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Entries by Bruce Freeman

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THE USE OF PEPPER SPRAY BY JAIL PERSONNEL (AFTER A WARNING) WHEN DEFENDANT REFUSED TO TAKE OFF HIS SHOES WAS NOT “EXCESSIVE FORCE;” THEREFORE DEFENDANT, WHO ASSAULTED THE OFFICER FIVE SECONDS AFTER HE WAS SPRAYED, WAS NOT ENTITLED TO A JURY INSTRUCTION ON THE JUSTIFICATION DEFENSE IN HIS ASSAULT TRIAL (CT APP). ​

The Court of Appeals, reversing the appellate division, determined there was no reasonable view of the evidence which would support a jury instruction on the justification defense. At the jail, the defendant was ordered to take off his shoes. When he refused, after being warned, he was sprayed in the face with pepper spray. Five […]

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UPON REMITTAL AFTER THE INITIAL PERSISTENT FELONY OFFENSE SENTENCE WAS OVERTURNED, THE SENTENCING COURT PROPERLY RELIED ON ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO AGAIN SENTENCE DEFENDANT AS A PERSISTENT FELONY OFFENDER (CT APP).

The Court of Appeal, reversing the Appellate Division, over an extensive dissent, determined the sentencing court, upon remittal after the initial persistent violent felony offender sentence was overturned on appeal, properly relied on additional information to again sentence defendant as a persistent violent felony offender: Upon the appeal from defendant’s judgment of conviction and original […]

THE DEFENDANT POLICE OFFICER’S THREATS MADE TO HIS FORMER GIRLFRIEND WERE NOT MERELY ANGRY WORDS; THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTED DEFENDANT’S HARASSMENT CONVICTION (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Rivera, reversing the Appellate Term, determined the police officer’s harassment conviction should stand: During defendant’s phone call with D.D., he accused D.D. and her husband of extorting him. He also made several threats, first that her children would get a bullet in their heads, then […]

THE HOIST WHICH PLAINTIFF WAS OPERATING WAS A SAFETY DEVICE WITHIN THE MEANING OF LABOR LAW 240(1); WHEN PLAINTIFF OPENED THE EMERGENCY HATCH ON THE HOIST FOR A REPAIRMAN, THE HATCH DOOR SLAMMED BACK DOWN ON HIS HEAD; PLAINTIFF WAS ENTITLED TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Gonzalez, determined plaintiff was entitled to summary judgment on the Labor Law 240(1) cause of action. Plaintiff was attempting to aid in the repair of a hoist when he opened the emergency hatch and the hatch door fell back down, striking plaintiff’s head. The court ruled […]

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THE PROOF THE VICTIM SUFFERED “SERIOUS OR PROTRACTED DISFIGUREMENT” IN THIS ASSAULT FIRST CASE WAS INSUFFICIENT; CONVICTION REDUCED TO ATTEMPTED ASSAULT FIRST (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing defendant’s assault first conviction and reducing it to attempted assault first, determined the People did not prove the scar on the victim’s cheek met the definition of “serious and protracted disfigurement.” The People introduced two photos of the scar and the doctor who treated the injury testified. The victim did not […]

THE FELONY WHICH WAS THE BASIS FOR DEFENDANT’S SECOND FELONY OFFENDER STATUS DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR A PREDICATE FELONY (THIRD DEPT). ​

The Third Department, reversing County Court, determined the felony which was the basis of defendant’s second felony offender status did not meet the criteria for a predicate felony: In order for a prior conviction to constitute a predicate felony, the “sequentiality requirement” must be satisfied, which means “that the ‘sentence upon such prior conviction must […]

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PLAINTIFF-TENANT’S COMPLAINT ALLEGED DEFENDANT-LANDLORD’S STIPULATION WITH THE PRIOR TENANT IN 2000 ILLEGALLY DECONTROLLED THE APARTMENT; THE MAJORITY DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT; TWO-JUSTICE DISSENT (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, over a two-justice dissent, determined plaintiff’s complaint should have been dismissed. “Plaintiff, the current tenant of the subject apartment, commenced this action seeking a declaration that her tenancy is subject to the Rent Stabilization Law (RSL) and that the premises were illegally decontrolled in 2000 when defendant owner and […]

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DEFENSE COUNSEL DID NOT WAIVE HIS CLIENT’S RIGHT TO HAVE HIM ATTEND THE LINEUP IDENTIFICATION BY SENDING HIS PARALEGAL, WHO WAS TURNED AWAY; DEFENSE COUNSEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD HIS PRESENCE WAS REQUIRED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing defendant’s conviction, determined defense counsel did not waive his client’s right to have his attorney attend the lineup identification procedure by sending his paralegal. The paralegal was turned away: Defendant was deprived of his right to have counsel present at a … postindictment lineup. It is undisputed that defendant had a […]

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IN REVIEWING THE GRAND JURY MINUTES, COUNTY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE DISMISSED THE CONCURRENT INCLUSORY COUNTS; RATHER THOSE COUNTS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE JURY IN THE ALTERNATIVE (THIRD DEPT).

​The Third Department, reversing County Court and reinstating three counts of the indictment, determined that inclusory concurrent counts in an indictment should not be dismissed prior to trial: … [T]he parties entered a stipulation in lieu of motions authorizing County Court to review the grand jury minutes to determine whether there was legally sufficient evidence, […]

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DEFENDANT IN THIS SORA RISK-ASSESSMENT PROCEEDING REQUESTED A DOWNWARD DEPARTURE WHICH WAS NOT ADDRESSED BY COUNTY COURT; THE ORDER WAS REVERSED AND THE MATTER SENT BACK FOR THE RELEVANT FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW (THIRD DEPT). ​

The Third Department, reversing County Court, determined defendant’s request for a downward departure in the SORA risk-assessment proceeding was not addressed by the court. The matter was sent back for the relevant findings of fact and conclusions of law: County Court failed to address his request for a downward departure. We agree and, inasmuch as […]

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