Sullivan County and Manager Found in Criminal Contempt Over Care Centre Transfers
A New York Supreme Court justice found Sullivan County and its manager in criminal contempt for transferring 27 residents from an Adult Care Centre in violation of a court injunction.
Sullivan County held in criminal contempt over unlawful transfer of care home residents
State Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bryant, sitting in Kingston, found Sullivan County and its county manager in criminal contempt of court late Thursday, midhudsonnews.com reports. The ruling followed violations of an injunction Bryant had issued on 16 September and reaffirmed on 21 September, which barred the transfer of residents from the county's Adult Care Centre in Liberty.
After hearing testimony from eight witnesses — seven called by petitioners represented by attorney Michael Sussman of Goshen — the court concluded that the county had continued to move residents out of the facility despite the active court order. Between 17 September and 8 October, 27 residents were transferred out of the Care Centre, effectively emptying it.
Over the same period, the facility cut its workforce by roughly half, even though the court had also stayed planned staff layoffs. Three county officials confirmed their own conduct during proceedings. Testimony revealed that a facility administrator had developed a new form designed to transfer responsibility for the moves from the county to residents or their families.
The court determined that rather than informing residents of their right to remain under the court-ordered stay, county officials continued to pressure them to leave. That conduct, the court reasoned, knowingly deprived residents of the rights the injunction was meant to protect.
Sussman, whose firm is based in Goshen, issued a statement following the ruling. "The rule of law protects all of us and its erosion harms each of us," he said. "A party which objects to a court's ruling can appeal, but it cannot snub its nose at a court order without seriously compromising the rule of law." He added that when government behaves in such a manner, it "doubly corrodes our legal system," and thanked county employees who came forward with evidence as well as other witnesses who were subsequently barred from contact with residents by county officials.
Sentencing proceedings have been scheduled for 24 November 2026, also in Kingston.
Source: Google News JM — Kingston