In re Ruth L.

126 Misc. 2d 1053, 484 N.Y.S.2d 767, 1985 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2933
CourtNew York City Family Court
DecidedJanuary 4, 1985
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 126 Misc. 2d 1053 (In re Ruth L.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York City Family Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Ruth L., 126 Misc. 2d 1053, 484 N.Y.S.2d 767, 1985 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2933 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1985).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Francis A. Affronti, J.

The Monroe County Department of Social Services commenced this Family Court Act article 10 proceeding, alleging that the above children were abused and neglected (Family Ct Act § 1012).

Respondent, Frances L., previously admitted certain allegations in the petition (Family Ct Act § 1051 [a]), whereupon the court made findings that the children were neglected children. (Family Ct Act § 1012 [¶] [i] [B].)

A fact-finding hearing was conducted as to respondent, Melvin L., relative to the allegations against him including those [1054]*1054involving the commission of certain sexual acts (Family Ct Act § 1012 [e] [iii]), upon his biological daughter, Ruth L., born on June 23, 1979.

The court has both personal and subject matter jurisdiction over the respondent who was present during the hearing represented by counsel.

Terry B., age 14, respondent’s “stepson”, presented sworn testimony of the events which allegedly occurred while residing with his mother (respondent Frances L.) and the respondent, along with other siblings ranging in age from 4 to 11. Late one evening, during the 1983 Thanksgiving holiday, and after retiring for the night, Terry heard a squeaking noise emanating from respondent’s bed and observed the latter physically moving “up and down.” At that time, he related that his stepsister was in respondent’s bed and upon asking what was going on, the latter replied in substance, “nothing, just go back to bed.”

A few weeks later, during the Christmas holidays, Terry was awakened by noises and activity, and saw the respondent engaging in similar up and down movements in his bed. Again, upon inquiry, respondent said to go back to sleep and that it “won’t happen again.” Although the youngster testified to the presence of another figure in respondent’s bed on each occasion, and having further observed a child’s “arm”, which he steadfastly believed to be Ruth’s, he was unable to positively identify her. During his testimony, Terry also declared that, on prior occasions, he had seen another stepsister, Roberta, age three, in respondent’s bed.

A police officer investigating the incidents recounted certain admissions made by respondent while in police custody, and the child protective worker who interviewed Ruth utilized anatomically correct dolls which aided her investigatory procedure.

The child’s conversations with the caseworker established episodes of sexual contact and touching upon portions of her body, and she used such words as “tutu” while referring to the male and female “dolls”. She further attempted to describe to the caseworker, as best she could, in view of her tender years, the physical actions of the male perpetrator, and the approximate time and location of the abusive acts. The record is extensive in this regard, while further encompassing other aspects of petitioner’s investigation. Additionally, respondent made inculpatory admissions to the caseworker, acknowledging sexual contact with Ruth on three separate occasions during the approximate time periods previously alluded to, and that his “stepson” had awakened and inquired as to the goings-on.

[1055]*1055During cross-examination of petitioner’s witnesses, respondent requested an order of this court directing that he be given transcripts of the Grand Jury testimony of Terry B. and the investigating police officer, each of whom had previously testified before the Grand Jury relating to a concurrent criminal proceeding arising from the acts which were the subject of this trial. Respondent contended that the transcripts would allow for thorough cross-examination and be beneficial for impeachment purposes. Decision was reserved on the application, cross-examination was completed, and respondent was allowed to recall those witnesses at a later time pending decision on the motion.

An adjournment was granted and, thereafter, upon a review of the written pleadings submitted by all counsel in support of, and in opposition to the motion, a decision was rendered, as immediately addressed.

It is firmly settled that any determination of this issue rests solely in the discretion of the trial court. In exercising such discretion, however, the various competing interests must be balanced. Relying upon People v Rosario (9 NY2d 286), and its progeny, it is universally conceded that a witness may be impeached in any subsequent trial, civil or criminal, by self-contradictory testimony, and in criminal and delinquency actions, existing statute mandates Grand Jury disclosure (CPL 240.45; Family Ct Act § 331.4). A “ ‘right sense of justice’ ” entitles the defense to examine prior statements of witnesses so long as those statements relate to the witnesses’ testimony at trial and “fundamental requirements of a fair trial mandate that the Grand Jury testimony of such witnesses be made available”. (See, Matter of Gold v Quinones, 37 AD2d 618.) In Gold (supra), the court held that Family Court cannot order the District Attorney to produce the Grand Jury minutes but that application should be made to the court having jurisdiction over such testimony. In Matter of Wolfe v Berman (40 AD2d 869), the Family Court ordered the Corporation Counsel to apply for production of Grand Jury minutes and that such direction was a proper exercise of the court’s power in a proceeding over which it had jurisdiction. Only the court in charge of the minutes is authorized to release statements from the secrecy requirements of the Criminal Procedure Law. (See, People v Quigley, 59 AD2d 825.)

This court referred to innumerable precedent granting the production of such testimony, in a wide variety of criminal, quasi-criminal (delinquency) and civil proceedings (see also, Matter of George V., 100 AD2d 594; Matter of Bertha K., 58 AD2d [1056]*1056811; Matter of John G., 91 AD2d 685), but was unable, through its research, to uncover any legal guidance directly controlling an abuse or neglect proceeding, as governed by Family Court Act article 10. The nearest facsimile to the case at bar occurred in Matter of Herbert F. (56 AD2d 601), wherein the court though not addressing the Grand Jury issue, asserted that Family Court’s curtailment of the examination of witnesses constituted a denial of due process in violation of Family Court Act § 1011. Respondent’s instant application, therefore, appeared to present one of first impression in this State encountering legal queries not yet explored, much less answered.

In pondering the legislative intent of the cited statutes, the interpretation of the reported decisions, and weighing the prevailing public policy considerations, and respondent’s fundamental safeguards, this court determined that the Grand Jury testimony was indeed material, relevant, and potentially valuable for cross-examination purposes, and that its production would further serve the purposes of Family Court Act § 1011.

The District Attorney and/or attorney for petitioner was subsequently ordered to immediately apply to the Monroe County Court, having jurisdiction over the Grand Jury, to release said testimony to this court for purposes of conducting an “in-camera” inspection thereof. In compliance with the order, the transcripts were supplied, and upon the court’s inspection and review it was determined that the data therein had previously been elicited during the witnesses’ trial testimony, and that such evidence was merely cumulative.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
126 Misc. 2d 1053, 484 N.Y.S.2d 767, 1985 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2933, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-ruth-l-nycfamct-1985.