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Stay During Appellate Process Expires Five Days After Court of Appeals Denies Leave to Appeal

A police officer was dismissed from the force just before his retirement pension vested. The dismissal was vacated by Supreme Court because of flaws in serving the officer with notice of the charges.  The First Department affirmed and the Court of Appeals denied leave to appeal.  The First Department noted that the stay of the proceedings which was in effect during the appeals process (CPLR 5519(a)) terminated five days after the Court of Appeals denied leave (CPLR 5519(e)(ii)).  The commissioner’s failure to hold a new hearing and issue a new dismissal order within thirty days of the denial of leave resulted in the automatic vesting of the officer’s pension. Matter of Toolasprashad v Kelly, 2013 NY Slip Op 06772, 1st Dept 10-17-13

 

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Erasure of Audio Recording Constituted Negligent Spoliation of Evidence Under New York Common Law—No Need to Turn to Federal Law Re: Preservation of Electronically Stored Information

In a full-fledged opinion by Justice Saxe, the First Department determined the City’s erasure of an audio recording related to a police chase that resulted in injuries to plaintiffs constituted negligent spoliation under New York common law and there was no need to rely on federal authority re: the spoliation of electronically stored information [ESI]:

…[P]laintiffs’ spoliation claim can be fully addressed under New York’s common-law spoliation doctrine. However, because plaintiffs rely exclusively on the [federal] Zubulake IV rule that “[o]nce a party reasonably anticipates litigation, it must suspend its routine document retention/destruction policy and put in place a litigation hold'” to preserve evidence (220 FRD at 218), we briefly address the question of whether we need to import Zubulake’s rules into the established New York common-law rules as to spoliation of non-ESI evidence.

The cases in which this Court has explicitly adopted the Zubulake rulings have involved ESI discovery … . The usefulness of the Zubulake standard in the e-discovery arena, is … that it “provides litigants with sufficient certainty as to the nature of their obligations in the electronic discovery context and when those obligations are triggered” (93 AD3d at 36). At the same time, … Zubulake “is harmonious with New York precedent in the traditional discovery context” … . This is an area that did not need greater certainty or clarification. * * *

We … conclude that reliance on the federal standard is unnecessary in this context. Zubulake interpreted federal rules and earlier federal case law to adapt those rules to the context of ESI discovery. However, the erasure of, and the obligation to preserve, relevant audiotapes and videotapes, can be, and has been, fully addressed without reference to the federal rules and standards. Strong v City of New York, 2013 NY Slip Op 06655, 1st Dept 10-15-13

 

Affidavit Supporting Motion to Strike Did Not Demonstrate Good Faith Effort to Resolve Issue with Opposing Counsel

In finding the defendant’s cross-claim should not have been struck as a sanction for failure to appear for depositions, the First Department noted that the affidavit in support of the motion to strike did not demonstrate a good faith effort to resolve the matter with opposing counsel:

A party moving to strike a pleading pursuant to CPLR 3126 is required to submit an affirmation that counsel for the moving party has made “a good faith effort to resolve the issues raised by the motion” with opposing party’s counsel (Uniform Rules for Trial Cts [22 NYCRR] 202.7). To be deemed sufficient, the affirmation must state the nature of the efforts made by the moving party to reconcile with opposing counsel (22 NYCRR 202.7[c]…).

Here, [defendant] GSY’s affirmation of its good faith effort to resolve the dispute with [cross-claim defendant] Shavolian did not substantively comply with the requirements of 22 NYCRR 202.7 … . In its affirmation in support of the motion to strike, GSY stated that it made “good faith efforts to proceed with disclosure,” pointing to a letter it faxed to Shavolian’s counsel. There is nothing in the letter, which was written before the continued deposition date, indicating that GSY’s counsel actually conferred with Shavolian’s lawyer in a good faith attempt to resolve the dispute… .  241 Fifth Ave Hotel LLC v GSY Corp, 2013 NY Slip Op 06514, 1st Dept 10-8-13

 

Elements of Several Computer Crimes Described

In a full-fledged opinion by Justice Saxe, the First Department affirmed defendant’s convictions for computer trespass, computer tampering, unlawful duplication of computer related material, and criminal possession of computer related material.  Defendant was on disability leave from his employer Time Warner when he used/installed software to gain access to passwords and log-in information.  The First Department took the opportunity to discuss the proof requirements for the elements of these offenses, some of which have little or no appellate authority.  With respect to the “without authorization” and “computer material” elements of computer trespass, the court wrote:

