PLANTIFF HAD NOT INFORMED THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OF THIS PERSONAL INJURY CAUSE OF ACTION; DEFENDANTS WERE ENTITLED TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT DISMISSING THE COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO THE DOCTRINE OF JUDICIAL ESTOPPEL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff’s failure to inform the Bankruptcy Court of this personal injury action triggered the doctrine of judicial estoppel entitling defendants to summary judgment dismissing the complaint:

While a chapter 13 bankruptcy debtor has standing to litigate cases that belong to the estate … , here the “[p]laintiff’s prolonged failure to disclose this lawsuit to the [b]ankruptcy [c]ourt renders him judicially estopped from pursuing it” … . The plaintiff took an inconsistent position in the bankruptcy proceeding by, in effect, representing that he did not have the instant legal claim. The characterization of his assets was accepted and endorsed by the bankruptcy court throughout the duration of the bankruptcy proceeding, which included, among other things, confirmation of the plaintiff’s plan … .

Based on the defense of judicial estoppel, [defendants] established their prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law dismissing the amended complaint insofar as asserted against each of them … . Cussick v R.L. Baxter Bldg. Corp., 2024 NY Slip Op 03028, Second Dept 6-5-24

Practice Point: Failure to inform the Bankruptcy Court of a cause of action (here a personal-injury suit) triggers the doctrine of judicial estoppel, prohibiting the plaintiff from bringing the suit.