Pubdate: Wed, 10 May 2000
Source: New York Daily News (NY)
Copyright: 2000 Daily News, L.P.
Contact:  450 W. 33rd St., New York, N.Y. 10001
Website: http://www.nydailynews.com/
Forum: http://www.nydailynews.com/manual/news/e_the_people/e_the_people.htm
Author: Salvatore Arena

JUDGE HITS RUDY ON DORISMOND DRUG TEST LEAK

A state judge blasted Mayor Giuliani yesterday for blabbing to the media
about marijuana traces found in the body of Patrick Dorismond, the unarmed
black man killed by an undercover cop March 16.

Ruling in a suit filed by Dorismond's mother, Manhattan Supreme Court
Justice Louise Gruner Gans said Marie Dorismond could seek the release of
the toxicology findings because they already are so widely known. She said
giving the family the report would not damage a grand jury investigation
into the death.

"The results of the toxicology report were leaked to the public anonymously
and then confirmed and publicly discussed by the mayor and repeatedly quoted
by the media," Gans said in a 10-page decision.

"The mayor in his official capacity permitted the wide dissemination of the
toxicology results into the public domain," she added. "Moreover, the
mayor's discussion of its content made the unconfirmed report credible."

But the judge denied Marie Dorismond's request for a copy of the full
autopsy report because her son's death is still under investigation.

Dorismond, a 26-year-old guard, was shot to death outside a midtown
Manhattan bar during an altercation with police.

"Patrick's family is quite obviously upset and offended by the mayor's
action in tarnishing his name unjustly," said Derek Sells, an attorney for
Marie Dorismond.

A mayoral spokesman declined comment on the ruling, as did Manhattan
District Attorney Robert Morgenthau's office, which fought the release of
the autopsy results.

Sells said his client has formally notified the city that she intends to
file a wrongful death suit.
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