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Prior Ruling on Appeal is Law of the Case for Both Trial and Appellate Courts

In a case which resulted in a second appeal, defendant contested the validity of a board meeting in both the first and second appeal.  The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Renwick, explained that the ruling in the first appeal was binding both on the trial court and the appellate court as the “law of the case: “

An appellate court’s resolution of an issue on a prior appeal constitutes the law of the case and is binding on the Supreme Court, as well as on the appellate court . . . [and] operates to foreclose re-examination of the question absent a showing of subsequent evidence or change of law”… .  Board of Mgrs. … v Seligson, 2013 NY Slip Op 01926, 1st Dept. 3-21-13

 

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“Alford” Plea in Related Criminal Proceeding Did Not Have Preclusive Effect

The Court of Appeals, in an opinion by Judge Pigott, held that an “Alford” plea entered in a criminal proceeding, in which there was no factual colloquy about the underlying offenses, should not be given a preclusive effect in a subsequent Worker’s Compensation proceeding related to the same facts.  The opinion includes a discussion of the criteria for and appropriate use of an “Alford” plea (in which guilt is not admitted).  In the Matter of Howard v Statute Electric, Inc., No. 29, CtApp 3-21-13

 

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Re-Sentencing Under Drug Law Reform Act—Court Does Not Have Authority to Make Sentences Concurrent if Original Sentences Consecutive

The Court of Appeals ruled that when re-sentencing under the Drug Law Reform Act of 2009 (DLRA–Criminal Procedure Law 440.46), the sentencing court can not alter multiple drug felony convictions originally imposed consecutively so that they run concurrently.  When the court imposes a determinate sentence under the DLRA “[s]uch resentencing constitutes ‘alteration of the existing sentence as authorized by law’ …, rather than imposition of a new sentence or of an additional term of imprisonment” [see Criminal Procedure Law 70.25].  Therefore the re-sentencing court does not have the power to issue concurrent sentences when the original sentences were consecutive.  People v Norris, No. 39, CtApp 3-21-13

 

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Corroborative Evidence for Confession—Strategy Behind Not Requesting Lesser Included Offenses and Severance

In an opinion by Judge Graffeo, in addressing the appellant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the strategic reasons for not requesting that the jury be charged with lesser included offenses and for not requesting a severance when culpability is arguably unequal were discussed.  In addition, the Court of Appeals addressed the level of corroborative evidence needed to allow into evidence an admission/confession made by the defendant (Criminal Procedure Law 60.50). The judgment of conviction was affirmed  People v McGee, No. 30, CtApp 3-21-13

 

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Damages for Breach of Purchase Contract Are Measured by the Difference Between the Purchase Price and the Market Value at Time of Breach

In a lengthy opinion by Judge Read, the Court of Appeals determined that, where a purchase contract for real property has been breached, the measure of damages is the difference between the sale price and the market value of the property at the time of the breach.  The price at which the property subsequently sells can be taken into consideration when determining what the value was at the time of the breach, but it is not the measure of damages.  White v Farrell, et al, No. 43, CtApp, 3-21-13

 

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Wife’s Derivative Claim Added to Complaint After Expiration of Statute of Limitations

The First Department held that a wife’s derivative claim in a medical malpractice action brought by her husband could be added to the complaint after the statute of limitations had expired (disagreeing with the 2nd and 3rd Departments):

The motion court properly exercised its discretion in granting leave to amend. The original complaint placed Kings Harbor on notice of the underlying transaction (see CPLR 203 [f] …. We are in accord with the 3rd Department’s view that “[i]n the absence of any prejudice and under these circumstances, Supreme Court should be permitted to exercise that same discretion which would allow the addition of a plaintiff’s derivative cause of action” … . We disagree with the cases holding that a spouse’s derivative claim cannot be added to a complaint through the relation back provision of CPLR 203 (f) (see e.g. Dowdall v General Motors Corp., 34 AD3d 1221, 1222 [4th Dept 2006]; Lucido v Vitolo, 251 AD2d 383, 384 [2d Dept 1998]).  Giambrone v Kings Harbor Multicare Ctr., 2013 NY Slip Op 01898, 9235N 307139/09, 1st Dept. 3-21-13

 

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Prior Written Notice of Defect Not Needed Where It Is Alleged Municipality Created Dangerous Condition.

In finding the plaintiff had raised a question of fact about whether the municipality affirmatively created a dangerous condition (a curved section of fence alongside a roadway), the Second Department wrote:

Where, as here, a municipality has enacted a prior written notice statute, it may not be subject to liability for personal injuries caused by a defective street or sidewalk condition absent proof of prior written notice or an exception thereto … . “The Court of Appeals has recognized two exceptions to this rule, namely, where the locality created the defect or hazard through an affirmative act of negligence [and] where a “special use” confers a special benefit upon the locality'” … .

The affirmative creation exception “[is] limited to work by the City that immediately results in the existence of a dangerous condition” … . Thus, while the eventual emergence of a dangerous condition as a result of wear and tear and environmental factors does not constitute an affirmative act of negligence …, where, as here, the allegedly dangerous condition would have been immediately apparent, the affirmative creation exception applies … . Laracuente v City of New York, 2013 NY Slip Op 01810, 2011-09475, Ind No 17543/06, Second Dept. 3-20-13

 

 

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No Notice of Defect Needed Where Municipality Affirmatively Created It.

The Second Department reversed the grant of summary judgment to the defendant village because the village did not rule out the possibility that the sidewalk defect had been affirmatively created by negligent design and construction, an exception to the requirement that the village have prior notice of a sidewalk defect before a personal injury suit will be allowed:

Here, the defendant established that it did not receive prior written notice of the alleged dangerous condition. Nonetheless, it failed to demonstrate its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. “[T]he prima facie showing which a defendant must make on a motion for summary judgment is governed by the allegations of liability made by the plaintiff in the pleadings” … . Here, the plaintiff’s pleadings alleged that the defendant affirmatively created the dangerous condition that caused the accident through negligence in the design and construction of the sidewalk … . Under these circumstances, the defendant was required to eliminate all triable issues of fact as to whether it affirmatively created the alleged dangerous condition through negligent design and construction to sustain its prima facie burden … . The defendant failed to do so, and therefore, its motion for summary judgment should have been denied without regard to the sufficiency of the plaintiff’s opposition papers …. Carlucci v Village of Scarsdale, 2013 NY Slip Op 01798, 2012-09179, Second Dept. 3-20-13

slip and fall

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False Arrest, Malicious Prosecution, and 1983 Actions Allowed to Proceed

In reversing the trial court’s grant of summary judgment to the defendants in an action for false arrest, malicious prosecution and violation of 42 USC 1983, the Second Department wrote:

…[I]n opposition to the Allstate defendants’ prima facie showing, the plaintiff raised triable issues of fact as to whether the Allstate defendants affirmatively induced law enforcement officials to act by taking an active part in the arrest and procuring it to be made, or by engaging in active, officious, and undue zeal to the point where the law enforcement officials were not acting of their own volition … . The plaintiff’s submissions were also sufficient to raise triable issues of fact as to whether the Allstate defendants intentionally provided false information to law enforcement officials or withheld material information …, thereby permitting an inference of actual malice … . The plaintiff’s submissions additionally raised triable issues of fact as to whether the Allstate defendants “engaged in a conspiracy with state officials to deprive [plaintiff] of federal rights” … . Accordingly, the Supreme Court should have denied the Allstate defendants’ motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them. Robles v City of New York, 2013 NY Slip Op 01814, 2011-11017, Index No 27364/07, 2nd Dept. 3-20-13

 

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