The term “without authorization” is defined as “access of a computer service by a person without permission . . . or after actual notice to such person, that such access was without permission” (Penal Law § 156.00[8]). While there is apparently no appellate authority on this point, the question of how to prove that use of a computer was not authorized was addressed in People v Klapper (28 Misc 3d 225 [Crim Ct, NY County 2010]), which considered a charge of unauthorized use of a computer (Penal Law § 156.05). The Klapper court held that no allegations supported the claim that the defendant’s access was unauthorized, because for access to be without authorization, the defendant must have had knowledge or notice that access was prohibited or “circumvented some security device or measure installed by the user” (28 Misc 3d at 230). Of course, here, evidence fully supports the finding that defendant gained access to Time Warner’s computers when he was unauthorized to do so. There is proof that Time Warner announced in its employee handbook that employees on disability leave were prohibited from entering the building, and the company deactivated those employees’ access cards; this establishes that defendant had actual notice that he lacked authorization to enter the building and to use the company’s computers. * * *

As to whether the information defendant gained access to constituted “computer material” for purposes of Penal Law § 156.10, the statutory definition of the term includes “any computer data or computer program” that “is not and is not intended to be available to anyone other than the person . . . rightfully in possession thereof . . . and which accords or may accord such rightful possessors an advantage over competitors or other persons who do not have knowledge or the benefit thereof” (Penal Law § 156.00[5]). With the use of user log-in information and passwords obtained through his installation of the keystroke-logging program Winvestigator, defendant was able to access information not intended to be available to anyone but the rightful user, namely, Time Warner and its authorized employees. Specifically, he gained access to … confidential information about customers’ accounts, including address, phone number, subscription, service call records, and billing and payment information, as well as a list of any problems customers reported or services they requested. Customer information … is the sort of information that businesses have an interest in protecting and keeping away from competitors …. Accordingly, it qualifies as computer data that is not intended to be available to anyone other than the rightful possessor and that gives (or may give) the rightful possessor an advantage over competitors. People v Puesan, 2013 NY Slip Op 06530, 1st Dept 10-8-13

 

Denial of For Cause Juror Challenge Required Reversal

The First Department reversed defendant’s conviction because the trial court erroneously denied a “for cause” juror challenge:

The court erred in denying defendant’s challenge for cause to a prospective juror who stated his belief and concern that he recognized defendant from his neighborhood, along with his fear that he would “run into” defendant or his friends. After being apprised of defendant’s address, the panelist expressed an increased concern, resulting from the fact that he lived near that address. The panelist also expressed a “feeling of defendant’s guilt,” because he believed the neighborhood was “infected with drugs and drug dealers,” After further inquiry regarding whether the panelist could follow the law and remain impartial, he ultimately stated, “I’ll try. . . . I can’t promise you anything. . . .” Viewing his statements in context and as a whole, they did not amount to an unequivocal assurance of impartiality… .  People v Tavarez, 2013 NY Slip Op 06515, 1st Dept 10-8-13

 

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No Element of Intent in Constructive Possession of Contraband

The First Department determined there was no “intent” element to the constructive possession of contraband.  The marijuana and stun gun at issue were in an apartment defendant shared with his aunt and nephew. The defendant argued that, even if he was fully aware the items were in the apartment, the People were required to prove that he intended to exercise dominion and control over them.  The court wrote:

In defendant’s view, even if he was fully aware that there was contraband in the apartment he shared with his aunt and nephew, and even if he had unfettered control over the areas where the contraband was located, he was not guilty of possessing it since he merely tolerated his drug-dealing nephew’s use of the apartment as a repository for the contraband and had nothing else to do with it. We disagree.

There is no element of intent in constructive possession. A long line of authority makes clear that knowing constructive possession of tangible property is established where the People prove knowledge that the property is present and “a sufficient level of control over the area in which the contraband [was] found” … People v Rodriguez, 2013 NY Slip Op 06495, 1st Dept 10-8-13

 

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Statement Protected by “Common Interest Privilege,” Tortious Interference Action Can Only Be Brought Against a Stranger to the Contract

The First Department affirmed the dismissal of a complaint alleging defamation and tortious interference with contract.  The court explained that the statement made by a management employee was protected by the common interest privilege and only a stranger to a contract can bring a tortious interference claim:

Defendant…’s statement that plaintiff was “deliberately sabotaging” defendant[‘s] IT redesign project was protected by the common-interest privilege because it constituted a communication “made to persons who have some common interest in the subject matter” …, namely, the people working on the IT system redesign. The statement is also protected as one made by a “management employee[] having responsibility to report on the matter in dispute” … . Plaintiff’s allegations of malice, in an effort to overcome the common-interest privilege, amount to little more than “mere surmise and conjecture” … .

