Rubenfeld v. Appelman, 230 A.D.2d 911 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996). · Go Syfert
Rubenfeld v. Appelman, 230 A.D.2d 911 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
23 citation events (21 in the last 25 years) across 2 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Matter of Gentil v. Margulis (nyappdiv, 2014-09-24)
Treatment trajectory · 1997 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1997 2011 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 10 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Gentil v. Margulis
N.Y. App. Div. · 2014 · confidence medium
However, the right to have one’s case decided by the first empaneled jury is not absolute, and a mistrial granted as the product of manifest necessity will not bar a retrial (see Matter of Davis v Brown, 87 NY2d at 630 ; Matter of Taylor v Dowling, 108 AD3d at 568 ; Matter of Rubenfeld v Appelman, 230 AD2d 911, 911 [1996]). “ ‘Manifest necessity’ means ‘a high degree of necessity’; ‘the reasons underlying the grant of a mistrial must be necessitous, actual and substantial’ ” (Matter of Taylor v Dowling, 108 AD3d at 568 , quoting Matter of Cohen v Lotto, 19 AD3d 485, 486 [2005…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Taylor v. Dowling
N.Y. App. Div. · 2013 · confidence medium
“However, the right to have one’s case decided by the first empaneled jury is not absolute, and a mistrial granted as the product of manifest necessity will not bar a retrial” (Matter of Rubenfeld v Appelman, 230 AD2d 911, 911 [1996]; see Matter of Davis v Brown, 87 NY2d at 630 ; Matter of Enright v Siedlecki, 59 NY2d at 199-200 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Smith v. Brown
N.Y. App. Div. · 2013 · confidence medium
Under the circum stances presented, as urged by defense counsel, it would have been appropriate to poll the remainder of the jurors to ascertain whether they could render an impartial verdict (see Matter of Morris v Livote, 105 AD3d 43 [2013]; Matter of Rubenfeld v Appelman, 230 AD2d 911, 912 [1996]; see generally Matter of Robles v Bamberger, 219 AD2d 243, 246 [1996]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Smith v. Brown
N.Y. App. Div. · 2013 · confidence medium
Under the circum stances presented, as urged by defense counsel, it would have been appropriate to poll the remainder of the jurors to ascertain whether they could render an impartial verdict (see Matter of Morris v Livote, 105 AD3d 43 [2013]; Matter of Rubenfeld v Appelman, 230 AD2d 911, 912 [1996]; see generally Matter of Robles v Bamberger, 219 AD2d 243, 246 [1996]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Morris v. Livote
N.Y. App. Div. · 2013 · confidence medium
Where, as happened here, the People move for a mistrial because of defense counsel’s improper questioning of a witness or statements before the jury, such misconduct does not manifestly necessitate a mistrial unless counsel’s misconduct was egregious and substantially and irreparably prejudiced the People’s case (see Matter of Rubenfeld v Appelman, 230 AD2d 911, 912 [2d Dept 1996] [where defense counsel disregarded the court’s instructions during summation, interrupted the court, and displayed “(an) argumentative manner” and “overzealous advocacy,” court abused its discretion b…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Morris v. Livote
N.Y. App. Div. · 2013 · confidence medium
Where, as happened here, the People move for a mistrial because of defense counsel’s improper questioning of a witness or statements before the jury, such misconduct does not manifestly necessitate a mistrial unless counsel’s misconduct was egregious and substantially and irreparably prejudiced the People’s case (see Matter of Rubenfeld v Appelman, 230 AD2d 911, 912 [2d Dept 1996] [where defense counsel disregarded the court’s instructions during summation, interrupted the court, and displayed “(an) argumentative manner” and “overzealous advocacy,” court abused its discretion b…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rivera v. Firetog
N.Y. App. Div. · 2007 · confidence medium
It is also “indispensibly necessary that it appear that prior to declaring such a mistrial, the trial Judge has properly explored the appropriate alternatives, and that there is a sufficient basis in the record for a mistrial” (Matter of Rubenfeld v Appelman, 230 AD2d 911, 912 [1996] [internal quotation marks omitted]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Pronti v. Allen
N.Y. App. Div. · 2004 · confidence medium
Even if the reasons for granting a mistrial are deemed actual and substantial, the trial court must explore all appropriate alternatives prior to granting a mistrial (see Matter of Maynard v Wait, supra at 854; Matter of Rubenfeld v Appelman, 230 AD2d 911, 912 [1996]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Kelly
Pa. Super. Ct. · 2002 · confidence medium
Walters v. Appelman, 230 A.D.2d 911, 912 , 646 N.Y.S.2d 879, 881 (1996) (instead of granting a mistrial sua sponte after the trial court became irritated with defense counsel, the trial court could have called a side bar and imposed sanctions or threatened to punish defense counsel for contempt); United States v. Bristol, 325 A.2d 183 , 187 n. 4 (D.C.1974) (where counsel’s trial conduct bordered on being obnoxious and was undoubtedly frustrating to the trial court, other means of censure and discipline other than mistrial were available to the court; consequently, sua sponte mistrial was not…
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Matter of Shipmon v. Moran
N.Y. App. Div. · 2024 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Under the circumstances presented, as urged by defense counsel, "it would have been appropriate to poll [*3]the remainder of the jurors to ascertain whether they could render an impartial verdict" ( Smith , 176 AD3d at 1116; see Matter of Morris v Livote , 105 AD3d 43, 48 [1st Dept 2013]; see also Matter of Rubenfeld v Appelman , 230 AD2d 911, 912 [2d Dept 1996]).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
In the Matter of Paul Rubenfeld, on Behalf of Lorenzo Walters
v.
Pearl Appelman
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Aug 26, 1996.
230 A.D.2d 911
1996 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 8710
Bracken, Goldstein, Krausman, Luciano.
Cited by 15 opinions  |  Published

—Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to prohibit the respondents from retrying the defendant under Queens County Indictment No. N11743/95 on the ground that retrial would violate his right not to be twice placed in jeopardy for the same offense.

Upon the petition, the papers filed in support of the proceeding, and the papers filed in opposition thereto, it is

Adjudged that the petition is granted, on the law, without costs or disbursements, and the People are prohibited from retrying the defendant on Queens County Indictment No. N11743/95.

At the conclusion of defense counsel’s summation to the jury during the trial of Lorenzo Walters under Queens County Indictment No. N11743/95, the Supreme Court sua sponte declared a mistrial, over defense counsel’s objection, stating that defense counsel had so misstated the evidence during his summation, that the jurors could no longer be impartial.

Under the protection of the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the State and Federal Constitutions, a defendant may not be twice put in jeopardy of criminal prosecution for the same offense (see, NY Const, art I, § 6; US Const 5th Amend; Matter of Davis v Brown, 87 NY2d 626). When a mistrial is granted without the consent and over the objection of the defendant, double jeopardy will, as a general rule, bar retrial (see, Matter of Davis v Brown, supra; Matter of Enright v Siedlecki, 59 NY2d 195, 199-200; Matter of Cohen v Hanophy, 210 AD2d 327). However, the right to have one’s case decided by the first empaneled jury is not absolute, and a mistrial granted as the product of manifest necessity will not bar a retrial (see, Matter of Davis v Brown, supra; Matter of Enright v Siedlecki, supra; cf., CPL 280.10 [2], [3]; see also, People v Ferguson, 67 NY2d 383, 388; Matter of Colcloughley v Johnson, 115 AD2d 58, 61).

[*912] "Given that the Trial Judge is uniquely situated to evaluate whether a mistrial is appropriate, deference is [generally] accorded to [a trial court’s] discretionary determination” (Matter of Robles v Bamberger, 219 AD2d 243, 246, citing People v Michael, 48 NY2d 1, 9; see also, People v Beckum, 156 AD2d 571). However, it is also " 'indispensibly necessary that it appear that prior to declaring such a mistrial, "the trial Judge has properly explored the appropriate alternatives, and that there is a sufficient basis in the record for a mistrial” ’ ” (Matter of Robles v Bamberger, supra, at 246, quoting dissent of Alexander, J., in Matter of Zeigler v Morgenthau, 99 AD2d 989, 991, revd on dissent of Alexander, J., 64 NY2d 932, 933, quoting Hall v Potoker, 49 NY2d 501, 505; see also, People v Beckum, supra, at 572). The People have the burden of demonstrating that the mistrial declaration was manifestly necessary or that it was "physically impossible to proceed with the trial in conformity with law” (see, CPL 280.10 [2], [3]; Matter of Colcloughley v Johnson, supra, at 61; Matter of Dickson v Morgenthau, 102 AD2d 168, 171).

In this case, the Supreme Court abused its discretion in abruptly declaring a mistrial and the People have not met their burden of demonstrating that the declaration of a mistrial was manifestly necessary. The record reveals that the Supreme Court became irritated with defense counsel’s overzealous advocacy, his interruptions, his argumentative manner, and his disregard of court instructions during his summation. To curb such behavior, the Supreme Court could have called a sidebar and imposed sanctions or threatened to punish defense counsel for contempt committed during his summation.

Instead, the Supreme Court continuously gave curative instructions during defense counsel’s summation and then abruptly declared a mistrial, without first determining that there was a manifest necessity for such a course of action, without weighing the defendant’s valued right to have his trial completed by a particular jury, and without ascertaining whether a further curative instruction would have been an appropriate alternative. Moreover, the Supreme Court never considered whether the curative instructions it had already given to the jury during defense counsel’s summation had cured any improprieties. Accordingly, there is an insufficient basis in the record for the declaration of a mistrial (see, Matter of Colcloughley v Johnson, supra, at 61-62; People v Mallette, 59 AD2d 199, 202).

Bracken, J. P., Krausman, Goldstein and Luciano, JJ., concur.