As reported by Luiza Oleszczuk of The Christian Post, New York City authorities will not disclose the cause of death for Zachery Tims, the founding pastor of New Destiny Christian Center, until a court decision is made regarding a challenge from Tims’ mother against the NYC medical examiner’s longstanding policy of making such information available to the public.
At the request of the Hon. Cynthia S. Kern, Ave Maria Brennan, Senior Counsel with the City’s Administrative Law Department agreed that the medical examiner’s office would refrain from disclosing the cause and manner of Tims’ death until a decision had been reached.
In a hearing held in Kern’s chambers Wednesday morning in the New York State Supreme Court in lower Manhattan, attorney Ricardo E. Oquendo, Esq. and Brennan made their arguments concerning the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner’s decades-old practice of publicly disclosing the cause of death of individuals.
The City was sued on Oct. 7 by the pastor’s mother, who is the representative of Tims’ estate. Madeline Tims has legally challenged the medical examiners’ right to disclose such information, a practice that is neither expressly provided for nor prohibited by New York legislation, as was confirmed by both attorneys Wednesday.
“Nowhere is it written that the medical examiner is permitted or not permitted from disclosing cause of death upon public inquiry,” Brennan said in court.
Kern is to decide whether Madeline Tims has grounds to challenge the procedure the city has been practicing for years. Until that decision is made, the public will not be informed about the cause of death, it was agreed.
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OMG !!
November 30, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Zackery Tims ministry has Blessed me beyond words over the years. May God rest his soul ! It’s NOBody’s business how he died !!! Leave the family and friends alone to grieve their loss. Have some Respect !! God Bless his family and friends and I pray I see him in Heaven one day. God is Good and His Mercy edureth forever. Amen !
Don
December 10, 2011 at 10:12 PM
I respect the pastor family for wanting to keep his death a secret, but at the same time we should be told as a warning to pastor, u are not above God and he will not be mock, what is done in the dark will some how come to light.SELAH
Mike Jones
December 2, 2011 at 2:43 PM
^^Preach^^
littlek
December 7, 2011 at 12:15 PM
What ever happened should be known. As Preachers of the Gospel of God. We should be held accountable. That’s what’s wrong now, we want to get sentimental. Yes, may God comfort, but it is what it is. You can run, but you can’t HIDE!
RW Woods
December 14, 2011 at 10:59 AM
It doesn’t matter what the cause of death, because when the soul leaves this earth—it can’t repent or ask for God’s forgiveness– If the death was or wasn’t caused by an act of sin—it is final.
The decision should remain dead with the body—it will not benefit anyone other than those who sinful souls—who haven’t found GOD! The purpose of the autopsy was to determine if the laws of the State have been violated—according to the report they weren’t. The other purpose is to give the family closure—it apparently has—leave the report in the eyes of the family and GOD who has already made the final judgment—regarding Rev. Tims. Let’s move own sinners and seek GOD and not autopsies of the DEAD!