You are here: / Defendants Unable to Demonstrate that Plaintiff’s Alleged Breach...

Search Results

/ ,

Defendants Unable to Demonstrate that Plaintiff’s Alleged Breach of a Related Contract Relieved Defendants of the Obligation to Pay a Promissory Note—No Showing the Promissory Note and Oral Agreement Were “Intertwined”

The First Department determined the allegations that plaintiff’s breach of a related oral agreement relieved defendants of the obligation to pay a promissory note were insufficient to defeat summary judgment on the note:

” [T]he general rule is that the breach of a related contract cannot defeat a motion for summary judgment on an instrument for money only unless it can be shown that the contract and the instrument are “intertwined” and that the defenses alleged to exist create material issues of triable fact'” … . Here, the defendants failed to demonstrate that the alleged oral construction management agreement was “inextricably intertwined” with the promissory note … . Castle Restoration & Constr Inc v Castle Restoration LLC, 2014 NY Slip Op 07972, 2nd Dept 11-19-14

 

/ , ,

Plaintiff Had Made Out a Prima Facie Case of Undue Influence—Trial Judge Erred by Making Credibility Determinations and Granting a Judgment In Favor of the Defendant As a Matter of Law (CPLR 4401)

In reversing Supreme Court, the Second Department determined the motion for a judgment as a matter of law pursuant to CPLR 4401 should not have been granted.  The plaintiff sought to set aside a conveyance by deed on the ground of undue influence. The Second Department held that plaintiff had made out a prima facie case and sent the matter back for trial in front of a different judge:

” A trial court’s grant of a CPLR 4401 motion for judgment as a matter of law is appropriate where the trial court finds that, upon the evidence presented, there is no rational process by which the fact trier could base a finding in favor of the nonmoving party'” … . ” In considering the motion, the trial court must afford the party opposing the motion every inference which may be properly drawn from the facts presented, and the facts must be considered in a light most favorable to the nonmovant'” … .

The burden of proving undue influence generally rests with the party asserting its existence … . “However, where there is a confidential relationship between the beneficiary and the grantor, [a]n inference of undue influence’ arises which requires the beneficiary to come forward with an explanation of the circumstances of the transaction” … . “In the absence of an explanation, the beneficiary has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the transaction was fair and free from undue influence” … .

Here, in granting the defendant’s motion pursuant to CPLR 4401, the Supreme Court improperly resolved issues of the credibility of the witnesses against the plaintiff … . Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolving all issues of credibility in the plaintiff’s favor, we find that the plaintiff established, prima facie, that a confidential relationship existed between the decedent and the defendant, requiring the defendant to come forth with an explanation of the circumstances of the transaction. Palladino v McCormick, 2014, NY Slip Op 07992, 2nd Dept 11-19-14

 

/ ,

Waiver of Right to Appeal Invalid Despite the Signing of a Written Waiver

The Second Department determined defendant’s waiver of his right to appeal was not valid because the right was not adequately explained and because there was no indication that the written waiver signed by the defendant was translated for him:

…[T]he record does not reflect that the defendant knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right to appeal … . The Supreme Court’s statements at the plea allocution improperly suggested that waiving the right to appeal was mandatory rather than a right which the defendant was being asked to voluntarily relinquish, and the court never elicited an acknowledgment that the defendant was voluntarily waiving his right to appeal … . Moreover, there is no indication in the record that the defendant understood the distinction between the right to appeal and other trial rights that are forfeited incident to a plea of guilty … . Although the defendant did sign a written waiver of his right to appeal, nothing in the record demonstrates that the document was translated for the defendant, who required the use of a Spanish language interpreter, before it was presented to him for signature … . In any event, the court’s terse colloquy at the plea allocution, which included the language suggesting that the waiver of the right to appeal was mandatory, failed to sufficiently advise the defendant of the nature of the right to appeal … . People v Guarchaj, 2014 NY Slip Op 08044, 2nd Dept 11-19-14

 

/ , ,

Regulation of Use of Vacant Wetlands Constituted a Regulatory Taking—Analytical Criteria Explained

The Second Department determined that the regulations imposed on vacant wetlands constituted a regulatory taking of the land and affirmed Supreme Court’s evaluation of the taking.  The court included an in-depth discussion of the analytical criteria:

In a condemnation proceeding, a property restricted by wetlands regulations is valued pursuant to the restrictions imposed by the wetlands regulations at the time of the taking, unless the claimant can demonstrate a reasonable probability that “a higher or more productive use of the property would have been available by reason of a legislative rezoning or a judicial declaration of invalidity of the use restriction” … . “A landowner who claims that land regulation has effected a taking of his [or her] property bears the heavy burden of overcoming the presumption of constitutionality that attaches to the regulation and of proving every element of his [or her] claim beyond a reasonable doubt” … .

Generally, while property may be regulated to a certain extent, if regulation goes too far, it will be recognized as a taking … . Analysis of whether nonpossessory governmental regulation of property has gone so far as to constitute a taking involves factual inquires in which three factors of particular significance have been identified: (1) “[t]he economic impact of the regulation on the claimant”; (2) “the extent to which the regulation has interfered with distinct investment-backed expectations”; and (3) “the character of the governmental action” … .

