Jones v. State

• Decision Date: 26 February 1981
• Parties: Lynda JONES, Individually and as Administratrix of the Estate of Herbert L. Jones, Respondent, v. The STATE of New York, Defendant, Present and Former State Troopers, Intervenors-Appellants and 22 other claimant actions.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 489

436 N.Y.S.2d 489

79 A.D.2d 273

Lynda JONES, Individually and as Administratrix of the Estate of Herbert L. Jones, Respondent, v. The STATE of New York, Defendant, Present and Former State

Troopers, Intervenors-Appellants and 22 other

claimant actions.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department.

Feb. 26, 1981.

Hinman, Straub, Pigors & Manning, P. C., Albany, for intervenors-appellants; Bernard J. Malone, Jr., Albany, of counsel.

Cunningham, Pares & Renda, Buffalo, for respondent; William J. Cunningham, Jr., Buffalo, of counsel.

Before CARDAMONE, J. P., and SIMONS, HANCOCK and MOULE, JJ.

SIMONS, Justice:

Claimant Jones seeks to recover damages for the wrongful death of her husband resulting from the alleged wilful assault on him by the State Police during the retaking of Attica Correctional Facility in September, 1971 (see Jones v. State of New York, 33 N.Y.2d 275, 352 N.Y.S.2d 169, 307 N.E.2d 236). Her action is joined with 22 similar claims and while the claimants were engaged in trial in the Court of Claims, they requested a recess and brought this motion before a Special Term of Supreme Court for limited discovery and inspection of the Attica Grand Jury minutes. They seek the minutes for two purposes. First, they allege that they have subpoenaed over 20 witnesses and that each has refused to testify in the civil actions on grounds of self-incrimination. Claimants assert that the witnesses may not do so, without risking contempt, because they received immunity by testifying before the Grand Jury. They request, therefore, that the Grand Jury minutes be delivered to the Trial Judge so that he may determine whether the witnesses received immunity when testifying before the Grand Jury. Second, claimants assert that, if witnesses testify in the civil trial who have previously testified before the Grand Jury, claimants should be permitted to use portions of the Grand Jury minutes to impeach them, refresh their recollection or to lead them as hostile witnesses.

Justice Conable, presiding at Wyoming County Special Term, granted claimants' motion and the intervenors, present and former State Troopers, appeal. ¹ They contend that the court erred because under familiar rules of res judicata, a previous order denying claimants' discovery foreclosed the matter (see Matter of Carey, 92 Misc.2d 316, 402 N.Y.S.2d 100). Furthermore, they claim that even if relief is not barred by the prior order, the court abused its discretion in permitting disclosure in aid of a civil proceeding to recover damages.

I

In 1977 Governor Carey and Attorney General Lefkowitz applied to the court for permission to publish Volumes II and III of the Meyer Report on the Attica investigation containing excerpts of Grand Jury minutes. Claimants joined in that application, moving for general disclosure. Justice Ball, who was presiding at that time, denied the motions (Matter of Carey, 92 Misc.2d 316, 402 N.Y.S.2d 100, supra). Since claimants did not appeal Justice Ball's order, intervenors contend that they are now bound by it. ²

The applicable legal doctrine is law of the case. That principle provides that a determination on the merits of the same point within the same litigation binds the parties and also judges of coordinate jurisdiction (see Siegel, N.Y.Civ.Prac., § 443, p. 587; § 448). As an appellate court, we are free to grant the relief requested, however, because the prior determination does not bind us (see Klein v. Smigel, 44 A.D.2d 248, 250, 354 N.Y.S.2d 117, affd. 36 N.Y.2d 809, 370 N.Y.S.2d 897, 331 N.E.2d 679; and, see generally, 10 Carmody-Wait 2d, § 70:406).

But further than that, Justice Conable was not foreclosed from ruling on the merits of the motion, because the present application seeks relief substantially different from that denied in the prior order. Undoubtedly, Justice Ball would have abused his discretion had he released the minutes to private litigants for general discovery or trial preparation (see People v. Di Napoli, 27 N.Y.2d 229, 237, 316 N.Y.S.2d 622, 265 N.E.2d 679; Matter of City of Buffalo (Cosgrove), 57 A.D.2d 47, 50, 394 N.Y.S.2d 919; Albert v. Zahner's Sales Co., 51 A.D.2d 541, 378 N.Y.S.2d 414, affg. 81 Misc.2d 103, 364 N.Y.S.2d 410). Indeed, one Court of Appeals decision indicates he would have exceeded his power if he had granted such relief (see Matter of Proskin v. County Ct. of Albany County, 30 N.Y.2d 15, 330 N.Y.S.2d 44, 280 N.E.2d 875). But a court may do for some purposes that which it is without power to do in other circumstances. Claimants' present application was made after the start of the trial and they seek the minutes only to insure that available witnesses testify and that they testify fully and accurately. Justice Conable properly entertained the motion on the merits.

II

It is settled law that the release of Grand Jury minutes rests in the sound discretion of the court (People v. Di Napoli, 27 N.Y.2d 229, 234-235, 316 N.Y.S.2d 622, 265 N.E.2d 449, supra; Matter of Carey (Fischer), 68 A.D.2d 220, 227, 416 N.Y.S.2d 904, supra; Matter of Corporation Counsel of City of Buffalo (Cosgrove), 61 A.D.2d 32, 35, 401 N.Y.S.2d 339; Matter of City of Buffalo (Cosgrove), 57 A.D.2d 47, 49, 394 N.Y.S.2d 919, supra; Matter of Scotti, 53 A.D.2d 282, 287-289, 385 N.Y.S.2d 659; Judiciary Law, § 325; CPL 190.25, subd. 4). When considering such an application, the court must balance the public interest in the secrecy of Grand Jury proceedings against the same public interest served by disclosure. The decision may turn on who the applicant is, what he seeks and the purpose for which he seeks it. Limited publication granted to a public official or agency to further some official duty in protecting the public interest is at one end of the spectrum (see Matter of Scotti, 53 A.D.2d 282, 385 N.Y.S.2d 659, supra). The other extreme is general discovery sought by a private litigant to prepare for litigation,...