Opinion ID: 1817269
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: did the court err in overruling frank, sr.'s motion in limine to prohibit the state from calling frank, sr.'s children as witnesses?

Text: Defense counsel based their objection to the state's calling Frank, Jr. and Rico on a parent-child privilege. In support of their contention that the privilege should have been honored here, they cite People v. Fitzgerald, 101 Misc.2d 712, 422 N.Y.S.2d 309 (1979), a Westchester County court case. That court held there was a parent-child privilege arising from the right of privacy between parent and child. In it an adult son had a 15 to 20 minute conversation with his father concerning an automobile accident from which charges were pressed against the son. The privilege was upheld, not permitting the father to testify. However, the case recognized the narrow limitations in which it might be employed by stating the privilege must be mutually asserted. Additionally, the context of that case indicates the privilege there in issue was largely directed to the confidences a son or daughter might reveal to a parent in expectation of guidance through counseling or moral support. Because the factual situation is so vastly different, we do not find the case persuasive to confirming decision in this case. We do permit under certain circumstances the testimony of a child against parent or spouse against spouse, and we do not believe any privilege extends to the situation now before us either through inference or analogy. We conclude this assignment is without merit.