGED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, annulling the respondent-college’s determination and expunging the petitioner-student’s record, determined the finding that the petitioner had nonconsensual sex with another student was not supported by substantial evidence:

Respondent sanctioned petitioner by placing him on persona non grata status, barring him from the college campus, and making a notation of a disciplinary violation on petitioner’s academic transcript. This Court may review whether “the determination made as a result of a hearing held, and at which evidence was taken, pursuant to direction by law is, on the entire record, supported by substantial evidence” … . “Substantial evidence” is defined as “such relevant proof as a reasonable mind may accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact”… . We conclude that respondent’s determination that the complainant lacked the ability to consent because of her incapacitation is not supported by substantial evidence. The complainant’s testimony at the disciplinary hearing contradicted her version with respect to the sequence of events made in her statement to the Buffalo Police Department, which statement was the most contemporaneous to the incident. Moreover, the affidavit and testimony of the witness who was with the complainant the morning following the incident was consistent with the complainant’s earlier version of the sequence of events, which establishes that she could not have been incapacitated at the time of the incident. Thus, considering the record as a whole, respondent’s determination is not supported by substantial evidence and must be annulled … . Matter of West v State Univ. of N.Y. at Buffalo, 2018 NY Slip Op 01839, Fourth Dept 3-16-18

EDUCATION-SCHOOL LAW (FINDING THAT PETITIONER HAD NONCONSENSUAL SEX WITH ANOTHER COLLEGE STUDENT NOT SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, DETERMINATION ANNULLED AND RECORD EXPUNGED (FOURTH DEPT))/COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (FINDING THAT PETITIONER HAD NONCONSENSUAL SEX WITH ANOTHER COLLEGE STUDENT NOT SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, DETERMINATION ANNULLED AND RECORD EXPUNGED (FOURTH DEPT))/SEXUAL MISCONDUCT (COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, FINDING THAT PETITIONER HAD NONCONSENSUAL SEX WITH ANOTHER COLLEGE STUDENT NOT SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, DETERMINATION ANNULLED AND RECORD EXPUNGED (FOURTH DEPT))/DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS (COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES) (FINDING THAT PETITIONER HAD NONCONSENSUAL SEX WITH ANOTHER COLLEGE STUDENT NOT SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, DETERMINATION ANNULLED AND RECORD EXPUNGED (FOURTH DEPT))/ADMINISTRATIVE LAW (COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, FINDING THAT PETITIONER HAD NONCONSENSUAL SEX WITH ANOTHER COLLEGE STUDENT NOT SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, DETERMINATION ANNULLED AND RECORD EXPUNGED (FOURTH DEPT))/EVIDENCE (ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, FINDING THAT PETITIONER HAD NONCONSENSUAL SEX WITH ANOTHER COLLEGE STUDENT NOT SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, DETERMINATION ANNULLED AND RECORD EXPUNGED (FOURTH DEPT))

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QUESTIONS OF FACT WHETHER FORGED NOTE AND GUARANTIES WERE RATIFIED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, modifying Supreme Court, determined, inter alia, that there were questions of fact whether a note and  guaranties were ratified, despite forged signatures:

It is well established that a forged instrument may be ratified where “the principal retains the benefit of an unauthorized transaction with knowledge of the material facts” … . The evidence submitted in support of the motion contained sworn statements of Wheeler and his business partner establishing that the proceeds of the loan were used to provide the corporation with capital and that its president, Wheeler, knew that his signature had been forged on the documents authorizing the loan. Wheeler, however, never attempted to return the proceeds of the loan, and the loan “cannot now be repudiated” … . Thus, Wheeler’s own submissions raised issues of fact whether he ratified the forged note … . …

Even assuming, arguendo, that Wheeler established as a matter of law that the guaranties were forged, we conclude that plaintiff raised issues of fact whether he had knowledge of the guaranties and thus whether he ratified them … . Adirondack Bank v Midstate Foam & Equip., Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 01713, Fourth Dept 3-16-18