As to the first factor, “the property owner must show by dollars and cents’ evidence that under no use permitted by the regulation under attack would the properties be capable of producing a reasonable return; the economic value, or all but a bare residue of the economic value, of the parcels must have been destroyed by the regulations at issue” … . Accordingly, standing alone, a serious and significant diminution of property value will typically not be deemed to constitute a regulatory taking … . * * *

Although the claimants admit that, at trial, they did not set forth any evidence with respect to the second factor …, under the circumstances presented here, such an omission is not fatal to their claim, especially upon consideration of the third factor. Under the third factor, generally, a property owner “must establish that the regulation attacked so restricts his [or her] property that he [or she] is precluded from using it for any purpose for which it is reasonably adapted” … . Matter of New Cr Bluebelt, Phase 4, 2014 NY Slip OP 08029, 2nd Dept 11-19-14

 

/

Unwed Birth Father’s Consent for Adoption Properly Required

The Second Department affirmed Family Court’s ruling that the unwed birth father’s consent for adoption was required:

There is no basis to disturb the Family Court’s determination that the unwed birth father was a person whose consent was required in order for the child to be adopted. The Family Court found that during the six-month period prior to the subject child’s placement with the appellants upon her birth, the unwed birth father promptly asserted his interest in the child, manifested his ability and willingness to assume custody of the child, and provided financial and moral support to the birth mother … . Matter of Baby Girl N …, 2014 NY Slip Op 08028, 2nd Dept 11-19-14

 

/

Nonparents Did Not Demonstrate Standing to Bring Petition to Adopt

The Second Department determined the nonparents’ petition to adopt was properly denied:

“As between a parent and a nonparent, the parent has the superior right to custody that cannot be denied unless the nonparent establishes that the parent has relinquished that right due to surrender, abandonment, persistent neglect, unfitness, or other like extraordinary circumstances” … . The burden of proof is on the nonparent to prove such extraordinary circumstances … . Absent proof of such extraordinary circumstances, an inquiry into the best interests of the child is not triggered … . Here, the Family Court properly determined that the nonparent petitioners, whose petition to adopt the subject child was correctly denied …, failed, in this custody proceeding, to allege the existence of extraordinary circumstances. Accordingly, the Family Court properly granted the father’s motion to dismiss their custody petition for lack of standing … . Matter of Santiago v Henderson, 2014 NY Slip Op 08033, 2nd Dept 11-19-14

 

/

Duty to Defend

The First Department determined that the insurer was obligated to defend the defendants even though subsequently it may be able to demonstrate the insured did not cause the injuries.  The duty to defend is determined by comparing the policy to the complaint.  If the pleaded claims are potentially within the scope of coverage, the insurer’s duty to defend is triggered:

An insurer may obtain a declaration absolving it of its duty to defend only when a comparison of the policy and the underlying complaint on its face shows that, as a matter of law, “there is no possible factual or legal basis on which the insurer might eventually be held to be obligated to indemnify the insured under any provision of the insurance policy” … . As this Court has observed, “[T]he primary obligation of an insurer is to provide its insured with a defense” …, an obligation that is incurred “if facts alleged in the complaint fall within the scope of coverage intended by the parties at the time the contract was made” … . “By contrast, the duty to indemnify requires a determination of liability” … .

Because the underlying complaints pleaded claims that were potentially within the scope of coverage, plaintiff is obligated to defend the underlying actions. Whether plaintiff might ultimately be able to establish that its insured did not cause the injuries alleged in the underlying actions involves questions of fact yet to be resolved; it is not an issue that can be determined as a matter of law by examination of the insurance contract. Thus, it does not afford a basis to relieve plaintiff of its duty to provide a defense… . Greewich Ins Co v City of New York, 2014 NY Slip Op 07933, 1st Dept 11-18-14

 

/

Plaintiff’s Double-Parked Vehicle Furnished a Condition for the Accident But Was Not a Proximate Cause of the Acciden

The First Department reversed Supreme Court finding the fact that plaintiff was double-parked furnished the condition for the event but was not one of the causes of the accident.  The defendant driver had pulled around in front of plaintiff’s vehicle and then backed into it:

The fact that a vehicle is double parked “does not automatically establish that such double parking was the proximate cause of the accident” … . Here, plaintiff established her prima facie entitlement to summary judgment by demonstrating that the location of her vehicle merely furnished the condition or occasion for the occurrence of the event but was not one of its causes … .

The record demonstrates that plaintiff’s vehicle was double parked on a one way street. Defendants’ vehicle, moving in the same direction, successfully passed plaintiff’s vehicle on the left and pulled approximately three to four car lengths in front of it before stopping. One to two seconds later, defendants’ vehicle drove in reverse in an erratic manner and struck the front of plaintiff’s car, which was stationary at all times. Cervera v Moran, 2014 NY Slip Op 07945, 1st Dept 11-18-14

 

/ ,

Cause of Action Against Landlord for Nuisance, Based Upon a Noisy Tenant, Does Not Lie Where the Landlord Did Not Create the Nuisance and the Landlord Has Surrendered Control of the Premises to the Tenant

In affirming the denial of summary judgment to the landlord in an action alleging a tenant’s noise constituted a nuisance (because the papers submitted were inadequate), the First Department noted that a cause of action for nuisance does not lie against a landlord who did not create the nuisance and who has surrendered control of the premises to a tenant.  Clarke v 6485 & 6495 Broadway Apt Inc, 2014 NY Slip Op 07961, 1st Dept 11-18-14

 

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