Articles Posted in Court Decisions

Update from the Lexis Alert Service,

May 27, 2009:.

1. People v. Fuller, 523, 1944/06, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 3770; 877 N.Y.S.2d 890; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3653, May 12, 2009, Decided, May 12, 2009, Entered, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.

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May 26, 2009.

CIVIL RIGHTS, CRIMINAL LAW & PROCEDURE, GOVERNMENT LAW, LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW Haywood v. Drown, No. 07-10374 In a 42 U.S.C. section 1983 action by a prisoner, judgment for Defendant-Officers is reversed where Correction Law section 24, as applied to Section 1983 claims, violates the Supremacy Clause, because New York’s policy of shielding correctional officers from liability for conduct performed in the scope of their employment is contrary to Congress’s judgment that all persons who violate federal rights while acting under color of state law shall be held liable for damages.

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May 17-22, 2009.

U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, May 19, 2009 US v. Paret-Ruiz , No. 06-2709
Conviction for conspiracy to import cocaine with intent to distribute is reversed and remanded with instructions to enter a verdict of not guilty where the evidence was insufficient for a reasonable jury to conclude that defendant had an agreement to import or possess cocaine with anyone other than a government agent.

U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, May 20, 2009 US v. Pulido , No. 08-1626
Conviction and sentence on drug and firearms charges is affirmed where: 1) the district court did not commit reversible error in denying defendant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea without conducting an evidentiary hearing, as defendant’s allegations that his plea was not voluntary and knowing were contradicted by the record; 2) the court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant’s motion to recuse based on the court’s statement about defendant in a different case, as the evidence shows that there was no likely appearance of partiality; 3) the court did not err and fail to consider mitigating evidence related to the U.S.S.G. sec. 3553(a) factors, as the record shows the court considered all of the mitigating evidence; and 4) the court did not err in imposing the mandatory minimum sentence for the firearm count under 18 U.S.C. sec. 924(c). ..

U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, May 20, 2009 US v. Jones, No. 07-2798 Conviction for conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon under the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Act is affirmed where: 1) the district court did not abuse its discretion in failing to restart jury selection after six co-defendants pled guilty during voir dire, and thus did not violate his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights; 2) the court properly rejected defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal on his conviction for murder conspiracy, as a rational jury could have found all elements of the murder conspiracy charge beyond a reasonable doubt; 3) the court did not abuse its discretion by admitting challenged evidence at trial as the evidence did not overwhelm the jury or prejudice its judgment; and 4) defendant’s sentence was not procedurally or substantively unreasonable.
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Update from the Lexis Alert Service,

May 21, 2009:.

1. People v. Bolar, 599, 5414/06, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 3946; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3791, May 19, 2009, Decided, May 19, 2009, Entered, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The People of the State …
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Eduardo Padro, J.), …

2. People v. Liggan, 573, 574, 297/04, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 3929; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3781, May 19, 2009, Decided, May 19, 2009, Entered, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The People of the State …
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Carol Berkman, J.), …

3. People v. McNeely, 589, 590, 531/08, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 3940; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3783, May 19, 2009, Decided, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The People of the State …
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Renee A. White, …

4. People v. Tucker, 176, 800/07, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 2469; 60 A.D.3d 595; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2510, March 31, 2009, Decided, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The People of the State …
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Bonnie Wittner, J. …

5. People v. Jackson, 185, 11990/91, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 2475; 60 A.D.3d 599; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2488, March 31, 2009, Decided, March 31, 2009, Entered, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The People of the State …
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Jeffrey M. Atlas, …
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Update from the Lexis Alert Service,

May 20, 2009:.

1. People v. McDonald, 157, 5982/07, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 2287; 60 A.D.3d 553; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2233, March 26, 2009, Decided, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The People of the State …
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Carol Berkman, J.), …

2. People v. Batista, 163, 5636/05, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 2292; 60 A.D.3d 557; 874 N.Y.S.2d 808; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2229, March 26, 2009, Decided, March 26, 2009, Entered, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The People of the State …
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Bonnie G. Wittner, …

3. People v. Ramirez, 168, 6600/03, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 2296; 60 A.D.3d 560; 875 N.Y.S.2d 482; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2235, March 26, 2009, Decided, March 26, 2009, Entered, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The People of the State …
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Edwin Torres, J.), …

4. People v. Pequero, 143, 1348/06, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 2242; 60 A.D.3d 542; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2418, March 24, 2009, Decided, March 24, 2009, Entered, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The People of the State …
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Bonnie G. Wittner, …

5. People v. Cantey, 120, 2132/07, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 2228; 60 A.D.3d 533; 874 N.Y.S.2d 805; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2259, March 24, 2009, Decided, March 24, 2009, Entered, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The People of the State …
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Lewis Bart Stone, …
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May 11-15, 2009.

U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, May 12, 2009 Midi v. Holder, No. 08-1367 Petitioner’s petition for review of the BIA’s order removing her from the U.S. is denied, where: 1) the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) does not apply to immigrants seeking relief pursuant to the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act; and 2) the BIA’s construction of the CSPA did not violate the Equal Protection Clause.

U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, May 13, 2009 Iota Xi Chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity v. Patterson, No. 08-1417 In an action by a fraternity at a public university claiming that disciplinary action against it violated the First Amendment, summary judgment for Defendants is affirmed, where: 1) the university did not deprive Plaintiff’s members of associational rights; and 2) the sanctions imposed on the chapter were reasonable. ..

U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, May 13, 2009 US v. Tom, No. 08-2345 District court judgment granting defendant’s motion to dismiss petition having have him civilly committed as a sexually dangerous person is reversed where: 1) the court erred in finding the 18 U.S.C. sec. 4248 (the Adam Walsh Act) was an unconstitutional exercise of Congress’s powers under the Commerce Clause, as Congress is empowered by the Commerce Clause to criminalize and punish the conduct of which defendant is guilty and has the ancillary authority under the Necessary and Proper Clause to provide for defendant’s civil commitment; and 2) 18 U.S.C. sec. 4248 does not upset the delicate federal state balance mandated by the Constitution.
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May 14, 2009.

CRIMINAL LAW & PROCEDURE US v. Ness, No. 05-440 Conviction for conspiring to commit three money laundering offenses is reversed where: 1) a reasonable jury could not find beyond a reasonable doubt that the purpose of defendant’s transportation of narcotics proceeds was to conceal the nature, location, or source of the narcotics proceeds; and 2) the government failed to prove that defendant violated 18 U.S.C. sec. 1957(a), as it did not present sufficient evidence that a financial institution was involved. .

Update from the Lexis Alert Service,

May 18, 2009.

1. People v. Smith, 558, 2680/07, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 3839; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3674, May 14, 2009, Decided, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.

May 12-13, 2009

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CIVIL PROCEDURE Yakin v. Tyler Hill Corp. , No. 07-5300 District court order enforcing a forum selection clause and remanding the case to state court is affirmed where there is no ambiguity in the forum selection clause, as a reasonable person reviewing the clause would conclude the parties intended the litigation take place in an appropriate venue in Nassau County, where there is a state court but no district court.

May 12, 2009

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CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, GOVERNMENT BENEFITS, HEALTH LAW Khrapunskiy v. Doar, No. 52 In an action by disabled legal resident aliens who were ineligible for SSI payments due to their non-citizenship, judgment for Plaintiffs is reversed, where Article XVII of the New York Constitution does not compel the state to assume the federal government’s obligation when a disabled person becomes ineligible for SSI benefits.

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