DEBTOR-CREDITOR (QUESTIONS OF FACT WHETHER FORGED NOTE AND GUARANTIES WERE RATIFIED (FOURTH DEPT))/FORGERY (DEBTOR-CREDITOR, QUESTIONS OF FACT WHETHER FORGED NOTE AND GUARANTIES WERE RATIFIED (FOURTH DEPT))/NOTES (FORGERY, QUESTIONS OF FACT WHETHER FORGED NOTE AND GUARANTIES WERE RATIFIED (FOURTH DEPT))/GUARANTIES (DEBTOR-CREDITOR, QUESTIONS OF FACT WHETHER FORGED NOTE AND GUARANTIES WERE RATIFIED (FOURTH DEPT))/RATIFICATION (NOTES, GUARANTIES, QUESTIONS OF FACT WHETHER FORGED NOTE AND GUARANTIES WERE RATIFIED (FOURTH DEPT))

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TRIAL JUDGE SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED DEFENSE COUNSEL TO REOPEN THE PROOF AFTER A VIDEO PLAYED DURING SUMMATION DEMONSTRATED THE ALLEGED VICTIM HAD NOT TESTIFIED TRUTHFULLY, DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO VIEW THE ENTIRE VIDEO PRIOR TO TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing defendant’s conviction, determined: (1) the court erred when ii refused to reopen the proof after a video played for the first time during summation demonstrated defendant’s estranged wife, the alleged victim, had apparently not testified truthfully; and (2) defense counsel was ineffective for failing to view the entire video before trial. The video was from a convenience store. The estranged wife testified that the defendant fired shots at her as she was driving two minutes after leaving the convenience store. She testified she was driving a green Lexus with one child when the shots were fired. The video apparently showed her leaving the convenience store in a blue-gray Nissan with two children:

… [T]he decision to permit a party to reopen the case, at least prior to its submission to the jury, lies within the discretion of the trial court … . A trial court’s discretion to preclude evidence is nonetheless “circumscribed by the defendant’s constitutional rights to present a defense and confront his [or her] accusers” … , because “[a] defendant always has the constitutional right to present a complete defense”… and “to put before a jury evidence that might influence the determination of guilt” … . …

Here, defendant’s arguments in support of his motion to reopen the proof implicated the constitutional aspects of his contention raised on appeal, i.e., that reopening the proof was necessary to afford him a fair trial and his right to present a defense to the allegations upon which he was being prosecuted. To the extent that defendant did not preserve the constitutional aspects of his contention for our review by failing to raise them sufficiently before the trial court … , we exercise our power to review those aspects of his contention as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice … . People v Owens, 2018 NY Slip Op 01712, Fourth Dept 3-16-18

CRIMINAL LAW (TRIAL JUDGE SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED DEFENSE COUNSEL TO REOPEN THE PROOF AFTER A VIDEO PLAYED DURING SUMMATION DEMONSTRATED THE ALLEGED VICTIM HAD NOT TESTIFIED TRUTHFULLY, DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO VIEW THE ENTIRE VIDEO PRIOR TO TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT))/EVIDENCE (CRIMINAL LAW, REOPEN PROOF, TRIAL JUDGE SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED DEFENSE COUNSEL TO REOPEN THE PROOF AFTER A VIDEO PLAYED DURING SUMMATION DEMONSTRATED THE ALLEGED VICTIM HAD NOT TESTIFIED TRUTHFULLY, DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO VIEW THE ENTIRE VIDEO PRIOR TO TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT))/ATTORNEYS (CRIMINAL LAW, (TRIAL JUDGE SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED DEFENSE COUNSEL TO REOPEN THE PROOF AFTER A VIDEO PLAYED DURING SUMMATION DEMONSTRATED THE ALLEGED VICTIM HAD NOT TESTIFIED TRUTHFULLY, DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO VIEW THE ENTIRE VIDEO PRIOR TO TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT))/INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE (CRIMINAL LAW, TRIAL JUDGE SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED DEFENSE COUNSEL TO REOPEN THE PROOF AFTER A VIDEO PLAYED DURING SUMMATION DEMONSTRATED THE ALLEGED VICTIM HAD NOT TESTIFIED TRUTHFULLY, DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO VIEW THE ENTIRE VIDEO PRIOR TO TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT))/TRIALS (CRIMINAL LAW, REOPEN PROOF, TRIAL JUDGE SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED DEFENSE COUNSEL TO REOPEN THE PROOF AFTER A VIDEO PLAYED DURING SUMMATION DEMONSTRATED THE ALLEGED VICTIM HAD NOT TESTIFIED TRUTHFULLY, DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO VIEW THE ENTIRE VIDEO PRIOR TO TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT))

