Constantine v. Leto

• Decision Date: 31 May 1990
• Citation: 557 N.Y.S.2d 611,157 A.D.2d 376
• Parties: In the Matter of Thomas A. CONSTANTINE, as Superintendent of the Division of State Police, Appellant, v. Mark P. LETO, Respondent.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 611

557 N.Y.S.2d 611

157 A.D.2d 376

In the Matter of Thomas A. CONSTANTINE, as Superintendent of

the Division of State Police, Appellant, v. Mark P. LETO, Respondent.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division,

Third Department.

May 31, 1990.

Robert Abrams, Atty. Gen. (Joseph Koczaja, and Nancy A. Spiegel, of counsel), Albany, for appellant.

Gerstenzang, Weiner & Gerstenzang (Peter Gerstenzang, of counsel), Albany, for respondent.

Before MAHONEY, P.J., and KANE, WEISS, LEVINE and MERCURE, JJ.

MERCURE, Justice.

Respondent was arrested for driving while intoxicated by Trooper E.J. Demczar of the State Police. Thereafter, while the case was pending before the Town of Schodack Justice Court in Rensselaer County, a subpoena duces tecum was issued by Supreme Court directing petitioner, the Superintendent of State Police, to produce the State Police "Breath Test Operator's Training Course Manual" which was used to train Demczar. Petitioner submitted an application to Supreme Court to quash the subpoena duces tecum. Supreme Court denied the motion, stating that respondent was entitled to access to the manual for the purpose of proving what the proper testing procedures were and, if appropriate, to prove that proper procedures were not followed. 142 Misc.2d 728, 538 N.Y.S.2d 395. Petitioner now appeals.

At the outset, we observe that even though respondent's attorney obtained a noncertified copy of the manual in an unrelated case, this proceeding is not moot. Significantly, respondent's attorney has indicated that he does not possess a copy of the manual at the present time. In addition, a noncertified copy does not meet the requirement of CPLR 2307(b) and is not automatically admissible into evidence, as a certified copy would be, pursuant to CPLR 4518(c). Furthermore, notwithstanding respondent's assertion that petitioner is a party to the underlying criminal action and, thus, this appeal is interlocutory, we choose to address the merits of the appeal without deciding the standing issue under the authority of Matter of Nassau BOCES Cent. Council of Teachers v. Board of Coop. Educ. Servs. of Nassau County, 63 N.Y.2d 100, 104, 480 N.Y.S.2d 190, 469 N.E.2d 511 (see, Matter of Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany v. New York State Dept. of Health, 66 N.Y.2d 948, 951, 498 N.Y.S.2d 780, 489 N.E.2d 749; Matter of Gardner v. Constantine, 155 A.D.2d 823, 548 N.Y.S.2d 95).

Turning to the merits, we first note that discovery requests are governed by statute (see, CPL 240.20, 240.40; Matter of Miller v. Schwartz, 72 N.Y.2d 869, 870, 532 N.Y.S.2d 354, 528 N.E.2d 507). The recently enacted CPL 240.20(1)(k) (L.1989, ch. 536, § 1) provides that in a Vehicle and Traffic Law prosecution, the People shall disclose any written report concerning, inter alia, a scientific test including the most recent record of inspection, calibration or repair of the machines used and the certification certificate of the operator. We also note that a subpoena duces tecum may not be used to circumvent the discovery provisions of CPL 240.20 and 240.40 (People v. Ramirez, 129 Misc.2d 112, 113-114, 492 N.Y.S.2d 906; People v. Crean, 115 Misc.2d 526, 531, 454 N.Y.S.2d 231; People v. Miranda, 115 Misc.2d 533, 454 N.Y.S.2d 236), "to ascertain the existence of evidence" (People v. Gissendanner, 48 N.Y.2d 543, 551, 423 N.Y.S.2d 893, 399 N.E.2d 924) or "to fish for impeaching material" (People v. Di Lorenzo, 134 Misc.2d 1000, 1001, 513 N.Y.S.2d 938). Rather, its purpose is "to compel the production of specific documents that are relevant and material to facts at issue in a pending judicial proceeding" (Matter of New York State Dept. of Labor v. Robinson, 87 A.D.2d 877, 878, 449 N.Y.S.2d 321). A showing that certain documents carry a potential for establishing relevant evidence is insufficient; instead, a defendant must put forth "some factual predicate" which would make it reasonably likely that documentary information will bear relevant and exculpatory evidence (People v. Gissendanner, supra, 48 N.Y.2d at 550, 423 N.Y.S.2d 893, 399 N.E.2d 924). Thus, it was held in People v. Di Lorenzo (supra, 134 Misc.2d at 1003, 513 N.Y.S.2d 938) that the manual of operation and directions for use of a breathalyzer were neither evidence nor subject to discovery pursuant to CPL article 240. Similarly, in People v. Russo, 149 A.D.2d 255, 257, 545 N.Y.S.2d 211, the defendant, charged with speeding, sought a subpoena directing a police department to produce a radar device "together with all books, manuals, records and documents pertaining to the ownership, operation and maintenance" of the device and the Second Department held that the defendant was entitled to receive records documenting the maintenance and testing of the device but that the subpoena was otherwise overbroad.

It is well established that in order to introduce results of a breathalyzer test, the prosecutor must introduce evidence that the testing device was in proper working order and that the chemicals used in conducting the test were " 'of the proper kind and mixed in the proper...