RyeCity REVIEW THE
March 13, 2020 | Vol. 7, Number 61 | www.ryecityreview.com
Gaynor noncompliant with deposition demands
Court documents show that on Feb. 25, alleged sexual abuser Edwin Gaynor indicated that he would not show to up be deposed by counsel this month. A court ruling may compel his testimony.
By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor
CLASS A CHAMPS The Rye Garnets celebrate their Section I title win on March 8 after beating Poughkeepsie 74-55 at the Westchester County Center.This is the Garnets’ first section title since 1989. For story, see page 16. Photo/Mike Smith
Coronvirus cases grow; Containment zone set up in New Rochelle As of press time on March Wednesday, March 11, there were 13 new confirmed positive cases of the novel coronavirus in Westchester County, bringing the total count to 212 in New York. At his daily press briefing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo offered an update of the virus throughout the state, which has continued to grow leading to the second most confirmed cases of any state, behind only Washington, which has reported 279 cases. Cuomo noted that there have been 24 deaths in Washington as opposed to zero in New York. He added that of the 212 positive coronavirus cases, only 32 are currently hospitalized. Among the latest confirmed cases in Westchester was a lawyer who practiced at the Westches-
ter County Courthouse in White Plains, leading to the closure of six courtrooms for sanitizing. Cuomo said that employees and others that may have had contact with the attorney have entered a precautionary quarantine. The virus was first found in the county after a New Rochelle man was diagnosed with it. The man, who is in his 50s with an underlying respiratory illness, remains in critical condition in a hospital in Manhattan after first being seen at New York-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville. That case led to a clustering of confirmed cases in the area surrounding his residence, ultimately leading Cuomo to setup a containment zone, beginning on Thursday, March 12, for portions of the city of New Rochelle
as well as sections of Eastchester and Tuckahoe considered the highest impacted areas of the region. The containment zone will continue the recent the closures of schools, houses of worship and other large gathering facilities. During this two-week period, culminating on March 25,
the National Guard will be deployed to the area in an effort to aid in a full-scale cleaning and other community support efforts. A state Health Department command post and Emergency Operations Center has been setup in VIRUS continued on page 6
After accused sexual abuser Edwin “Ted” Gaynor announced his intentions to skip a court-ordered deposition last month, a March 9 ruling by state Supreme Court Associate Justice Steven M. Jaeger could put Gaynor’s testimony back on the table. Jaeger’s decision gives Gaynor, 84, until March 17 to show cause as to why he should not be compelled to give testimony in his own defense, signaling the latest chapter in the ongoing abuse case against the Ossining resident. Gaynor is the defendant in a lawsuit pursued under New York State’s Child’s Victim Act that alleges the former teacher and coach at Scarsdale’s Immaculate Heart of Mary Church abused 15 victims over the course of his decades-long employment at various schools operating under the purview of the Archdiocese of New York. Both IHM and the Archdiocese are also named as defendants in the suit. On Feb. 14, Jaeger denied a motion by Gaynor’s co-defendants that claimed the former teacher was not mentally competent to speak on his own behalf, and ruled that his deposition was to take place no later than March 27. However, on Feb. 25, Gaynor wrote a letter to the law offices of Lowey Dannenberg, P.C—which
is representing the plaintiffs— stating that his various physical ailments will prevent him from complying with the judge’s order. “In the last 22 days, I have needed an average of more than 18 hours a day/night in bed . . . I have had to neglect some very important things and my apartment is a mess because of my lack of time,” Gaynor wrote. “I want to respond to each accusation, but as you know I’m having trouble keeping up with that. However, I’m the only one who is able to do it.” Gaynor previously admitted to molesting two of the defendants in similar hand-written letters to the law firm but denied several other charges. Attorneys for the plaintiffs petitioned the court on March 6, writing that “Defendant Gaynor’s February 25 letter further supports Plaintiff’s claim that Gaynor has no intention of appearing for his duly noted deposition and that an order compelling him to appear is necessary and/or an order holding Gaynor in contempt.” Jaeger’s order to compel Gaynor’s deposition stated that if the defendant is unable to provide the court with substantial evidence of his inability to provide testimony by March 17, failure to appear for a subsequent March 26 deposition could result in Gaynor being held in contempt of court. CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com