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ALTHOUGH FATHER HAD THE RIGHT TO WAIVE COUNSEL AND PROCEED PRO SE IN THIS TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS PROCEEDING, FAMILY COURT PROPERLY REFUSED HIS UNTIMELY REQUEST (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined Family Court properly refused father’s untimely request  to proceed pro se in this termination of parental rights proceeding:

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A parent in a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b to terminate parental rights has the right to the assistance of counsel (see Family Ct Act § 262[a][iv]). A parent, however, may waive the right to counsel and opt for self-representation … . However, the right to self-representation is “not . . . unfettered” … . In order to invoke the right to defend pro se, “(1) the request [must be] unequivocal and timely asserted, (2) there [must be] a knowing and intelligent waiver of the right to counsel, and (3) the defendant [must not have] engaged in conduct which would prevent the fair and orderly exposition of the issues”… . “An application is timely interposed when it is asserted before the trial commences'”… . “If the request is made thereafter, the right is severely constricted’ and the trial court must exercise its sound discretion and grant the request only under compelling circumstances”… .

Here, the Family Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the father’s request to represent himself since it was untimely, and the father proferred no compelling circumstances to justify the need to grant the application … . Matter of Sarah J. A. (Ramadan G. O.-A.), 2017 NY Slip Op 08661, Second Dept 12-13-17

 

FAMILY LAW (ALTHOUGH FATHER HAD THE RIGHT TO WAIVE COUNSEL AND PROCEED PRO SE IN THIS TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS PROCEEDING, FAMILY COURT PROPERLY REFUSED HIS UNTIMELY REQUEST (SECOND DEPT))/ATTORNEYS (FAMILY LAW , ALTHOUGH FATHER HAD THE RIGHT TO WAIVE COUNSEL AND PROCEED PRO SE IN THIS TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS PROCEEDING, FAMILY COURT PROPERLY REFUSED HIS UNTIMELY REQUEST (SECOND DEPT))/PARENTAL RIGHTS (FAMILY LAW , ALTHOUGH FATHER HAD THE RIGHT TO WAIVE COUNSEL AND PROCEED PRO SE IN THIS TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS PROCEEDING, FAMILY COURT PROPERLY REFUSED HIS UNTIMELY REQUEST (SECOND DEPT))/PRO SE (FAMILY LAW , ALTHOUGH FATHER HAD THE RIGHT TO WAIVE COUNSEL AND PROCEED PRO SE IN THIS TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS PROCEEDING, FAMILY COURT PROPERLY REFUSED HIS UNTIMELY REQUEST (SECOND DEPT))

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NEGLIGENT HIRING AND RETENTION CAUSE ACTION BASED UPON A JANITOR’S CALLING PLAINTIFF’S DAUGHTER NAMES PROPERLY SURVIVED SUMMARY JUDGMENT, PROOF JANITOR WAS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR INSUFFICIENT, INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, DEFAMATION, AND PRIMA FACIE TORT CAUSES OF ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined the Department of Education’s (DOE’s) motion for summary judgment in this negligent hiring and retention action was properly denied. The complaint alleged that a school janitor called plaintiff’s daughter “retarded” and “bitch” in front of other students. The DOE argued the janitor was an independent contractor, not an employee, and therefore the DOE could not be liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior. However, the proof of the janitor’s independent contractor status was deemed insufficient to support summary judgment. The Second Department went on to find that the intentional infliction of emotional distress, prima facie tort, and slander causes of action against the DOE should have been dismissed:

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As to the cause of action to recover damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress, the defendants established, prima facie, as a matter of law, that the isolated incident of name calling by the janitor, while unquestionably objectionable, did not rise to the level of extreme and outrageous conduct required to sustain such a cause of action … . As to the cause of action to recover damages for slander, the defendants established, prima facie, as a matter of law, that the janitor’s statements were nonactionable expressions of opinion, and not facts, about the plaintiff’s daughter… . Finally, as to the cause of action to recover damages for prima facie tort, the defendants established, prima facie, that the plaintiff did not incur special damages, a necessary element of the prima facie tort cause of action … . Gadson v City of New York, 2017 NY Slip Op 08657, Second Dept 12-13-17

 

