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Entries by Bruce Freeman

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A FAMILY COURT PROCEEDING IS CIVIL IN NATURE AND THE CONFRONTATION CLAUSE APPLIES ONLY IN CRIMINAL MATTERS, THEREFORE DOCUMENTS WRITTEN BY A PSYCHIATRIST WHO DID NOT TESTIFY WERE ADMISSIBLE (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department determined father’s right to confront witnesses in this termination-of-parental-rights proceeding was not violated by the admission in evidence of two documents written by a psychiatrist who did not testify. A Family Court proceeding is civil in nature and the Confrontation Clause applies only in criminal matters: Although the father’s contention is framed […]

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THE FAMILY OFFENSE PETITION DID NOT ALLEGE ALL THE ELEMENTS OF HARASSMENT SECOND DEGREE AND WAS PROPERLY DISMISSED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department determined the portion of the family-offense petition which charged harassment in the second degree was properly dismissed because it did not allege all the elements of the offense: A person commits harassment in the second degree under Penal Law § 240.26 (3) when he or she, “with intent to harass, annoy or […]

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SENTENCING COURT MUST DIRECT THE MANNER IN WHICH RESTITUTION IS TO BE PAID, MATTER REMITTED, ISSUE SURVIVES A WAIVER OF APPEAL AND THE FAILURE TO PRESERVE THE ERROR (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department determined the sentencing court’s failure to direct how the restitution is to be paid required remittal. This illegal sentence issue is not foreclosed by a waiver of appeal or the failure to preserve the issue: … [T]here is merit to defendant’s contention that the restitution component of his sentence must be vacated […]

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PEOPLE FAILED TO PROVE THE VICTIM-AGE AND TIME-PERIOD ELEMENTS OF PREDATORY SEXUAL ASSAULT AGAINST A CHILD, CONVICTION REVERSED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing defendant’s conviction for predatory sexual assault against a child. Essentially the People did not present evidence to support the assaults occurred before the victim turned 13 or during a period of less than three months (statutory criteria): Without narrowing the time frame, it is entirely possible that the testified-to instances of […]

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DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED, ISSUE THAT WAS ADDRESSED BY THE DEFENDANT IN ITS REPLY PAPERS AND THE JUDGE IS PRESERVED FOR APPEAL, COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS IS NOT DISPOSITIVE ON THE ISSUE OF NEGLIGENCE (FOURTH DEPT). ​

The Fourth Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendant’s motion for summary judgment in this slip and fall case should not have been granted. Plaintiff tripped over a wheelchair scale in a hallway of defendant’s nursing home. The Fourth Department noted that the issue was preserved for appeal despite the absence from the record of the […]

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PRIVATE COLLEGE DID NOT ADHERE TO ITS PUBLISHED RULES AND GUIDELINES AND FAILED TO INFORM PETITIONER-STUDENT OF HIS RIGHT TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO HIS ACCUSER, DETERMINATION THAT PETITIONER VIOLATED THE COLLEGE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT POLICY ANNULLED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing the Supreme Court, determined petitioner-student was not afforded his due process rights in proceedings brought by a private college (Hamilton) stemming from allegations petitioner had violated the college’s sexual misconduct policy (Policy). Petitioner was not informed of his right to submit questions to his accuser: Here, the parties agree that respondents […]

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2003 DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE MURDER CONVICTION REVERSED, THE CASE WAS ON APPEAL WHEN THE COURT OF APPEALS DETERMINED AN INTENTIONAL MURDER OF A SINGLE VICTIM WITH A WEAPON DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE MURDER (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department determined a 2003 murder depraved indifference murder conviction must be reversed because the case was on appeal when the law of depraved indifference murder was clarified to exclude the intentional murder of a single victim with a weapon: … [W]e conclude that the evidence establishes that defendant accosted decedent, who was leaving […]

RE: A JUVENILE OFFENDER, THE SURCHARGE AND CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE FEE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ASSESSED, AND THE CONSECUTIVE 2 TO 6 SENTENCES ARE ILLEGAL (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department determined, because defendant is a juvenile offender, the surcharge and crime victim assistance fee must be vacated and the two consecutive 2 to 6 year sentences were illegal: The People correctly concede in each appeal that the surcharge and crime victim assistance fee must be vacated because defendant is a juvenile offender […]

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REQUEST TO SUBMIT CPCS SEVENTH DEGREE TO THE JURY AS A LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSE OF CPCS FIFTH DEGREE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED, NEW TRIAL ORDERED ON THAT COUNT (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department determined the request to submit Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (CPCS) seventh degree to the jury as a lesser included offense of COCS fifth degree should have been granted: We agree with defendant, however, that the court erred in refusing to submit CPCS in the seventh degree (Penal Law § 220.03) […]

THE FACT THAT THE BENCH WARRANT WAS BASED UPON A CHARGE FOR WHICH THE STATUTORY SPEEDY TRIAL PERIOD HAD EXPIRED DID NOT INVALIDATE THE EXECUTION OF THE WARRANT AND THE RESULTING ARREST FOR RESISTING ARREST (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department noted that the fact that the statutory speedy trial period had expired at the time the bench warrant was executed did not invalidate the arrest for resisting arrest: [I]t is undisputed that the warrant was facially valid, and it necessarily follows that the officer was authorized to arrest defendant for purposes of […]

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