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EXPERT EVIDENCE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ACCOMMODATION SYNDROME (CSAAS) WAS IMPROPERLY ADMITTED TO SHOW THE VICTIM WAS ABUSED, CONVICTIONS REVERSED IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing defendant’s conviction in the interest of justice, determined the expert evidence on child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome (CSAAS) was improperly admitted to prove the crime took place, depriving defendant of a fair trial:

… [W]e acknowledge that expert testimony concerning CSAAS and similar psychological syndromes has long been admissible to explain the behavior of a victim that might be puzzling to a jury … . Here, however, the expert witness did not confine her testimony to “educat[ing] the jury on a scientifically recognized pattern of secrecy, helplessness, entrapment [and] accommodation’ experienced by a child victim” … . Instead, the expert explained “grooming” and other behaviors associated with perpetrators of child sexual abuse. Her detailed description of a typical perpetrator’s modus operandi, moreover, closely tracked the victim’s testimony concerning defendant’s conduct, and the prosecutor on summation urged the jury to conclude that defendant’s interactions with the victim fit the description of a typical perpetrator’s conduct as described by the expert. In sum, that part of the testimony of the expert describing the conduct of a typical perpetrator was not directed at explaining the victim’s behavior. Rather, it was presented “for the purpose of proving that the [victim] was sexually abused” … , which purpose was reinforced by the prosecutor’s summation. People v Ruiz, 2018 NY Slip Op 01722, Fourth Dept 3-16-18

CRIMINAL LAW (EXPERT EVIDENCE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ACCOMMODATION SYNDROME (CSAAS) WAS IMPROPERLY ADMITTED TO SHOW THE VICTIM WAS ABUSED, CONVICTIONS REVERSED IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE (FOURTH DEPT))/EVIDENCE (CRIMINAL LAW, EXPERT EVIDENCE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ACCOMMODATION SYNDROME (CSAAS) WAS IMPROPERLY ADMITTED TO SHOW THE VICTIM WAS ABUSED, CONVICTIONS REVERSED IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE (FOURTH DEPT))/APPEALS (CRIMINAL LAW, EXPERT EVIDENCE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ACCOMMODATION SYNDROME (CSAAS) WAS IMPROPERLY ADMITTED TO SHOW THE VICTIM WAS ABUSED, CONVICTIONS REVERSED IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE (FOURTH DEPT))/CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ACCOMMODATION SYNDROME (CSAAS) (EXPERT EVIDENCE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ACCOMMODATION SYNDROME (CSAAS) WAS IMPROPERLY ADMITTED TO SHOW THE VICTIM WAS ABUSED, CONVICTIONS REVERSED IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE (FOURTH DEPT))/EXPERT OPINION (CRIMINAL LAW, (EXPERT EVIDENCE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ACCOMMODATION SYNDROME (CSAAS) WAS IMPROPERLY ADMITTED TO SHOW THE VICTIM WAS ABUSED, CONVICTIONS REVERSED IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE (FOURTH DEPT))

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DEFENDANT HAD STANDING TO CONTEST THE SEARCH, MATTER REMITTED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendant had standing to contest the search which turned up the weapon defendant was charged with possessing:

“[A] defendant seeking to suppress evidence, on the basis that it was obtained by means of an illegal search, must allege standing to challenge the search and, if the allegation is disputed, must establish standing” … . To establish standing, the defendant must demonstrate that he or she has a legitimate expectation of privacy in the place searched … . A defendant has no expectation of privacy in a home where he or she is merely a casual visitor with tenuous ties to it… . In such cases, the defendant does not have standing to challenge the legality of the search of the home… .

