PEOPLE v. YOUNG (2012)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Ingram, J.), rendered October 4, 2010, convicting him of robbery in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is modified, on the law, by reducing the defendant's conviction of robbery in the second degree under the first count of the indictment to robbery in the third degree, and vacating the sentence imposed under the first count of the indictment; as so modified, the judgment is affirmed, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for resentencing on the conviction of robbery in the third degree.

Contrary to the defendant's contention, the Supreme Court did not improperly curtail the right of his counsel to participate in the jury selection process (see CPL 270.15[1]; see also People v. Jean, 75 N.Y.2d 744, 551 N.Y.S.2d 889, 551 N.E.2d 90; People v. Thompson, 45 A.D.3d 876, 877, 847 N.Y.S.2d 114).

However, we agree with the defendant that the People failed to present legally sufficient evidence of “physical injury” to sustain his conviction of robbery in the second degree (see Penal Law § 160.10[2][a]; People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932). “Physical injury” is defined as “impairment of physical condition or substantial pain” (Penal Law § 10.00[9] ). Although the question of whether physical injury has been established is generally for the jury to decide, “there is an objective level ․ below which the question is one of law” (Matter of Philip A., 49 N.Y.2d 198, 200, 424 N.Y.S.2d 418, 400 N.E.2d 358).

The complainant testified, inter alia, that during the subject incident, the defendant either “punched” or “pushed” her, causing her to fall to the ground. The complainant went to a hospital after the incident and underwent X-rays, but she did not receive treatment, apart from receiving Tylenol. The complainant testified that after this incident, she experienced generalized pain and soreness in her neck, arms, legs, and feet. The complainant did not testify to the degree or duration of the pain, other than generally describing the pain as having “intensified” after she returned to work one week after the incident.

Under these circumstances, there was insufficient evidence from which a jury could infer that the complainant suffered substantial pain or impairment of physical condition as a result of the subject incident (see Matter of Philip A., 49 N.Y.2d at 200, 424 N.Y.S.2d 418, 400 N.E.2d 358; People v. Bedford, 95 A.D.3d 1226, 944 N.Y.S.2d 638, lv denied 19 N.Y.3d 944, 950 N.Y.S.2d 506, 973 N.E.2d 1280; People v. Taylor, 83 A.D.3d 1105, 1106, 921 N.Y.S.2d 553; People v. Pierrot, 31 A.D.3d 582, 817 N.Y.S.2d 524; People v. Almonte, 23 A.D.3d 392, 393–394, 806 N.Y.S.2d 95). Accordingly, the defendant's conviction of robbery in the second degree under the first count of the indictment must be reduced to the lesser-included offense of robbery in the third degree (see Penal Law §§ 160.10[2][a]; 160.05), and the matter must be remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for resentencing on the conviction of robbery in the third degree.

In light of our determination, we need not reach the defendant's remaining contention.