Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v. Larry Benthall, Respondent
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1985-05-30
Citations: 65 N.Y. 679
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v Larry Benthall, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 65
Pages: 679–681

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v Larry Benthall, Respondent.
Argued April 26, 1985;
decided May 30, 1985
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Robert M. Morgenthau, District Attorney (Ronald G. Blum and Robert M. Pitler of counsel), for appellant.
Philip L. Tomich for respondent.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed. The finding of the courts below that the statements in question were not sufficiently attenuated from the initial unlawful search has support in the record and thus presents a mixed question of law and fact beyond our review (see, People v Van Luven, 64 NY2d 625, 627). In addition, while the People contend that the police officers' good faith should have been taken into account in determining the legality of this pr e-Payton search (Payton v New York, 445 US 573), there was no factual basis for such a conclusion.
Chief Judge Wachtler and Judges Jasen, Meyer, Simons and Kaye concur; Judges Alexander and Titone taking no part.
Order affirmed in a memorandum.