According to the unrefuted testimony at the suppression hearing of defendant’s brother and sister-in-law, the lessors of the home, defendant resided there until two months prior to the incident. Nevertheless, defendant maintained the address associated with the home as his permanent mailing address, and, although he removed much of his property, he continued to keep clothes there. He returned frequently to care for his nieces and nephews, and he was entrusted with the home when his brother and sister-in-law were away. Defendant was at the home often and slept there overnight between 5 and 12 times per month. Thus, we conclude that defendant’s “connection with the premises was substantially greater than that of a casual visitor, and . . . that . . . defendant had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the home” … .

Inasmuch as “our review is limited to the issues determined by the court”… , and the court failed to determine whether one of the lessors of the home consented to the search, we continue to hold the case and reserve decision, and we remit the matter to Supreme Court to determine that issue. People v Sweat, 2018 NY Slip Op 01786, Fourth Dept 3-16-18

CRIMINAL LAW (DEFENDANT HAD STANDING TO CONTEST THE SEARCH, MATTER REMITTED (FOURTH DEPT))/SUPPRESSION (CRIMINAL LAW, EVIDENCE, DEFENDANT HAD STANDING TO CONTEST THE SEARCH, MATTER REMITTED (FOURTH DEPT))/SEARCH AND SEIZURE (CRIMINAL LAW, SUPPRESSION, DEFENDANT HAD STANDING TO CONTEST THE SEARCH, MATTER REMITTED (FOURTH DEPT))/STANDING (CRIMINAL LAW, SEARCH AND SEIZURE, SUPPRESSION, DEFENDANT HAD STANDING TO CONTEST THE SEARCH, MATTER REMITTED (FOURTH DEPT))

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LEGALLY INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE THAT DEFENDANT WAS THE SHOOTER IN THIS HOME INVASION CASE, FIRST DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION REDUCED TO SECOND DEGREE MURDER (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reducing defendant’s conviction from first degree to second degree murder, over a two-justice dissent, determined there was legally insufficient evidence that the defendant shot the victim in this home invasion case:

To support a conviction of murder in the first degree under Penal Law § 125.27 (1) (a) (vii), the People were required to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant intentionally caused the victim’s death during the commission of a crime enumerated in the statute, such as a robbery or burglary in the first degree. A conviction under subparagraph (vii) cannot be based on accomplice liability under section 20.00, “unless the defendant’s criminal liability . . . is based upon the defendant having commanded another person to cause the death of the victim or intended victim” … . Here, the jury was never presented with the command theory of liability, but was instead expressly instructed in response to a jury note that, to convict defendant of murder in the first degree, it would have to determine that defendant “pulled the trigger himself.”

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People, we conclude that no rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant shot the victim… . Here, the evidence established that defendant’s girlfriend was also inside the victim’s house with defendant at the time when the victim is believed to have been shot, but the People presented no evidence whatsoever with respect to the series of events inside the home or with respect to who ultimately “pulled the trigger” against the victim. People v Henry, 2018 NY Slip Op 01833, Fourth Dept 3-16-18

CRIMINAL LAW (LEGALLY INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE THAT DEFENDANT WAS THE SHOOTER IN THIS HOME INVASION CASE, FIRST DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION REDUCED TO SECOND DEGREE MURDER (FOURTH DEPT))/EVIDENCE (CRIMINAL LAW, LEGALLY INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE THAT DEFENDANT WAS THE SHOOTER IN THIS HOME INVASION CASE, FIRST DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION REDUCED TO SECOND DEGREE MURDER (FOURTH DEPT))

