People v. Contant

84 A.D.3d 977, 923 N.Y.S.2d 842

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: May 10, 2011
• Status: Published

Opinion

Application by the appellant pro se for a writ of error coram nobis to vacate, on the ground of ineffective assistance of counsel, a decision and order of this Court dated October 26, 2010 (see People v Contant, 77 AD3d 967 [2010]), affirming a judgment of the County Court, Rockland County, rendered October 3, 2007.

Ordered that the application is granted and the decision and order of this Court dated October 26, 2010 (see People v Contant, 77 AD3d 967 [2010]), is recalled and vacated; and it is further,

Ordered that pursuant to County Law § 722, the following named attorney is assigned as counsel: John R. Lewis, Esq., 36 Hemlock Drive, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., 10591 and it is further,

Ordered that assigned counsel shall serve and file a brief expeditiously in accordance with this Court’s rules (see 22 NYCRR 670.1 et seq.) and written directions.

Under the circumstances of this case, we find that former appellate counsel was ineffective in failing to raise the issue that the appellant’s waiver of his right to appeal was not valid (see People v Nicelli, 74 AD3d 1235 [2010]), and in failing to evaluate whether there were any nonfrivolous issues which could be raised on appeal. Dillon, J.E, Florio, Roman and Sgroi, JJ.,. concur.