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Entries by Bruce Freeman

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MOTHER’S PETITION TO HAVE HER CHILD RETURNED AFTER TEMPORARY REMOVAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED, EVEN THOUGH THE CHILD HAD BEEN RETURNED AT THE TIME OF THE APPEAL, THE ISSUE IS NOT ACADEMIC BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH REMOVAL OF A CHILD (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined mother’s petition to have her child returned after removal should have been granted. The child had been removed because of concern the home was not safety-proofed. Mother demonstrated she had taken adequate steps to safety-proof the home. The court noted that, although the child had been returned, the […]

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ADVERSE INFERENCE JURY INSTRUCTION IS THE PROPER SANCTION FOR THE NEGLIGENT DESTRUCTION OF AN EMPLOYEE’S RECORDS IN THIS NEGLIGENT SUPERVISION ACTION AGAINST A RESPITE CARE FACILITY (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined an adverse inference jury instruction, not striking the answer, was the appropriate sanction in this negligent supervision case. Plaintiffs, coguardians of a blind and disabled adult (Nicholas), alleged negligent supervision and training of an employee (Escajadillo) of the respite care facility where Nicholas fractured his leg. Rosa’s employment […]

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SUPREME COURT PROPERLY RELIED ON THE RESULTS OF A FRYE HEARING IN A PRIOR TRIAL TO ALLOW THE TESTIMONY OF A DEFENSE EXPERT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined Supreme Court properly relied upon the results of a Frye hearing involving the same expert (and judge) in a prior trial. The expert was allowed to testify plaintiff’s injuries could not have been caused by the traffic accident. There was a defense verdict: “The long-recognized rule of Frye v United States . . […]

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DEFENSE COUNSEL’S FAILURE TO REQUEST A JURY INSTRUCTION ON THE CORRECT LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSE CONSTITUTED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE, PETIT LARCENY IS A LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSE OF ROBBERY THIRD, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing defendant’s conviction, determined that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to request a jury instruction on petit larceny as a lesser included offense of robbery. The defense theory was that defendant did not use violence to take $20.00 from the victim but rather used trickery, claiming the victim had broken defendant’s […]

28 MONTH DELAY DID NOT DEPRIVE DEFENDANT OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL, DELAY ATTRIBUTED TO PROSECUTION, HOWEVER, WAS CRITICIZED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, over a concurring decision, determined that the 28-month delay in prosecution did not rise to the level of a denial of defendant’s constitutional right to a speedy trial. The concurrence agreed but took pains to note that much of the delay attributable to the prosecution was inexcusable: While the 28—month delay was substantial, […]

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DOCTRINE OF RES IPSA LOQUITUR MAY APPLY TO WINDOW FALLING ONTO PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT BUILDING MANAGER’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined there were questions of fact whether defendant building manager was liable for the injuries to plaintiff from a window which fell out and onto his head when he attempted to close it. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur may apply: … [P]laintiff used the locker room to change […]

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ALTHOUGH THE RULES OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK REQUIRED THAT TIME WARNER MAINTAIN ONLY THE AREA 12 INCHES AROUND A METAL BOX COVER IN THE SIDEWALK, THERE WERE QUESTIONS OF FACT WHETHER TIME WARNER OR A PREDECESSOR CREATED THE DEFECT OR HAD CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE OF THE DEFECT OUTSIDE THE 12 INCH AREA, SUPREME COURT REVERSED IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined that defendant Time Warner’s motion for summary judgment in this sidewalk slip and fall case should not have been granted. Although the sidewalk defect was outside 12 inch area around the metal box cover in the sidewalk which the Rules of the City of New York (RCNY) require […]

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BUILDING INSPECTOR WAS PROPERLY TERMINATED FOR FAILURE TO REQUIRE ASBESTOS ABATEMENT FOR A DEMOLISHED BUILDING, BECAUSE THE ACTIONS OF THE INSPECTOR CONSTITUTED CRIMES UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW AND PENAL LAW, THE EMPLOYMENT-RELATED CHARGES WERE TIMELY (THIRD DEPT). ​

The Third Department determined that petitioner, formerly a village building inspector, was properly terminated for failing to require asbestos abatement for a demolished building. Because the allegations constituted crimes pursuant to the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) the charges were not time-barred. The evidence was deemed sufficient to support the charges: Petitioner’s primary contention on appeal […]

THE LIEN LAW DOES NOT PROVIDE THAT A TOWING COMPANY STORING A CAR PURSUANT TO A POLICE IMPOUND HAS THE RIGHT TO DEMAND A RELEASE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT BEFORE RELEASING THE CAR, THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED WHEN PETITIONER FIRST REQUESTED IT, IN ADDITION, THE $50 A DAY STORAGE FEE IS EXCESSIVE (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined respondent towing company, which was storing petitioner’s car pursuant to a police impound, did not have the authority to demand police approval for release of the car or a hold harmless agreement, and the $50 a day storage fee was excessive. The car should have been released when petitioner first requested […]

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THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CLAIMANT’S ATTORNEY AND THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINER DID NOT CREATE THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY, THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINER’S REPORT AND TESTIMONY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PRECLUDED (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing the Workers’ Compensation Board, determined that the communication between claimant’s counsel and the independent medical examiner (Saunders) who assessed claimant’s loss of use of his left foot, did not create the appearance of impropriety and did not warrant the preclude Sauders’ report and testimony: Workers’ Compensation Law § 13-a (6) prohibits […]

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