You are here: / / CONCLUSORY AND SPECULATIVE ALLEGATIONS PLAINTIFF WOULD NOT HAVE LOST ITS...
, ,

CONCLUSORY AND SPECULATIVE ALLEGATIONS PLAINTIFF WOULD NOT HAVE LOST ITS DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DBE) STATUS HAD DEFENDANT ATTORNEYS NOT FAILED TO FILE AN ADMINSTRATIVE APPEAL AND REQUEST A HEARING WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO SURVIVE A MOTION TO DISMISS PURSUANT TO CPLR 3211 (A) (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined the legal malpractice complaint should have been dismissed. Defendants allegedly did not pursue an administrative appeal and submitted a written response in lieu of a hearing. Plaintiff Mid City alleged the failures resulted in the termination of its status as a disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE). The Second Department held plaintiff did not demonstrate that but for the alleged legal malpractice the DBE status would not have been terminated:

… [E]ven accepting the facts alleged in the complaint as true, and according Mid City the benefit of every possible favorable inference … , the complaint failed to plead specific factual allegations demonstrating that, but for the defendants’ alleged negligence, there would have been a more favorable outcome regarding the termination of Mid City’s status as a DBE … . The allegation that Mid City lost the opportunity to pursue an administrative appeal, without any indication that the appeal would be successful, is insufficient to state a claim … . Similarly, the allegation that Mid City would have been recertified as a DBE had the defendants requested a hearing, rather than having filed a written response to the initial letter proposing termination of its status as a DBE, is speculative and conclusory … . Mid City Elec. Corp. v Peckar & Abramson, 2023 NY Slip Op 01085, Second Dept 3-1-23

Practice Point: To survive a motion to dismiss the complaint in a legal malpractice action, the plaintiff must make specific factual allegations demonstrating that but for the attorney’s negligence the outcome would have been more favorable. Conclusory or speculative “but for” allegations are not enough.

 

You might also like
A CROSS-MOTION TO DISMISS THE COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO CPLR 3215 (C) IS NOT AN APPEARANCE AND DOES NOT WAIVE THE LACK-OF-JURISDICTION DEFENSE; INFANT DEFENDANT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION WAS NOT SERVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CPLR 309; THE COMPLAINT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED FOR LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION (SECOND DEPT)
Prosecutor’s Reasons for Challenging an Hispanic Juror Were Pretextual—New Trial Ordered
MOTION TO AMEND NOTICE OF CLAIM TO CHANGE THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT, RENDERING THE NOTICE OF CLAIM TIMELY, PROPERLY GRANTED.
THE MERE DISCONTINUANCE OF THE PRIOR FORECLOSURE ACTION DID NOT DE-ACCELERATE THE MORTGAGE DEBT; EXPLICIT NOTICE OF DE-ACCELERATION IS REQUIRED EITHER IN THE MOTION TO DISCONTINUE ITSELF OR IN A SEPARATE NOTICE; THEREFORE THE INSTANT FORECLOSURE ACTION IS TIME-BARRED (SECOND DEPT).
Insufficient Proof of Value in Grand Larceny Case.
DEFENDANT PLED GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF A GRAVITY KNIFE WHICH WAS DE-CRIMINALIZED SHORTLY THEREAFTER; CONVICTION REVERSED IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE WITH THE PEOPLE’S CONSENT (SECOND DEPT).
THE AVAILABILTY OF GOVERNMENT RECORDS ON A PUBLIC WEBSITE DOES NOT SATISFY A FOIL REQUEST; HERE THERE WERE QUESTIONS OF FACT WHETHER THE VILLAGE SHOULD HAVE WORKED WITH THE PETITIONER TO IDENTIFY THE REQUESTED DOCUMENTS (SECOND DEPT).
THE COMPLAINT BY THE CONDOMINIUM BOARD OF MANAGERS AGAINST THE CONDOMINIUM MANAGING AGENT STATED DISTINCT CAUSES OF ACTION FOR BOTH BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY AND BREACH OF CONTRACT; THE LAW FIRM WHICH REPRESENTED THE MANAGING AGENT IN AN UNRELATED MATTER INVOLVING THE CONDOMINIUM SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISQUALIFIED (SECOND DEPT).

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2026 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

THE MOTION TO CHANGE VENUE WAS MADE MORE THAN 15 DAYS AFTER THE DEMAND TO CHANGE... CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON SECOND DEGREE AND CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM...