New York’s highest court, in a split decision Thursday, ruled against a restaurant customer who was accused of grabbing a steak knife and chasing an employee around the premises, saying that police translation of a witness’ statement did not have to be certified to avoid it being excluded as hearsay at the pleading stage.

A mid-level appeals court had found a certificate of translation was needed to cure a hearsay defect, but the state Court of Appeals ruled that the police officer’s translation of the employee’s narrative “did not create a level of hearsay for pleading purposes,” according to the court’s majority opinion.