EDUCATION-SCHOOL LAW (NEGLIGENT HIRING AND RETENTION CAUSE ACTION BASED UPON A JANITOR’S CALLING PLAINTIFF’S DAUGHTER NAMES PROPERLY SURVIVED SUMMARY JUDGMENT, PROOF JANITOR WAS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR INSUFFICIENT, INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, DEFAMATION, AND PRIMA FACIE TORT CAUSES OF ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED (SECOND DEPT))/EMPLOYMENT LAW (EDUCATION-SCHOOL LAW, NEGLIGENT HIRING AND RETENTION CAUSE ACTION BASED UPON A JANITOR’S CALLING PLAINTIFF’S DAUGHTER NAMES PROPERLY SURVIVED SUMMARY JUDGMENT, PROOF JANITOR WAS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR INSUFFICIENT, INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, DEFAMATION, AND PRIMA FACIE TORT CAUSES OF ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED (SECOND DEPT))/DEFAMATION (EDUCATION-SCHOOL LAW, NEGLIGENT HIRING AND RETENTION CAUSE ACTION BASED UPON A JANITOR’S CALLING PLAINTIFF’S DAUGHTER NAMES PROPERLY SURVIVED SUMMARY JUDGMENT, PROOF JANITOR WAS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR INSUFFICIENT, INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, DEFAMATION, AND PRIMA FACIE TORT CAUSES OF ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED (SECOND DEPT))/NEGLIGENT HIRING AND RETENTION (EDUCATION-SCHOOL LAW, NEGLIGENT HIRING AND RETENTION CAUSE ACTION BASED UPON A JANITOR’S CALLING PLAINTIFF’S DAUGHTER NAMES PROPERLY SURVIVED SUMMARY JUDGMENT, PROOF JANITOR WAS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR INSUFFICIENT, INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, DEFAMATION, AND PRIMA FACIE TORT CAUSES OF ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED (SECOND DEPT))

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SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE ORDERED AND REVIEWED THE VICTIM’S PSYCHIATRIC FILE IN THIS RAPE PROSECUTION, NO OPPORTUNITY FOR APPELLATE REVIEW, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing defendant’s rape conviction, determined Supreme Court should have ordered the victim’s psychiatric records for an in camera review for relevance:

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Prior to trial, the People disclosed that the victim had indicated that she had received treatment for bipolar disorder and depression and, further, produced a copy of the medical record from the sexual assault examination that was conducted on the day after the incident in which the victim had also reported a past medical history of “bipolar” and that she was taking prescription medications for that condition. Defendant requested that the court issue a subpoena duces tecum to obtain the victim’s mental health records and conduct an in camera review to ascertain whether they contained any information relevant and material to the victim’s credibility. …

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Supreme Court erred when it declined to order production of the victim’s mental health records and to review them in camera. Inasmuch as those records were never produced and were not part of the record, we are unable to remit the matter for a reconstruction hearing … . Moreover, without knowing the content of those records, we are unable to determine whether the information that they contain is merely cumulative to the information provided to defendant about the victim’s mental health history that was used as a basis for cross-examination, or whether the records contain additional relevant and material information bearing on her credibility. Similarly, our lack of knowledge of the contents of the victim’s mental health records precludes us from determining whether the court’s error in this regard was harmless. Accordingly, the judgment of conviction must be reversed and the matter remitted for a new trial. People v Kiah, 2017 NY Slip Op 08752, Third Dept 12-13-17

 

CRIMINAL LAW (SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE ORDERED AND REVIEWED THE VICTIM’S PSYCHIATRIC FILE IN THIS RAPE PROSECUTION, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (THIRD DEPT))/EVIDENCE (CRIMINAL LAW, SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE ORDERED AND REVIEWED THE VICTIM’S PSYCHIATRIC FILE IN THIS RAPE PROSECUTION, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (THIRD DEPT))/PSYCHIATRIC RECORD (CRIMINAL LAW, RAPE TRIAL, SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE ORDERED AND REVIEWED THE VICTIM’S PSYCHIATRIC FILE IN THIS RAPE PROSECUTION, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (THIRD DEPT))/IN CAMERA REVIEW (CRIMINAL LAW, PSYCHIATRIC RECORD, SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE ORDERED AND REVIEWED THE VICTIM’S PSYCHIATRIC FILE IN THIS RAPE PROSECUTION, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (THIRD DEPT))/VICTIM PSYCHIATRIC RECORD (CRIMINAL LAW, EVIDENCE, RAPE, SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE ORDERED AND REVIEWED THE VICTIM’S PSYCHIATRIC FILE IN THIS RAPE PROSECUTION, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (THIRD DEPT))/RAPE (EVIDENCE, PSYCHIATRIC RECORD, SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE ORDERED AND REVIEWED THE VICTIM’S PSYCHIATRIC FILE IN THIS RAPE PROSECUTION, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (THIRD DEPT))/APPEALS (CRIMINAL LAW, PSYCHIATRIC RECORD,  SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE ORDERED AND REVIEWED THE VICTIM’S PSYCHIATRIC FILE IN THIS RAPE PROSECUTION, NO OPPORTUNITY FOR APPELLATE REVIEW, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (THIRD DEPT))

