THYGESEN, WILLIAM J. v. NORTH BAILEY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPAN ( 2012 )

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department
1092
TP 11-00775
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., CENTRA, PERADOTTO, LINDLEY, AND WHALEN, JJ.
IN THE MATTER OF WILLIAM J. THYGESEN, PETITIONER,
V MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
NORTH BAILEY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC. AND
WARREN HOMES, PRESIDENT, NORTH BAILEY VOLUNTEER
FIRE COMPANY, INC., RESPONDENTS.
HOGAN WILLIG, AMHERST (STEVEN M. COHEN OF COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONER.
UNDERBERG & KESSLER LLP, ROCHESTER (ELIZABETH A. CORDELLO OF COUNSEL),
FOR RESPONDENTS.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to the
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Fourth Judicial
Department by order of the Supreme Court, Erie County [Donna M. Siwek,
J.], entered January 10, 2011) to review a determination of
respondents. The determination terminated petitioner from respondent
North Bailey Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
It is hereby ORDERED that the determination is unanimously
confirmed without costs and the petition is dismissed.
Memorandum: Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding
challenging respondents’ determination, following a hearing, to expel
him from membership in respondent North Bailey Volunteer Fire Company,
Inc. (Fire Company). Contrary to petitioner’s contention, respondents
did not violate CPL 160.50 either when they admitted in evidence media
reports related to petitioner’s two arrests or when they presented the
testimony of a police investigator who was involved in the criminal
investigations. It is undisputed that petitioners’ charges were
deemed dismissed following adjournments in contemplation of dismissal
(see CPL 170.55) and, therefore, the records of those criminal
prosecutions were sealed (see CPL 160.50 [1]). We note, however, that
the media reports concerning petitioner’s arrests do not constitute
“official records and papers . . . relating to [petitioner’s] arrest
or prosecution” under CPL 160.50 (1) (c) and, because it is
“ ‘permissible to consider the independent evidence of the conduct
leading to the criminal charges’ ” (Matter of New York State Dept. of
Mental Hygiene v State Div. of Human Rights, 103 AD2d 546, 549, affd
66 NY2d 752, quoting Matter of Skyline Inn Corp. v New York State Liq.
Auth., 44 NY2d 695, 696), the police investigator was “free to testify
from memory” concerning the conduct that led to petitioner’s arrests
(Matter of 53rd St. Rest. Corp. v New York State Liq. Auth., 220 AD2d
-2- 1092
TP 11-00775
588, 588; see Matter of Kenner v Coughlin, 105 AD2d 1130, 1130-1131,
lv dismissed in part and denied in part 65 NY2d 760).
Contrary to the further contention of petitioner, we conclude
that there is substantial evidence establishing that he had exhibited
a lack of “good moral character” in violation of article II, § 2 of
the Fire Company’s Constitution and By-laws and had committed
misconduct under General Municipal Law § 209-l (see Matter of
Pawlowski v Big Tree Volunteer Fireman’s Co., Inc., 12 AD3d 1030,
1032; see generally 300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v State Div. of Human
Rights, 45 NY2d 176, 181-182). We have reviewed petitioner’s
remaining contentions and conclude that they lack merit.
Entered: November 9, 2012 Frances E. Cafarell
Clerk of the Court