A woman sued under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, claiming Bill Cosby assaulted her in the 1980s and that producer Carsey-Werner was negligent in hiring and supervision. The First Department dismissed the negligent hiring claim for lack of a specific link between the company’s actions or resources and the off‑premises assaults, but affirmed extra time for service of process. The ruling confirms the ASA doesn’t change service rules and that employer liability requires concrete facts tying the employer to the harm.

A defendant who pled guilty to weapon possession challenged his probation terms and New York’s firearm licensing rules. The First Department affirmed the conviction and most probation conditions, rejected the Second Amendment challenge, and struck the requirement to pay mandatory surcharges and fees as a probation condition. It matters because defendants can challenge the licensing scheme without applying, but rehab-focused conditions stand and probation cannot hinge on paying fees.

The case challenged a judge’s decision to raise a sex offender’s risk level above what the Board and prosecutors recommended. The First Department reversed and set the defendant at level one because there was no clear, convincing proof of any aggravating factor beyond what the SORA Guidelines already cover. It confirms that judges may increase risk levels only with strong proof of extra aggravating facts, and may raise the issue on their own only if the defendant gets a meaningful chance to respond.