Opinion ID: 4442168
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Assault in the Third Degree

Text: Under New York law, a person is guilty of third-degree assault “when . . . [w]ith intent to cause physical injury to another person, he causes such injury to such person or to a third person.” N.Y. Penal Law § 120.00(1). “Physical injury” is defined as “impairment of physical condition or substantial pain.” N.Y. Penal Law § 10.00(9). The only question raised on appeal is whether McCourty caused “substantial pain.” He did. While “slight or trivial pain” is insufficient to meet the “substantial pain” threshold, the “[p]ain need not, however, be severe or intense to be substantial.” People v. Chiddick, 8 N.Y.3d 445, 447 (2007). “Each case ultimately turns upon the facts unique thereto, with a variety of relevant factors, including, among others, the injury viewed objectively, the victim’s subjective 5 description of the injury and her pain, and whether the victim sought medical treatment.” People v. Rivera, 42 A.D.3d 587, 588 (3d Dep’t 2007). Perhaps the most important factual aspect to support a finding of substantial pain is the injury the defendant inflicted, viewed objectively. Chiddick, 8 N.Y.3d at 447. A punch to the face—even one—is “an experience that would normally be expected to bring with it more than a little pain.” Id. Several repeated punches to the face and being forcibly removed from a car, viewed objectively, would cause substantial pain. Hospital records reflect that the victim had a facial contusion and swelling on the right side of her face, and the responding officer observed her injuries, which showed bruising on K.B.’s face. The district court did not err, much less abuse its discretion, in finding by a preponderance of the evidence that McCourty caused substantial pain.