People ex rel. McCarthy v. Drennan

Philbin, J.: The relator was appointed a fireman on December 27, 1904. He was dismissed on charges March 19, 1919, his salary then being $1,800 per year, and his title, engineer of steamers. He [737] was charged with assaulting and striking his captain on January 19, 1919, in violation of section 103 of the rules and regulations of the department. The hearing took place on March 7, 1919, before a deputy commissioner assigned to hear the charges, and the relator appeared with counsel. The only witness produced to show the assault was the complainant. The relator claimed that he had acted in self-defense, and also swore that the captain had applied to him vile epithets before the assault. The only witnesses who had any personal knowledge of the occurrence were the two persons concerned. Witnesses called by the relator testified as to remarks made by the captain, tending to show that he had been the aggressor and was of a quarrelsome disposition. On the other hand, the injuries sustained by the complainant were of such a character as to indicate that they might not have been inflicted merely in self-defense. The complainant testified in detail and at great length as to the occurrence. Upon the attempt of relator’s counsel to cross-examine, he stated that on the advice of counsel he did not think there was any right to cross-examine him. The commissioner held that, it being a case for discipline, the complainant could refuse to answer. Relator’s counsel nevertheless made further efforts to cross-examine, which were followed by the same ruling. The commissioner then said that he thought, because the relator was charged with a violation of the rules and regulations of the department, and not with a felony, that he could not compel complainant to submit to cross-examination. Exceptions were duly taken to the ruling. It needs no argument to show the importance of a cross-examination in the circumstances. It was to be decided whether the relator should be expelled from the department upon practically no other proof than the testimony, unaffected.by cross-examination, of the complainant and which was no doubt influenced by a recollection of injury done him by the relator. The right to cross-examine in such a case clearly exists. (People ex rel. Fallon v. Wright, 7 App. Div. 185, 197.) The respondent asks if the relator can raise in this proceeding the question of his right to cross-examine, on account of his failure to make a motion to strike out the testimony [738] of the complainant upon refusal of the latter to submit to cross-examination. We think he can. (Fallon Case, supra.) Proceedings of the character in question are not to be viewed with the same technical scrutiny required in formal litigation in court. They are essentially disciplinary in their nature and the real question is, has the relator received a fair and impartial trial? In the present instance that must be answered in the negative. The determination of the commissioner was improper and there should be a new trial. (People ex rel. McCormack v. McClave, 29 N. Y. St. Repr. 368; affd., 121 N. Y. 710.) The determination should be reversed and a new trial granted, with costs to the relator to abide the event. Laughlin, Page and Merrell, JJ., concur; Dowling, J., dissents.