Unambiguous Release Standing Alone Warrants Summary Judgment
The Second Department explained that an unambiguous release allows a judgment as a matter of law without resort to extrinsic evidence:
“[A]bsent fraudulent inducement or concealment, misrepresentation, mutual mistake or duress, a valid release that is clear and unambiguous on its face constitutes a complete bar to an action on a claim that is the subject of the release” … . “Whether the language set forth in a release unambiguously bars a particular claim is a question of law appropriately determined on a motion for summary judgment based upon the entire release and without reference to extrinsic evidence” … . Beys Specialty Inc v Euro Constr Servs Inc, 2015 NY Slip Op 01598, 2nd Dept 2-25-15