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JUDGE SHOULD HAVE INQUIRED INTO DEFENDANT’S REQUEST FOR NEW COUNSEL AFTER LEARNING DEFENDANT HAD FILED A GRIEVANCE, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing defendant’s conviction and ordering a new trial, determined County Court should have inquired into defendant’s request for new counsel after learning defendant had filed a grievance against his attorney:

Defendant contends that County Court erred in denying his request to substitute his second assigned attorney and, at a minimum, should have conducted a more detailed inquiry with respect to his complaints about counsel’s performance.

” [A]lthough there is no rule requiring that a defendant who has filed a grievance against his attorney be assigned new counsel, [a] court [is] required to make an inquiry to determine whether defense counsel [can] continue to represent defendant in light of the grievance’ ” … . Here, we agree with defendant that the court should have “made at least some minimal inquiry in light of defense counsel’s statement that the defendant had filed a grievance against him,” in order to determine whether defense counsel was properly able to continue to represent defendant … . We thus conclude that the court thereby violated defendant’s right to counsel and that defendant is entitled to a new trial … , prior to which he should be given the opportunity to retain counsel or be assigned new counsel if appropriate. People v Hardy, 2018 NY Slip Op 01837, Fourth Dept 3-16-16

CRIMINAL LAW (ATTORNEYS, JUDGE SHOULD HAVE INQUIRED INTO DEFENDANT’S REQUEST FOR NEW COUNSEL AFTER LEARNING DEFENDANT HAD FILED A GRIEVANCE, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (FOURTH DEPT))/ATTORNEYS (CRIMINAL LAW, JUDGE SHOULD HAVE INQUIRED INTO DEFENDANT’S REQUEST FOR NEW COUNSEL AFTER LEARNING DEFENDANT HAD FILED A GRIEVANCE, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (FOURTH DEPT))

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INDICTMENT DID NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT NOTICE OF THE TIME PERIODS IN TWO COUNTS, MOTION FOR A TRIAL ORDER OF DISMISSAL OF THOSE TWO COUNTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing County Court, determined defendant’s motion for a trial order of dismissal on two counts of the indictment should have been granted because the indictment did not notify defendant of the time periods of the alleged offenses:

… County Court erred in denying his motion for a trial order of dismissal with respect to counts one and two of the indictment, both charging him with use of a child in a sexual performance, on the ground that the indictment failed to provide defendant with sufficient notice of the time periods during which he allegedly committed those acts … . People v Carrigan, 2018 NY Slip Op 01733, Fourth Dept 3-16-18

CRIMINAL LAW (NOTICE, INDICTMENT DID NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT NOTICE OF THE TIME PERIODS IN TWO COUNTS, MOTION FOR A TRIAL ORDER OF DISMISSAL OF THOSE TWO COUNTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FOURTH DEPT))/INDICTMENTS (NOTICE, INDICTMENT DID NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT NOTICE OF THE TIME PERIODS IN TWO COUNTS, MOTION FOR A TRIAL ORDER OF DISMISSAL OF THOSE TWO COUNTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FOURTH DEPT))/NOTICE (CRIMINAL LAW, INDICTMENT DID NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT NOTICE OF THE TIME PERIODS IN TWO COUNTS, MOTION FOR A TRIAL ORDER OF DISMISSAL OF THOSE TWO COUNTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FOURTH DEPT))/TIME PERIODS (CRIMINAL LAW, INDICTMENTS, NOTICE, INDICTMENT DID NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT NOTICE OF THE TIME PERIODS IN TWO COUNTS, MOTION FOR A TRIAL ORDER OF DISMISSAL OF THOSE TWO COUNTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FOURTH DEPT))

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