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ABSENCE OF A SIGNED WRITTEN WAIVER OF INDICTMENT REQUIRED BY THE NYS CONSTITUTION IS A JURISDICTIONAL DEFECT, GUILTY PLEA VACATED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department vacated defendant’s guilty plea because the record did not include a signed written waiver of indictment, as required by the NYS Constitution:

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… [T]he record on appeal does not contain a signed waiver of the defendant’s right to be prosecuted by an indictment. Although a written waiver of indictment appears in the record, it was not signed by the defendant. Furthermore, contrary to the People’s contention, although the transcript of the plea proceedings indicates that the defendant signed a document denominated as a written indictment waiver, that reference in the transcript alone is insufficient to satisfy the constitutional requirement that a waiver of indictment “be evidenced by written instrument signed by the defendant” … . Since the failure to comply with this constitutional requirement amounts to a jurisdictional defect in the plea proceedings … . People v Eulo, 2017 NY Slip Op 08684, Second Dept 12-13-17

 

CRIMINAL LAW (WAIVER OF INDICTMENT, ABSENCE OF A SIGNED WRITTEN WAIVER OF INDICTMENT REQUIRED BY THE NYS CONSTITUTION IS A JURISDICTIONAL DEFECT, GUILTY PLEA VACATED (SECOND DEPT))/CONSTITUTIONAL LAW  (WAIVER OF INDICTMENT, ABSENCE OF A SIGNED WRITTEN WAIVER OF INDICTMENT REQUIRED BY THE NYS CONSTITUTION IS A JURISDICTIONAL DEFECT, GUILTY PLEA VACATED (SECOND DEPT))/INDICTMENT, WAIVER OF (ABSENCE OF A SIGNED WRITTEN WAIVER OF INDICTMENT REQUIRED BY THE NYS CONSTITUTION IS A JURISDICTIONAL DEFECT, GUILTY PLEA VACATED (SECOND DEPT)

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APPELLANT AND ATTORNEY SANCTIONED FOR BRINGING MERITLESS APPEAL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined the appeal in this real property dispute warranted sanctions against one appellant and his attorney ($500 each). It appears that the appellants entered a stipulation of settlement in which they stated they owned real property, knowing they did not own the property. The appeal was brought after Supreme Court enforced the stipulated settlement (requiring appellants to pay $1.8 million plus costs):

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We reject the appellants’ argument that they were unaware, at the time of the stipulation of settlement, that the City of Peekskill owned the subject property. Nearly two years prior to the stipulation of settlement, in a proceeding to foreclose a tax lien, in an order and judgment of the Supreme Court, Westchester County (Walker, J.), dated October 1, 2012, the City of Peekskill was granted permission to file a deed conveying the subject property to the City of Peekskill as owner in fee simple absolute. Dashley Realty appealed, and this Court affirmed the judgment … . The appellants failed to demonstrate sufficient cause to vacate the stipulation of settlement, as their purported mistake in not knowing about the City’s ownership when they entered into the stipulation of settlement on August 11, 2014, is belied by the order and judgment dated October 1, 2012, Dashley Realty’s appeal from that judgment, and attorney George W. Echevarria’s representation of Dashley Realty on that appeal.