Plaintiff’s tortious interference claims … were also properly dismissed. “It is well established that only a stranger to a contract, such as a third party, can be liable for tortious interference with a contract” … . Ashby v ALM Media LLC, 2013 NY Slip Op 06497, 1st Dept 10-8-13

 

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Affirmative Defense of Recoupment Not Extinguished by Bankruptcy Sale

In affirming Supreme Court’s denial of a motion to dismiss a recoupment affirmative defense, the First Department noted the defense is not extinguished by a bankruptcy sale:

The affirmative defense of recoupment is not an “interest” that is extinguishable by a “free and clear” sale under the Bankruptcy Code … . Further * * * [d]efendant’s recoupment defense arises out of the same transaction (i.e., the same contract) that forms the basis for plaintiff’s action against defendant… . Hispanic Ind Tel Sales LLC v Unaa Vez Mas LP, 2013 NY Slip Op 06518, 1st Dept 10-8-13

 

Flawed Jury Instruction Re: Assisted Suicide Affirmative Defense to Murder Required New Trial

In a full-fledged opinion by Justice Richter, the First Department determined the trial court’s jury instruction on the assisted-suicide affirmative defense to murder did not accurately instruct the jury on the elements of the defense and a new trial was required. Apparently there was no question that the decedent wanted to die and that the defendant participated in some way in decedent’s death.  The central questions were whether defendant held the knife while the decedent leaned into it or whether defendant actively stabbed the decedent. The First Department noted that the prosecutor was not obligated to instruct the grand jury on the assisted-suicide affirmative defense because it is a mitigating defense (reducing the charge from murder) not a complete defense.  With respect to the elements of the assisted-suicide affirmative defense, the court wrote:

If the decedent took no part whatsoever in the ultimate act that led to his death, it cannot be characterized as suicide, even if the record shows the decedent wanted to die. In this regard, we find that the jury’s verdict convicting defendant of murder was based on legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence … . The testimony of the People’s medical expert provided ample proof that defendant repeatedly stabbed the decedent. Based on this evidence, the jury was entitled to reject defendant’s claim that he merely held the knife.

But the jury was also free to accept defendant’s account of events. Under that version, a jury could have found that the decedent committed suicide because he committed the final overt act that caused his death, i.e., thrusting himself into the knife. Notably, the People did not argue below that defendant’s version, if believed, would not satisfy the affirmative defense to murder. In fact, the record shows that the People acquiesced to the defense being charged, and they do not argue otherwise on appeal. The People made no objection to the charge, and in fact offered their own proposed language to the court. The trial court determined that defendant’s version supported the assisted suicide defense because it decided to give the charge … .

Under these circumstances, the portion of the court’s instruction that the assisted suicide defense is not made out if defendant “actively” caused the decedent’s death, along with the expansive definition of the word “active” given in the supplemental charge, was confusing and conveyed the wrong standard. Neither the word “active,” nor its antonym “passive,” appears in the statutory language and thus, by giving this charge, the court added an element that is not part of the defense. People v Minor, 2013 NY Slip Op 06444, First Dept 10-3-23

 

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Checkpoint Vehicle Stop Illegal

The First Department determined a vehicle checkpoint stop to control automobile thefts was unconstitutional:

The suspicionless vehicle checkpoint stop that led to the recovery of contraband in this case was constitutionally impermissible because the primary purpose of the checkpoint was “essentially to serve the governmental interest in general crime control” … . It is undisputed that the primary purpose of the checkpoint was to deter or control auto theft. Contrary to the People’s assertions, the interest in “controlling automobile thefts,” as described in this case, “is not distinguishable from the general interest in crime control” … . Under the applicable precedents, a secondary goal of promoting highway safety does not justify a checkpoint stop. People v Velez. 2013 NY Slip Op 06437, 1st Dept, 10-3-13

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