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