Under the circumstances of this case, including, but not limited to, the appellants’ attempt to vacate the stipulation of settlement based upon their purported mistake, we find that much of the conduct of the appellant Cirilo Rodriguez and attorney George W. Echevarria, including their prosecution of this appeal, which is based upon the same meritless arguments advanced on the cross motion to vacate the stipulation of settlement, has been “undertaken primarily to delay or prolong the resolution of the litigation” (22 NYCRR § 130—1.1[c][2]). We find that this conduct warrants sanctions in the amount of $500 each on the appellant Cirilo Rodriguez and attorney George W. Echevarria … . ATS-1 Corp. v Rodriguez, 2017 NY Slip Op 08651, Second Dept 12-13-17

 

ATTORNEYS (APPELLANT AND ATTORNEY SANCTIONED FOR BRINGING MERITLESS APPEAL (SECOND DEPT))/APPEALS (SANCTIONS, APPELLANT AND ATTORNEY SANCTIONED FOR BRINGING MERITLESS APPEAL (SECOND DEPT))/SANCTIONS (ATTORNEYS, APPEALS, APPELLANT AND ATTORNEY SANCTIONED FOR BRINGING MERITLESS APPEAL (SECOND DEPT))

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SECOND DEPT ASKED FOR FURTHER SUBMISSIONS TO DETERMINE WHETHER PLAINTIFF BROUGHT A FRIVOLOUS APPEAL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department asked for further submissions to determine whether sanctions should be imposed for a frivolous appeal. After a judgment of foreclosure against the mortgagor, the mortgagor deeded the property to plaintiff. Plaintiff then brought a motion to quiet title which was dismissed based upon the foreclosure documents. The plaintiff then appealed, despite having brought identical proceedings in another matter which also had gone up on appeal:

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Here, as in Carbone v Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co., a case involving the same plaintiff and almost identical facts, by submitting the judgment of foreclosure and sale and other documents from the prior foreclosure action, the Bank established that it had a defense founded upon documentary evidence; namely, that Carbone took the property subject to a valid judgment of foreclosure and sale, and that the instant action is an improper collateral attack upon the judgment … . Thus, since the Bank established that it had a defense founded upon documentary evidence which conclusively disposed of the plaintiff’s causes of action as a matter of law… , the Supreme Court properly granted the Bank’s motion pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1) to dismiss the complaint, and properly denied Carbone’s cross motion for summary judgment on the complaint.

In addition, since the plaintiff has raised arguments on this appeal that appear to be “completely without merit in law and cannot be supported by a reasonable argument for an extension, modification, or reversal of existing law” (22 NYCRR 130-1.1[c][1]), the appeal may be frivolous… . Accordingly, we direct the submission of affirmations or affidavits on the issue of whether, and in what amount, costs or sanctions in connection with this appeal should or should not be imposed on the plaintiff. Carbone v US Bank N.A., 2017 NY Slip Op 08653, Second Dept 12-13-17

 

APPEALS (SECOND DEPARTMENT ASKED FOR FURTHER SUBMISSIONS TO DETERMINED WHETHER PLAINTIFF BROUGHT A FRIVOLOUS APPEAL (SECOND DEPT))/FRIVOLOUS APPEAL  (SECOND DEPARTMENT ASKED FOR FURTHER SUBMISSIONS TO DETERMINED WHETHER PLAINTIFF BROUGHT A FRIVOLOUS APPEAL (SECOND DEPT))

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LEAD AGENCY TOOK THE REQUISITE HARD LOOK AT LEAD DUST AND NOISE CONCERNS RAISED IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION NEAR A SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY AND, AFTER IMPOSING MITIGATION MEASURES, PROPERLY APPROVED THE CONSTRUCTION (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Rivera, determined the challenge to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) allowing construction of a 400 bed residential facility near a school in New York City was properly denied. The petitioners (neighbors and parents of school children) were primarily concerned with lead dust and noise. The court found that the lead agency (Department of Health [DOH]) had taken the requisite “hard look” at the lead dust and noise concerns (which were addressed by mitigation measures). The opinion includes a concise and uncomplicated explanation of the environmental-impact-statement procedures required by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA):

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Preventing the migration and inhalation of lead dust was one of the environmental risks the agency specifically set out to measure and mitigate … . In recognition of the risk, DOH imposed a battery of construction protocols to monitor and contain airborne dust. DOH reasonably concluded that these mitigation measures were sufficient to ensure that airborne lead levels remained within acceptable … limits, and explained its assessment fully in the DEIS [Draft Environmental Impact Statement] and FEIS. …

