THE DEFENDANT INTERPOSED COUNTERCLAIMS OF AN EQUITABLE NATURE AND THEREBY WAIVED A JURY TRIAL ON ALL CAUSES OF ACTION (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the defendant’s making equitable counterclaims waived a jury trial on all causes of action:
Where, as here, a defendant interposes counterclaims of an equitable nature related to a cause of action asserted in the complaint, the defendant waives a jury trial on all causes of action, whether legal or equitable in nature … . Accordingly, the Supreme Court should have granted the plaintiff’s motion to strike the defendant’s demand for a jury trial. … . Conwell Props., Inc. v DAG Rte. Six, LLC, 2022 NY Slip Op 06785, Second Dept 11-30-22
Practice Point: Where a defendant interposes counterclaims which are equitable in nature, the defendant waives a jury trial on all causes of action.