New York Court of Appeals

Thomas F. Smith v. County of Nassau

March 28, 197434 N.Y.2d 18

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals reversed the Appellate Division and remanded, holding that the victim’s identification did not, as a matter of law, provide reasonable cause for a warrantless arrest and that the issue of reasonable cause should be decided by a jury. The dissent argued the opposite, contending the identification gave the officer legal justification.