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DOH conducted a detailed analysis of construction noise, employing assumptions based on reasonable worst case scenarios. In assessing both the dangers of construction noise and the most appropriate mitigation measures, DOH acted within its “considerable latitude in evaluating environmental effects and choosing among alternatives” (id.). The fact that petitioners would have preferred different or additional mitigation measures presents a difference of opinion about the best way to address the environmental impacts that the agency, not the courts, must consider and resolve. In fact, the agency considered the opinions of petitioners’ experts and determined that the lower noise levels for which they advocated were “not often achieved in densely-populated urban locations such as NYC.” DOH also considered that its levels did not exceed the City Manual’s recommendation. Friends of P.S. 163, Inc. v Jewish Home Lifecare, Manhattan, 2017 NY Slip Op 08621, CtApp 12-12-17

 

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (LEAD AGENCY TOOK THE REQUISITE HARD LOOK AT LEAD DUST AND NOISE CONCERNS RAISED IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION NEAR A SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY AND, AFTER IMPOSING MITIGATION MEASURES, PROPERLY APPROVED THE CONSTRUCTION (CT APP))/STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT (SEQRA) (LEAD AGENCY TOOK THE REQUISITE HARD LOOK AT LEAD DUST AND NOISE CONCERNS RAISED IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION NEAR A SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY AND, AFTER IMPOSING MITIGATION MEASURES, PROPERLY APPROVED THE CONSTRUCTION (CT APP))/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS (LEAD AGENCY TOOK THE REQUISITE HARD LOOK AT LEAD DUST AND NOISE CONCERNS RAISED IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION NEAR A SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY AND, AFTER IMPOSING MITIGATION MEASURES, PROPERLY APPROVED THE CONSTRUCTION (CT APP))/LEAD DUST (ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, LEAD AGENCY TOOK THE REQUISITE HARD LOOK AT LEAD DUST AND NOISE CONCERNS RAISED IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION NEAR A SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY AND, AFTER IMPOSING MITIGATION MEASURES, PROPERLY APPROVED THE CONSTRUCTION (CT APP))/NOISE (ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, LEAD AGENCY TOOK THE REQUISITE HARD LOOK AT LEAD DUST AND NOISE CONCERNS RAISED IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION NEAR A SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY AND, AFTER IMPOSING MITIGATION MEASURES, PROPERLY APPROVED THE CONSTRUCTION (CT APP))

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EVEN WHERE THE CLASS HAS NOT BEEN CERTIFIED, CPLR 908 REQUIRES THE PUTATIVE CLASS MEMBERS BE GIVEN NOTICE OF THE SETTLEMENT OR DISMISSAL OF THE ACTION (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Fahey, over a three-judge dissent, determined notice of the settlement or dismissal of a class action lawsuit, where the class has not been certified, must be provided to all members of the putative class pursuant to CPLR 908:

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CPLR 908 provides that “[a] class action shall not be dismissed, discontinued, or compromised without the approval of the court,” and that “[n]otice of the proposed dismissal, discontinuance, or compromise shall be given to all members of the class in such manner as the court directs.” On this appeal, we must determine whether CPLR 908 applies only to certified class actions, or also to class actions that are settled or dismissed before the class has been certified. We conclude that CPLR 908 applies in the pre-certification context. As a result, notice to putative class members of a proposed dismissal, discontinuance, or compromise must be given. Desrosiers v Perry Ellis Menswear, LLC, 2017 NY Slip Op 08620, CtApp 12-12-17

 

CIVIL PROCEDURE (EVEN WHERE THE CLASS HAS NOT BEEN CERTIFIED, CPLR 908 REQUIRES THE PUTATIVE CLASS MEMBERS BE GIVEN NOTICE OF THE SETTLEMENT OR DISMISSAL OF THE ACTION (CT APP))/CLASS ACTIONS (NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT OR DISMISSAL EVEN WHERE THE CLASS HAS NOT BEEN CERTIFIED, CPLR 908 REQUIRES THE PUTATIVE CLASS MEMBERS BE GIVEN NOTICE OF THE SETTLEMENT OR DISMISSAL OF THE ACTION (CT APP))/CPLR 908 (CLASS ACTIONS, EVEN WHERE THE CLASS HAS NOT BEEN CERTIFIED, CPLR 908 REQUIRES THE PUTATIVE CLASS MEMBERS BE GIVEN NOTICE OF THE SETTLEMENT OR DISMISSAL OF THE ACTION (CT APP))

