The People of the State of New York v. Morgan Goodman

Summary

The Court affirmed the Appellate Division’s judgment upholding the larceny conviction, holding that collateral estoppel does not bar the introduction of evidentiary facts—such as the homicide, the defendant’s intent to kill, and blood‑stained clothing—in a subsequent prosecution after an acquittal on murder. The Court reasoned that only ultimate facts are preclusive, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the evidence. Justice Meyer’s dissent argued that the evidentiary‑fact rule should apply and that the evidence should have been excluded, urging reversal.