United States v. Harloff

807 F. Supp. 270, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20821, 1992 WL 331892
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedJune 12, 1992
Docket6:91-cr-00205
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 807 F. Supp. 270 (United States v. Harloff) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Harloff, 807 F. Supp. 270, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20821, 1992 WL 331892 (W.D.N.Y. 1992).

Opinion

ORDER *

TELESCA, Chief Judge.

A 19-count Indictment, filed August 29, 1991, charges the defendants, individually or collectively, with violations of 18 U.S.C. § 241 (conspiracy to violate civil rights), 18 U.S.C. § 242 (deprivation of civil rights under color of law), 18 U.S.C. § 371 (conspiracy to commit an offense or offenses against the United States), 18 U.S.C. § 666 (theft or embezzlement from certain federally funded programs), and 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (use of a firearm in commission of a violent crime). This action was referred September 3, 1991 to United States Magistrate Judge Kenneth R. Fisher pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l)(A)-(B). Defendants’ various omnibus motions are the subject of a Decision and Order and Report and Recommendation filed April 10, 1992 and a separate Report and Recommendation filed April 23, 1992.

As to Magistrate Judge Fisher’s Report and Recommendation filed April 10, 1992, defendants Harloff, Raggi, Mazzeo, and Alessi object to Magistrate Judge Fisher’s recommendation that the Court deny, without a hearing, defendants' motion to dismiss the indictment which is based on DR 7-104(A)(1), defendants’ Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights, and U.S. v. Hammad, 858 F.2d 834 (2d Cir.1988).

As to Magistrate Judge Fisher’s Report and Recommendation filed April 23, 1992, all defendants object to Magistrate Judge Fisher’s recommendation that the Court deny, without a hearing, defendants’ motion to dismiss the indictment for improper use of immunized testimony (a “Kastigar” motion).

I have carefully reviewed Magistrate Judge Fisher’s Decision and Order and Reports and Recommendations, as well as the defendants' objections thereto, and the Government’s responsive submissions. Initially, I note that defendants’ objections consistently fail to comply with the specificity required of such objections by 28 U.S.C. § 636(C) and Local Rule 30(a). Notwithstanding those deficiencies, I have considered defendants’ objections, and find them to be without merit.

Insofar as defendants object to Magistrate Judge Fisher’s Report and Recommendation, dated April 24, 1992, to deny a pre-trial Kastigar hearing, I would only reemphasize Magistrate Judge Fisher’s determination that the Government has met its burden of showing an independent source for any potentially relevant evidence “tainted” by an alleged misuse of defendants’ immunized testimony before the Professional Standards Section of the Rochester Police Department. See U.S. v. Rivieccio, 919 F.2d 812, 817 (2d Cir.1990). The defendants’ allegations simply do not warrant such a hearing prior to trial; neither justice nor Fed.R.Crim.P. 16 requires it.

Wherefore, as to Magistrate Judge Fisher’s Report and Recommendation filed April 10, 1992: his recommendation that the motion of defendants Harloff, Raggi, Mazzeo, and Alessi to dismiss the Indictment based on DR 7-104(A)(1), defendants’ Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights, and U.S. v. Hammad, is adopted, and such motion is accordingly denied. Magistrate Judge Fisher’s Report and Recommendation, filed April 23, 1992, that defendants’ motion to dismiss the Indictment for improper use of immunized testimony pursuant to Kastigar v. United States, 406 U.S. 441, 92 S.Ct. 1653, 32 L.Ed.2d 212 (1972) be denied is adopted, and the motion is accordingly denied with leave to renew, if appropriate, at the completion of the trial.

*272 ALL OF THE ABOVE IS SO ORDERED.

DECISION AND ORDER

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON MOTIONS TO SUPPRESS AND FOR DISMISSAL **

FISHER, United States Magistrate Judge.

Following defendants’ indictment for several civil rights and other violations allegedly committed by them in their capacity as police officers investigating narcotics crimes in the City of Rochester, defendants filed omnibus motions. The government responded, and the matter came on for oral argument after which several post-argument submissions were made. The following is my Report and Recommendation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) that their motions for suppression of evidence be denied without a hearing. Defendants’ motion for dismissal of the indictment on the ground of improper use of immunized testimony given to the Professional Standards Section of the Rochester Police Department is treated in a separate Report and Recommendation to be filed later. These motions were referred to me by Chief Judge Michael A. Telesca pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636.

VIII. THE MORRIS TAPES AND THE HAMMAD ISSUE

Defendants Harloff, Raggi, Mazzeo, and Alessi move to dismiss the indictment, or in the alternative for suppression of evidence, on the ground that the government enlisted the services of defendants’ fellow investigator, William Morris, as a government informant. Morris surreptitiously taped conversations with each of these defendants at a time prior to the indictment but after defendants’ attorneys each contacted the government for the purpose of thwarting investigative contact with their clients. Defendants contend that the government’s employment of Morris for this purpose violated N.Y.Code of Professional Responsibility DR 7-104(A)(1) which is made applicable in this district by Local Rule 5(c). United States v. Hammad, 858 F.2d 834, 837-38 (2d Cir.1988), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 871, 111 S.Ct. 192, 112 L.Ed.2d 154 (1990); Cinema 5, Ltd. v. Cinerama, Inc., 528 F.2d 1384, 1386 (2d Cir.1976) (“The Code has been adopted by the New York State Bar Association, and its Canons are recognized by both federal and state courts as appropriate guidelines for the professional conduct of New York lawyers.”); Fund of Funds, Ltd. v. Arthur Andersen & Co., 567 F.2d 225, 227 n. 2 (2d Cir.1977) (same); NCK Organization Ltd. v. Bregman, 542 F.2d 128, 129 n. 2 (2d Cir.1976) (same); Paretti v. Cavalier Label Co., Inc., 722 F.Supp. 985, 986 (S.D.N.Y.1989) (same).

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Bluebook (online)
807 F. Supp. 270, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20821, 1992 WL 331892, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-harloff-nywd-1992.