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MENTAL HEALTH LEGAL SERVICE (MHLS) HAS ORGANIZATIONAL STANDING TO BRING AN ARTICLE 78 PROCEEDING TO REQUIRE THE BRONX PSYCHIATRIC CENTER TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE COPY OF A PATIENT’S MEDICAL RECORD PRIOR TO AN INVOLUNTARY RETENTION HEARING, AND, ON THE MERITS, MHLS IS ENTITLED TO SUCH RECORDS (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Renwick, over a two-justice dissenting opinion, determined the Mental Hygiene Legal Service (MHLS) was entitled to a copy of the psychiatric patient’s full medical chart prior to an involuntary-retention hearing under the Mental Hygiene Law. As a preliminary matter, the First Department held MHLS has organizational standing to bring the underlying Article 78 proceeding which was triggered by the Bronx Psychiatric Center’s (BPC’s) refusal to provide the medical record:

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In order to retain a patient involuntarily for more than 60 days, the hospital must obtain a court order so directing, although the patient may remain hospitalized while the application for such an order is pending … . The hospital must show “that the patient is mentally ill and in need of continued, supervised care and treatment, and that the patient poses a substantial threat of physical harm to himself and/or others”… . On the other hand, MHLS has a duty “[t]o provide legal services and assistance to patients or residents and their families related to the admission, retention, and care and treatment of such persons” … . MHLS further has a duty “[t]o initiate and take any legal action deemed necessary to safeguard the right of any patient or resident to protection from abuse or mistreatment” … .

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This Court has found organizational standing under exceptional circumstances involving organizations that were dedicated to protecting a class of individuals who suffered injuries which certain statutes were intended to guard against, and who could not otherwise act in their own interests. …

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We find that MHLS has demonstrated a clear legal right to mandamus relief … . … [W]hen read together, [the] statutory duty and regulatory provisions impose upon BPC a compulsory duty to provide MHLS with a copy of its clients’ complete medical charts before their respective retention hearings under MHL 9.31 and 9.33 are held. Matter of Mental Hygiene Legal Serv. v Daniels, 2017 NY Slip Op 08645, First Dept 12-12-17

 

MENTAL HYGIENE LAW (MENTAL HEALTH LEGAL SERVICE (MHLS) HAS ORGANIZATIONAL STANDING TO BRING AN ARTICLE 78 PROCEEDING TO REQUIRE THE BRONX PSYCHIATRIC CENTER TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE COPY OF A PATIENT’S MEDICAL RECORD PRIOR TO AN INVOLUNTARY RETENTION HEARING, AND, ON THE MERITS, MHLS IS ENTITLED TO SUCH RECORDS (FIRST DEPT))/CIVIL PROCEDURE (ORGANIZATIONAL STANDING, MENTAL HEALTH LEGAL SERVICE (MHLS) HAS ORGANIZATIONAL STANDING TO BRING AN ARTICLE 78 PROCEEDING TO REQUIRE THE BRONX PSYCHIATRIC CENTER TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE COPY OF A PATIENT’S MEDICAL RECORD PRIOR TO AN INVOLUNTARY RETENTION HEARING, AND, ON THE MERITS, MHLS IS ENTITLED TO SUCH RECORDS (FIRST DEPT))/STANDING (CIVIL PROCEDURE, ORGANIZATIONAL STANDING, MENTAL HEALTH LEGAL SERVICE (MHLS) HAS ORGANIZATIONAL STANDING TO BRING AN ARTICLE 78 PROCEEDING TO REQUIRE THE BRONX PSYCHIATRIC CENTER TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE COPY OF A PATIENT’S MEDICAL RECORD PRIOR TO AN INVOLUNTARY RETENTION HEARING, AND, ON THE MERITS, MHLS IS ENTITLED TO SUCH RECORDS (FIRST DEPT))/ORGANIZATIONAL STANDING (MENTAL HEALTH LEGAL SERVICE (MHLS) HAS ORGANIZATIONAL STANDING TO BRING AN ARTICLE 78 PROCEEDING TO REQUIRE THE BRONX PSYCHIATRIC CENTER TO PROVIDE A COM PLETE COPY OF A PATIENT’S MEDICAL RECORD PRIOR TO AN INVOLUNTARY RETENTION HEARING, AND, ON THE MERITS, MHLS IS ENTITLED TO SUCH RECORDS (FIRST DEPT))/MENTAL HEALTH LEGAL SERVICE (INVOLUNTARY RETENTION, MENTAL HEALTH LEGAL SERVICE (MHLS) HAS ORGANIZATIONAL STANDING TO BRING AN ARTICLE 78 PROCEEDING TO REQUIRE THE BRONX PSYCHIATRIC CENTER TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE COPY OF A PATIENT’S MEDICAL RECORD PRIOR TO AN INVOLUNTARY RETENTION HEARING, AND, ON THE MERITS, MHLS IS ENTITLED TO SUCH RECORDS (FIRST DEPT))/PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS (INVOLUNTARY RETENTION, MENTAL HEALTH LEGAL SERVICE (MHLS) HAS ORGANIZATIONAL STANDING TO BRING AN ARTICLE 78 PROCEEDING TO REQUIRE THE BRONX PSYCHIATRIC CENTER TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE COPY OF A PATIENT’S MEDICAL RECORD PRIOR TO AN INVOLUNTARY RETENTION HEARING, AND, ON THE MERITS, MHLS IS ENTITLED TO SUCH RECORDS (FIRST DEPT))/INVOLUNTARY RETENTION (PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS, MENTAL HEALTH LEGAL SERVICE (MHLS) HAS ORGANIZATIONAL STANDING TO BRING AN ARTICLE 78 PROCEEDING TO REQUIRE THE BRONX PSYCHIATRIC CENTER TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE COPY OF A PATIENT’S MEDICAL RECORD PRIOR TO AN INVOLUNTARY RETENTION HEARING, AND, ON THE MERITS, MHLS IS ENTITLED TO SUCH RECORDS (FIRST DEPT))

