Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Thomas THOMPSON, appellant.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Suffolk County (Gazzillo, J.), rendered April 25, 2005, convicting him of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree (four counts), upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, and the matter is remitted to the County Court, Suffolk County, for further proceedings pursuant to CPL 460.50(5).
The defendant's challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence is unpreserved for appellate review since the perfunctory and general motion to dismiss made at the close of the People's case failed to specify any grounds for dismissal (see CPL 470.05[2]; People v. Gray, 86 N.Y.2d 10, 629 N.Y.S.2d 173, 652 N.E.2d 919; People v. Leon, 19 A.D.3d 509, 509-510, 797 N.Y.S.2d 525, affd. 7 N.Y.3d 109, 817 N.Y.S.2d 619, 850 N.E.2d 666; People v. Alexander, 12 A.D.3d 524, 783 N.Y.S.2d 867). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt of four counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree (see Penal Law § 175.35) beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant's intent to defraud the New York State Insurance Fund (hereinafter SIF) could be inferred from his failure to disclose his work for his own business on questionnaire forms which he was periodically required to fill out and file with SIF as a condition for receiving continued benefits from SIF (see People v. Bracey, 41 N.Y.2d 296, 392 N.Y.S.2d 412, 360 N.E.2d 1094; People v. Scutt, 19 A.D.3d 1131, 1132, 796 N.Y.S.2d 816; People v. Hure, 16 A.D.3d 774, 775, 790 N.Y.S.2d 591). Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15 [5] ).
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: October 17, 2006
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)