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Entries by Bruce Freeman

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AN EXCEPTION TO THE BEST EVIDENCE RULE APPLIED, ALLOWING TESTIMONY DESCRIBING THE CONTENTS OF DESTROYED VIDEO SURVEILLANCE (FOURTH DEPT). ​

The Fourth Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Bannister, determined an exception to the best evidence rule applied and testimony about the contents of a destroyed video surveillance was properly admitted in this grand larceny case: Defendant appeals from a judgment … arising from the theft of wireless speakers valued in excess of $3,000 from […]

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HEARSAY INSUFFICIENT TO DEFEAT PLAINTIFF’S SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION IN THIS LABOR LAW 240(1) AND 241(6) ACTION; THE INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION CLAIM WAS PROPERLY DISMISSED BECAUSE PLAINTIFF DID NOT SUFFER GRAVE INJURY WITHIN THE MEANING OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAW 11 (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department determined hearsay was not sufficient to defeat plaintiff’s summary judgment in this Labor Law 240(1) and 241(6) case. In addition the indemnification and contribution claims were properly dismissed because plaintiff did not suffer a “grave injury” within the meaning of Workers’ Compensation Law 11: Plaintiff commenced this action alleging, inter alia, violations […]

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QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER THE DEFENDANT’S DOUBLE-PARKED CAR WAS A PROXIMATE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT; PLAINTIFF’S DECEDENT, A BICYCLIST, WAS STRUCK BY A TRUCK WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND DEFENDANT’S DOUBLE-PARKED CAR (FIRST DEPT). ​

The First Department determined there were questions of fact about defendant driver’s (Sung’s) negligence and whether the negligence proximately cause plaintiff bicyclist’s injuries and death. Defendant was stopped in the right lane and when plaintiff attempted to go around defendant’s car he was struck by a truck (driven by Cruz-Marte). The First Department noted that […]

DESPITE THE HORRIFIC NATURE OF THE CRIME, DEFENDANT’S SENTENCE WAS REDUCED BECAUSE OF HIS MENTAL ILLNESS AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, despite the horrific nature of the crime in this attempted murder and robbery case, over a dissent, reduced defendant’s sentence from 14 to 10 years because of his mental illness and intellectually disability: This Court takes very seriously the severity of the injuries inflicted on the two victims in this case, and […]

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A PHOTOGRAPH OF DEFENDANT WITH A HANDGUN TAKEN SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE SHOOTING WAS PROPERLY ADMITTED IN EVIDENCE AS TENDING TO SHOW HIS IDENTITY AS THE SHOOTER (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department noted that a photograph of defendant with a small handgun taken six weeks before the charged shooting was properly admitted in evidence: A photograph of defendant holding a small handgun, taken approximately six weeks before the charged shooting, and recovered from defendant’s phone pursuant to the warrant, was properly admitted. It could […]

ALTHOUGH THE PARENTS HAD BEEN FOUND TO HAVE ABUSED THE CHILDREN, THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEY ARE LOVING AND CARING PARENTS; IN LIGHT OF THE CHILDREN’S EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH FOSTER CARE, THE MOTION FOR A TRIAL DISCHARGE TO THE PARENTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Family Court, determined the motion for a trial discharge of the children to the parents, who had been found to have abused the children, should have been granted: Family Court’s denial of respondents’ motions pursuant to Family Ct Act § 1061 for a trial discharge of the children Ashlynn and Yeovanny […]

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THE OMISSION OF NON-ELEMENTAL FACTUAL INFORMATION, HERE THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, FROM THE WAIVER OF INDICTMENT FORM WAS A DEFECT WAIVED BY THE GUILTY PLEA (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, reversing the Appellate Division, determined the omission of the time of the incident from the waiver of indictment form was a defect waived by the guilty plea: Shortly after the Appellate Division rendered its decision, we held in People v Lang (34 NY3d 545, 567 [2019]) that any “omission from the indictment waiver […]

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THE COUNTY MUST REIMBURSE THE TOWNS FOR UNPAID PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND DEMOLITION CHARGES (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge DiFiore, reversing the Appellate Division, determined Monroe County was required to credit unpaid property maintenance and demolition charges assessed by the Town of Irondequoit and the Town of Brighton. The county is required to deduct the unpaid town charges from the sales tax owed by […]

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UPWARD DEPARTURE SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE DEFENDANT COMMITTED RAPE TO TAKE REVENGE UPON SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE VICTIM; THE FACT DEFENDANT HAD BEEN DEPORTED DID NOT RENDER THE APPEAL MOOT (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a brief memorandum decision, upheld the Appellate Division’s finding that the upward departure was justified because it was based on a risk factor not addressed the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) Guidelines. The court noted that the fact defendant had been deported did not render the appeal moot: Under the […]

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THE SOLE REMEDY PROVISION IN THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AGREEMENT IN THIS RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES CASE WAS VALID AND ENFORCEABLE; THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE PUBLIC POLICY RULE DOES NOT APPLY WHERE THE SOLE REMEDY PROVISION IMPOSES REASONABLE LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY OR REMEDIES (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, reversing the Appellate Division, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Fahey, over a partial dissent, held that the sole remedy provision in the Representations and Warranties Agreement (RWA) in this residential mortgage-backed securities (RBMS) case was valid and enforceable. Plaintiff unsuccessfully tried to avoid the sole remedy provision by arguing the […]

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