In re Dallal

31 A.D.2d 442, 298 N.Y.S.2d 533, 1969 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 4280
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedApril 3, 1969
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 31 A.D.2d 442 (In re Dallal) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Dallal, 31 A.D.2d 442, 298 N.Y.S.2d 533, 1969 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 4280 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1969).

Opinion

Per Curiam.

Respondent was admitted to the Bar by this court on June 29, 1960. In October, 1967 charges were filed against him, by the District Attorney of Oneida County alleging that he (1) submitted motion papers and affidavits to the Supreme Court, Oneida County, knowing that they contained false statements; (2) persuaded one Wayne Jones to sign an affidavit for use in litigation Imowing that statements therein were false and (3) persuaded one Charles Roseup to testify falsely in a proceeding in the same court knowing that many matters in the testimony were false.

[443]*443. Thereafter proof toy affidavit was filed showing that respondent was confined in a private sanitarium and his mental condition was such that service of any legal papers upon him would be detrimental. We thereupon made an order appointing a guardian ad litem, directed him to file an answer and to show cause why respondent should not be suspended pending the disposition of this proceeding. On December 6, 1967 an order was made temporarily suspending respondent from the practice of law.

In May, 1968 the guardian ad litem presented a petition alleging that respondent had recovered and was able to defend the charges. In September, 1968 an order was made discharging the guardian and permitting the filing of an answer by respondent. The answer so filed admitted ‘ ‘ upon information and belief ’ ’ all of the substantive allegations of the petition. As a complete defense respondent alleged that ‘ ‘ prior to June 5th, 1967, (his) mental capacity had been seriously impaired to such an extent that (he) was incapable of exercising sound or reasonable judgment, and by reason thereof, was totally unable to consciously ascertain or be aware of the nature, degree, quality or extent of any of the acts alleged in (the) petition.”

In the light of this defense the facts from which the charges sprang will be briefly stated. In April, 1967 a member of the State Police arrested one Charles Roscup, 23 years of age, on a charge of rape, second degree, in that he had in the previous month had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old female. Prior to the arrest but on the same date Roscup (after having previously consulted respondent) had made a statement—in question and answer form—in which he admitted the acts and at the time of commission thereof had knowledge of the age of the girl. A ribbon copy and four carbon copies of the statement were signed by Roscup and a notary public.

A week later a preliminary examination was held before the Magistrate, who had issued the warrant, with respondent representing Roscup. The ribbon copy of the statement was produced by the District Attorney, marked as an exhibit and identified by the arresting officer. Following the examination the ribbon copy was missing and it has never been found by the District Attorney.

In May, 1967 an indictment was returned charging Roscup in two counts with rape, second degree. Upon arraignment, and represented by respondent, a plea of not guilty was entered. In June, 1967 respondent moved for an order authorizing inspection of the Grand Jury minutes. This motion was based on respondent’s affidavit which (in the light of subsequent devel[444]*444opments) contained the significant allegation that “ An alleged confession (at the preliminary hearing) was in the possession of the People, which alleged confession was defective on its face and which, in fact, would exonerate the defendant of any crime. No copy of the said alleged confession was furnished to the defendant.” (Emphasis supplied.) While the motion to inspect was denied the prosecutor during the argument thereof agreed to furnish respondent with a copy of the inculpatory statement. ■ Such reproduced copy was mailed to respondent on June 26, 1967.

By motion returnable on September 20, 1967 respondent sought an order suppressing the alleged confession. Repeated in respondent’s affidavit was the heretofore quoted language as to the exculpatory nature of the statement. Respondent made a part of his affidavit and attached thereto a writing which he alleged was a photostatic copy of the alleged confession furnished to him by the District Attorney.

It is not now- disputed that the copy of the alleged confession so presented to the court by respondent was a remarkably clever forgery of the question and answer statement taken by the State Police. At first glance the two .instruments are identical. Closer examination reveals that the genuine is inculpatory while the forgery is exculpatory. We quote three questions and answers from each. While (named female) was living at your house, did you have sexual intercourse with her?” The genuine statement— A. Yes the forgery—“ A. Not sexual intercourse.” Q. On January 1, 1967 did you have sexual intercourse with (named female) at your home?” The genuine — A. Yes I did. (Named female) came into my room and got into bed with me.” The forgery—-“A. No I did not. (Named female) came into my room and we fooled around.” “ Q. Did you have sexual intercourse with (named female) in March, 1967 the night before her mother died?” The genuine — “A. Yes I did. (Named female) came into my room at about 11:30 p.m. and got into bed with me. I believe it was March 7 or March 8, 1967.” The forgery — “ A. No I did not. (Named female) came into my room .at about 11:30 p.m:. and wanted to get in bed with me. I believe it was March 7 or March 8, 1967.”

A lengthy hearing of the motion to suppress was held before a Justice of the ¡Supreme Court on September 13, 1967. The arresting officer identified the genuine statement -made by Roscup. 'The latter testified, however, that he had never made any incriminating .answers to questions propounded by the police; that his answers actually made to the questions corresponded [445]*445with those in the exculpatory statement. Throughout the hearing respondent stoutly maintained that the now undisputed forgery had been received in the mail by him from the District Attorney.

Thereafter, respondent submitted to the court an affidavit made by .a stenographer in his office in which it was stated that on June 27, 1967 she opened an envelope received in the mail from the District Attorney and found therein the now undisputed forged copy of the statement. This was elaborated upon in her affidavit with the following language — After marking the papers received, your deponent read the confession and called it to the attention of Mr. Dallal, since your deponent felt it had 'been inadvertently mailed to us because it, in fact, exonerated the defendant of the charges against him.”

On ¡September 26, 1967 Roscup discharged respondent as his attorney and the same Justice of the ¡Supreme ¡Court, who had presided .at the hearing, appointed the Public Defender of Oneida Oounty to represent Roscup. On October 5,1967 Roscup in the presence of the District Attorney and Public Defender made a lengthy statement. Therein, he stated, among other things, that his parents had paid respondent $4,000 to represent him; that the exculpatory statement was a forgery that respondent had first exhibited to him the day before the supression hearing. Roscup told respondent that the statement was not the truth but he was told * don’t worry about it. ’ ’ Respondent then reviewed with Roscup the questions he proposed to ask him at the hearing and the manner in which replies should be made. Roscup was told by respondent to deny that he had ever seen the genuine statement.

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Bluebook (online)
31 A.D.2d 442, 298 N.Y.S.2d 533, 1969 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 4280, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-dallal-nyappdiv-1969.