Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Kevin Hicks, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1998-10-06
Citations: 254 A.D.2d 48
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Kevin Hicks, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 254
Pages: 48–48

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Kevin Hicks, Appellant.
[679 NYS2d 277]

Opinion:
—Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Jay Gold, J.), rendered April 15, 1996, convicting defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of attempted criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony offender, to a term of IV2 to 3 years, unanimously affirmed.
There is no merit to defendant's claim that his explicit waiver of his right to appeal the suppression ruling was "coerced to conceal error" (People v Seaberg, 74 NY2d 1, 11). Defendant's argument misconstrues the concept of "concealment" addressed in Seaberg. As the Court of Appeals subsequently explained in People v Holman (89 NY2d 876, 878), "Avoidance of an appeal of openly explored, arguable issues of law is not concealment of error for these purposes". Accordingly, defendant's valid waiver forecloses review of his suppression claim, which in any event will not warrant reversal. Concur — Rosenberger, J. P., Ellerin, Wallach and Williams, JJ.