Phillips v. State

102 Misc. 2d 445, 423 N.Y.S.2d 826, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1983
CourtNew York Court of Claims
DecidedJanuary 4, 1980
DocketClaim No. 63469
StatusPublished

This text of 102 Misc. 2d 445 (Phillips v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Phillips v. State, 102 Misc. 2d 445, 423 N.Y.S.2d 826, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1983 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1980).

Opinion

[446]*446OPINION OF THE COURT

Jeremiah J. Moriarty, J.

The State moves, pursuant to section 8 of the Court of Claims Act, and CPLR 3211 (subd [a], pars 2, 7) for an order dismissing this claim on the ground that the court lacks jurisdiction over the subject matter of the cause of action, and because the claim does not state a valid cause of action. The papers before the court on this motion are:

(1) notice of motion, with supporting affirmation of George M. Levy, Assistant Attorney-General, and exhibits annexed,

(2) affirmation of Stephen F. Guthmann, Esq., in opposition,

(3) copy of notice of intention to file claim, filed March 23, 1979,

(4) copy of verified claim, filed September 13, 1979,

(5) letter, dated March 23, 1979, from Lawrence Wayne, chief clerk of Court of Claims, acknowledging receipt of notice of intention,

(6) letter, dated March 22, 1979, from Donald P. Hirshorn, Assistant Attorney-General, acknowledging receipt of notice of intention,

(7) verified complaint — Phillips v City of Syracuse,

(8) notices of claim against City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, Sheriff of Onondaga County, Syracuse Police Department, Onondaga County District Attorney.

This motion constitutes a facial attack upon the claim on the ground that it is legally insufficient. As such, for purposes of this motion, we accept the facts pleaded as true, and give claimant the benefit of every reasonable inference therefrom. All the dates mentioned are approximate.

On September 17, 1978, one Jesse James Phillips (hereinafter Jesse) was arrested by a member of the City of Syracuse Police Department, and incarcerated in the Public Safety Building. At the time of his arrest, interrogation and booking, Jesse was, for the first time, misidentified as the claimant herein, Edward Howard Phillips, Jr. (hereinafter Edward). Jesse was incarcerated, and in the custody of members of the Syracuse Police Department and/or Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department, from September 17, 1978 until his release a number of days thereafter, during which period he was continually misidentified as Edward.

On December 28, 1978, Edward was indicted by the Onon[447]*447daga County Grand Jury for a crime which is unstated in this record. A warrant of arrest was issued by the Honorable William J. Burke, Judge of the Onondaga County Court, ordering the arrest of Edward on January 15, 1979. Subsequent thereto and pursuant to said warrant, Edward was arrested in Lincoln, Nebraska. He waived extradition to the State of New York on January 24, 1979, and arrived at the Public Safety Building Jail in Syracuse on February 1, 1979.

On February 5, 1979, Edward was arraigned under _ the indictment of December 28, 1978 before Judge Burke. At the arraignment, the attorney originally appearing in the case, James Mederoff, Esq., stated that he had never seen Edward before in his life, and requested to be relieved of representing him on the criminal charges contained in the indictment.

On February 9, 1979, at a pretrial conference held in Judge Burke’s chambers, an Assistant District Attorney said that he would cause fingerprints to be taken of Edward who was still incarcerated in the Public Safety Building, and Judge Burke so directed. On February 16, 1979, Edward appeared before Judge Burke at which time it was noted that no fingerprints had yet been taken. Judge Burke again directed the District Attorney to have fingerprints taken or reviewed, and "not to sit on it any longer.”

On February 17, 1979, Edward was released from jail. All charges against him, under the indictment hereinabove described, were dismissed on or about February 22, 1979, and no appeal therefrom has been taken.

The foregoing facts are alleged in Edward’s verified complaint in his action in State Supreme Court against the City of Syracuse et al. These allegations are incorporated by reference into his claim against the State in the Court of Claims. It is further alleged in his claim that the conduct of the defendant, its agents, servants, officers and employees was grossly negligent and/or malicious, in willful, wanton and reckless disregard of the rights of the plaintiff, in failing to check, or in improperly checking, identity as a result of which he was extradited from his residence, Nebraska, to the State of New York.

It is contended that the State is legally responsible for the extradition, prosecution and detention of Edward because his extradition was facilitated and performed by members of the Onondaga County District Attorney’s office and/or the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department, who were duly authorized [448]*448to represent the State of New York in dealings with sister States, in the context of extradition procedure, and that in furtherance of an extradition procedure, they act in their official capacity. It is further alleged that the members of the Onondaga District Attorney’s office, and the Onondaga Sheriffs Department, represented themselves to officials of Nebraska as agents, servants, officers and employees of the State of New York, thus they were acting under color of authority granted or implicitly granted, and so held themselves out as agents, servants, officers and employees of the State of New York, and officials of Nebraska believed them to be duly authorized to so act.

For his claim against the State, Edward seeks $3,000,000 for wrongful prosecution, extradition and deprivation of his liberty, and $4,000,000 in exemplary and punitive damages by reason of the malicious and/or grossly negligent conduct of the defendant, its agents, servants, officers and employees.

The legal theory upon which claimant relies, for the unfortunate situation which befell him, is based upon the role played by the Governor of this State in the extradition of those in an asylum State to answer criminal charges brought against them by the State of New York. That role is defined by CPL 570.52 which states: "Whenever the governor of this state shall demand a person charged with crime or with escaping from confinement or breaking the terms of his bail, probation or parole in this state from the executive authority of any other state, or from the chief justice or an associate justice of the supreme court of the District of Columbia authorized to receive such demand under the laws of the United States, he shall issue a warrant under the seal of this state to some agent commanding him to receive the person so charged, if delivered to him, and convey him to the proper officer of the county in this state in which the offense was committed.”

It is argued that, based upon the foregoing statute, those who travel to an asylum State, to take custody of fugitives for extradition to this State, do so at the bidding of the Governor, a State officer, and as his agent. It is further argued that any wrongful acts in so taking custody of a fugitive are acts of the State and the State is answerable in damages therefor. We disagree.

It appears that the reason that our laws require a guberna[449]

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Related

Keller v. Butler
158 N.E. 510 (New York Court of Appeals, 1927)
Phelps v. Phelps
190 Misc. 801 (New York Supreme Court, 1947)

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Bluebook (online)
102 Misc. 2d 445, 423 N.Y.S.2d 826, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1983, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/phillips-v-state-nyclaimsct-1980.