Case Citation
Legal Case Name

PEOPLE v. HANEY Case Brief

Court of Appeals of the State of New York1972
30 N.Y.2d 328 Criminal Law Torts

Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs

Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.

Adaptive Case Views

Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.

Exam-Ready IRAC Format

We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.

Complex Cases, Clarified

We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.

Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: A driver, speeding and running a red light, killed a pedestrian. The court reinstated his indictment for criminally negligent homicide, finding his conduct could constitute a “gross deviation” from the standard of care, not just ordinary negligence.

Legal Significance: This case clarifies the mens rea for criminally negligent homicide in New York, distinguishing it from recklessness and ordinary civil negligence by focusing on the failure to perceive a “substantial and unjustifiable risk” that constitutes a “gross deviation” from a reasonable person’s standard of care.

PEOPLE v. HANEY Law School Study Guide

Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.

Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

The defendant, Booker Haney, was indicted for criminally negligent homicide after his vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian, Angela Palazzo. Grand Jury testimony established that Palazzo was crossing an intersection in a crosswalk with the traffic signal in her favor. An eyewitness testified that the defendant’s car was “coming fast” and did not brake or sound a horn before impact. An accident investigator determined from extensive skid marks that the defendant’s vehicle was traveling at least 52 miles per hour before it ultimately crashed into a utility pole, 100 feet past where the victim’s body was found. The indictment alleged the defendant drove at a high rate of speed and failed to stop for a red light. After his arrest, the defendant repeatedly stated, “I didn’t mean to hit her.” The trial court dismissed the indictment for insufficient evidence, finding the conduct amounted only to civil negligence. The Appellate Division affirmed, and the People appealed.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Was the evidence of the defendant’s excessive speed and failure to obey a traffic signal legally sufficient to support a grand jury indictment for criminally negligent homicide by demonstrating a failure to perceive a risk that constituted a gross deviation from the standard of care?

Yes. The order dismissing the indictment is reversed. The evidence of the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehend

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

IRAC Legal Analysis

Premium Feature Unlock

Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades

IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.

Legal Issue

Was the evidence of the defendant’s excessive speed and failure to obey a traffic signal legally sufficient to support a grand jury indictment for criminally negligent homicide by demonstrating a failure to perceive a risk that constituted a gross deviation from the standard of care?

Conclusion

This case establishes that a combination of traffic law violations, such as Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fug

Legal Rule

Under New York Penal Law § 125.10 and § 15.05(4), a person Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehende

Legal Analysis

The Court of Appeals analyzed the statutory distinction between recklessness and criminal Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • Criminal negligence requires a **failure to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla par

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

The law is reason, free from passion.

✨ Enjoy an ad-free experience with LSD+