Case Name: Cody Brooks, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Anthony R. Brooks, Deceased, and as Guardian of Anthony C. R. Brooks, an Infant, et al., Appellants, v. County of Onondaga et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1990-11-16
Citations: 167 A.D.2d 862
Docket Number: 
Parties: Cody Brooks, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Anthony R. Brooks, Deceased, and as Guardian of Anthony C. R. Brooks, an Infant, et al., Appellants, v County of Onondaga et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 167
Pages: 862–862

Head Matter:
Cody Brooks, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Anthony R. Brooks, Deceased, and as Guardian of Anthony C. R. Brooks, an Infant, et al., Appellants, v County of Onondaga et al., Respondents.

Opinion:
Order and judgment unanimously affirmed without costs. Memorandum: We affirm for reasons stated in the memorandum decision at Supreme Court, Onondaga County, Reagan, J. We add only that the amendment to article XIII, § 13 (a) of the NY Constitution, which, effective January 1, 1990, deleted therefrom the sentence "But the county shall never be made responsible for the acts of the sheriff", should not be given retroactive effect. It is the general rule of construction that "constitutional provisions are to be construed as prospective only, unless a clear expression of intent to the contrary is found" (Matter of Ayman v Teachers' Retirement Bd., 9 NY2d 119, 125). Here, there is no indication in the legislative history of the amendment or in the amendment itself indicating that the amendment should be retroactively applied. (Appeal from order and judgment of Supreme Court, Onondaga County, Reagan, J.— summary judgment.) Present—Dillon, P. J., Callahan, Green, Pine and Balio, JJ.