Court Opinion

ID: 4086117
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-08 00:05:24.591359+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:55.432345
License: Public Domain

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
             Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department

544
CA 10-02493
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., PERADOTTO, SCONIERS, AND MARTOCHE, JJ.

IN THE MATTER OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
PETITIONER-RESPONDENT,

                      V                           MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

DERRICK HARLAND, RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.

CHARLES J. GREENBERG, BUFFALO, FOR RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.

ERIC T. SCHNEIDERMAN, ATTORNEY GENERAL, ALBANY (MARLENE O. TUCZINSKI
OF COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONER-RESPONDENT.

     Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Erie County (Timothy
J. Walker, A.J.), entered July 29, 2010 in a proceeding pursuant to
Mental Hygiene Law article 10. The order committed respondent to a
secure treatment facility.

     It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is
unanimously affirmed without costs.

     Memorandum: Respondent appeals from an order determining that he
is a dangerous sex offender requiring confinement pursuant to Mental
Hygiene Law article 10 and committing him to a secure treatment
facility. Contrary to respondent’s contention, we conclude that
petitioner established by clear and convincing evidence at the
dispositional hearing that he is a dangerous sex offender requiring
confinement (see § 10.03 [e]; § 10.07 [f]). Supreme Court “was ‘in
the best position to evaluate the weight and credibility of the
conflicting psychiatric testimony presented’ ” (Matter of State of New
York v Blair, 87 AD3d 1327, 1327; see Matter of State of New York v
Richard VV., 74 AD3d 1402, 1404; Matter of State of New York v Timothy
JJ., 70 AD3d 1138, 1144-1145). We see no basis upon which to disturb
the court’s determination to credit the testimony of petitioner’s
expert over that of the expert who testified on behalf of respondent
(see Matter of State of New York v Boutelle, 85 AD3d 1607, 1607; see
also Matter of State of New York v Flagg [appeal No. 2], 71 AD3d 1528,
1530).

Entered:    April 27, 2012                      Frances E. Cafarell
                                                Clerk of the Court