Opinion ID: 1315981
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Jury Charge, Conviction, and Post-Trial Proceedings

Text: At the close of trial, defense counsel asked that the jury charge include references to both the public charge regulation and the unacceptable practices regulation. The prosecution argued that mention of the unacceptable practices regulation was redundant. Over Rubin's objection, the trial court did not mention the unacceptable practices regulation in the jury charge. The jury convicted Rubin on all nine counts. The trial judge sentenced Rubin to concurrent prison terms of 31/3 to 10 years on the grand larceny count and 11/3 to 10 years on the first seven false instrument counts, along with a consecutive prison term of 11/3 to 4 years on the last false instrument count, Count Nine. The judge ordered Rubin to pay restitution of $620,237.80 plus $50,000 in fines. The Supreme Court, Appellate Division reversed Rubin's conviction as to Counts One through Seven. People v. Rubin, 271 A.D.2d 759, 706 N.Y.S.2d 225 (3d Dept. 2000). In a companion case decided the same day, the Appellate Division held that the public charge regulation was unconstitutionally vague because it did not define the terms rate and general public. Ulster Home Care Inc. v. Vacco, 268 A.D.2d 59, 706 N.Y.S.2d 739, 742-43 (3d Dept. 2000). The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded. It reasoned that the vagueness challenge should have been addressed to the particular facts of Rubin's case, People v. Rubin, 96 N.Y.2d 548, 731 N.Y.S.2d 908, 757 N.E.2d 762, 763 (N.Y.2001), and that in any event, the terms rate and general public were not so vague that [they] could not be understood by a person of ordinary intelligence or could be arbitrarily enforced, Ulster Home Care, Inc. v. Vacco, 96 N.Y.2d 505, 731 N.Y.S.2d 910, 757 N.E.2d 764, 767 (2001). The court found that there was evidence that Rubin understood the public charge regulation and yet created schemes to conceal his violation of it. Rubin, 731 N.Y.S.2d 908, 757 N.E.2d at 763. It also held that the regulation was used only to prove the manner in which Rubin had committed larceny and fraud. Id. at 764. On remand, the Appellate Division affirmed Rubin's conviction in full. People v. Rubin, 286 A.D.2d 555, 729 N.Y.S.2d 561 (3d Dept.2001). Rubin filed a timely petition for habeas corpus in the Northern District of New York. Magistrate Judge Peebles recommended that the petition be granted as to Counts Two and Threethe first two false statement countsbecause the certificates on which those counts were based lacked the boilerplate statement that the signer had furnished services in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. Rubin v. Garvin, No. 02-CV-0639 (NAM/DEP), 2005 WL 3827593, at -19 (N.D.N.Y. Dec.15, 2005). He recommended that the petition be otherwise denied. The district court accepted the report and recommendation in full. It granted Rubin a certificate of appealability on one issue, vagueness. Rubin was released from prison while his habeas petition was under consideration by the district court, and is currently on parole.