The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Eduardo Palacios, Defendant-Appellant. (2025)

Per Curiam.

Judgment of conviction (Mary V. Rosado, J.), rendered April 18, 2016, affirmed.

Defendant was convicted, after a jury trial, of driving while intoxicated (see Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192 [3]) and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting (see Vehicle and Traffic Law § 600 [1] [a]). Although not challenged by defendant, we find that the verdict was supported by legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 348-349 [2007]). There is no basis for disturbing the jury's credibility determinations. An eyewitness testified that defendant crashed his vehicle into the witness's vehicle, and then fled the scene on foot, while staggering and appearing disoriented. The police officers' testimony demonstrated that when they encountered defendant shortly thereafter, he exhibited classic signs of intoxication, such as watery and bloodshot eyes, an unsteady gait, and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Defendant admitted to the officers that he had been drinking and that he felt "twisted"; and they recovered an open bottle of vodka from inside his vehicle. Defendant also refused to take a breath test (see People v Varriale, 238 AD2d 208 [1997]).

A trial court has great latitude in limiting the scope and duration of counsel's closing statements (see Herring v New York, 422 US 853, 862 [1975]; People v Brown, 136 AD2d 1, 16 [1988], lv denied 72 NY2d 857 [1988], cert denied 488 US 897 [1988]) and, in this case, the trial court did not improvidently exercise its discretion. During defense counsel's summation, the court inquired "is 10 more minutes sufficient time, or do you need more?" Counsel requested a "little more." Subsequently, the court stated "counsel please start wrapping up" and later stated "Counsel, five minutes." Defense counsel then completed summation.

Here, the court's limitation, which was made after first inquiring about how much more time counsel needed to complete summation and then, after warning counsel to "start wrapping up," was a sound exercise of discretion (see People v Love, 244 AD2d 431, 431 [1997], lv denied 91 NY2d 876 [1997]; People v Brown, 136 AD2d at 16-17). People v Gibian (76 AD3d 583, 588 [2010], lv denied 15 NY3d 920 [2010]), heavily relied upon by defendant, which involved a "sudden midclosing imposition of a time limit" on summation, without any advance warning of any limit, is therefore distinguishable.

In any event, even assuming error, it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt in view of the overwhelming evidence of defendant's guilt (People v Crimmins, 36 NY2d 230, 241-242 [1975]).

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.

I concur I concur I concur

Decision Date: March 20, 2025