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UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RELEVANT CONTRACTS, WHICH MUST BE INTERPRETED TOGETHER TO GIVE EFFECT TO THEIR TERMS, PLAINTIFF DID NOT HAVE STANDING TO SUE IN ONE ASPECT OF THIS ACTION STEMMING FROM THE SALE OF ALLEGEDLY DEFECTIVE RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Moskowitz, modifying Supreme Court, in actions stemming from the sale of allegedly defective residential mortgage-backed securities, determined that, according to the terms of the relevant contracts, plaintiff did not have standing to sue in one aspect of the action because a critical assignment had not been accomplished in accordance with the contract. The opinion is fact-specific and too complex to fairly summarize here. With respect to Supreme Court’s failure to interpret the two relevant agreements such that both are given effect, the court explained:

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In interpreting a contract a court should favor an interpretation that gives effect to all the terms of an agreement rather than ignoring terms or interpreting them unreasonably … . Indeed, “where two seemingly conflicting contract provisions reasonably can be reconciled, a court is required to do so and to give both effect” … . We have also found that “agreements executed at substantially the same time and related to the same subject matter are regarded as contemporaneous writings and must be read together as one” … . Thus, in failing to harmonize the … agreement[s], the motion court essentially read … terms out of existence. U.S. Bank N.A. v GreenPoint Mtge. Funding, Inc., 2017 NY Slip Op 08644, First Dept 12-12-17

 

SECURITIES (RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES, CONTRACT LAW, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RELEVANT CONTRACTS, WHICH MUST BE INTERPRETED TOGETHER TO GIVE EFFECT TO THEIR TERMS, PLAINTIFF DID NOT HAVE STANDING TO SUE IN ONE ASPECT OF THIS ACTION STEMMING FROM THE SALE OF ALLEGEDLY DEFECTIVE RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (FIRST DEPT))/CONTRACT LAW (RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES, CONTRACT LAW, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RELEVANT CONTRACTS, WHICH MUST BE INTERPRETED TOGETHER TO GIVE EFFECT TO THEIR TERMS, PLAINTIFF DID NOT HAVE STANDING TO SUE IN ONE ASPECT OF THIS ACTION STEMMING FROM THE SALE OF ALLEGEDLY DEFECTIVE RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (FIRST DEPT))/RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (CONTRACT LAW, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RELEVANT CONTRACTS, WHICH MUST BE INTERPRETED TOGETHER TO GIVE EFFECT TO THEIR TERMS, PLAINTIFF DID NOT HAVE STANDING TO SUE IN ONE ASPECT OF THIS ACTION STEMMING FROM THE SALE OF ALLEGEDLY DEFECTIVE RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (FIRST DEPT))

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