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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 Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, in a comprehensive full-fledged opinion by Justice Iannacci, determined the article 78 petition seeking to compel the village to release documents about recusals and conflict-of-interests disclosures by village officials should not have been dismissed. The availability of government records on a public website was deemed insufficient to satisfy a FOIL request. There were questions of fact about whether the requested documents were sufficiently described:

The principal questions presented on appeal are whether the requested records were “reasonably described” (… [Public Officers Law] § 89[3][a]) so as to allow the Village to locate and identify them, and whether the Village satisfied its obligations under FOIL by maintaining a public website, on which much of the information sought by the petitioner could be found. We hold that the mere availability of government records on a public website is insufficient to satisfy a request under FOIL for reproduction of such materials. However, we further conclude that questions of fact exist as to the Village’s ability to locate, identify, and produce the records requested by the petitioner, thereby precluding summary determination of the petition. * * *

… [T]here is no evidence that, before denying the petitioner’s request in its entirety, the Village made any effort to work with her to more precisely define the information desired … , if possible, or to “attempt to reasonably reduce the volume of the records requested” … . * * *

Holding that an agency satisfies a FOIL request for reproduction of records merely by referring the requestor to a public website does not adequately safeguard the public right of all of this State’s citizens. Matter of Goldstein v Incorporated Vil. of Mamaroneck, 2023 NY Slip Op 05500, Second Dept 11-1-23

Practice Point: The availability of government records on a government website does not satisfy a FOIL request for documents.

Practice Point: The municipality may have an obligation to work with the party making a FOIL request to identify the requested documents.

 

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AFTER FINDING SPOLIATION OF EVIDENCE BY DEFENDANTS, THE JUDGE FASHIONED AN ADVERSE INFERENCE JURY INSTRUCTION TO BE GIVEN AT TRIAL; THE CHARGE IMPROPERLY REQUIRED, RATHER THAN PERMITTED, THE JURY TO FIND SPOLIATION; THE JUDGE WAS ORDERED TO REVISE THE CHARGE (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined the adverse inference jury charge was inappropriate because it requires, rather than permits, the jury to draw an adverse inference from the spoliation of evidence. The appeal was from the judge’s ruling on plaintiff’s motion for an adverse inference charge. The judge was directed to fashion a new adverse inference charge:

Upon its determination that defendants’ spoliation of evidence amounted to gross negligence, the court directed that the jury be instructed that “had the evidence been preserved the evidence would have been against defendants’ position that [defendant] Marom and/or his workers did not cut down branches or trees or inserted rotting garbage in the barriers on [plaintiff’s] property.” This adverse inference charge is inappropriate because it “requires, rather than permits, the jury to draw an adverse inference” … . In any event, because the conflicting testimony in the record raises questions concerning the existence of the purportedly spoliated evidence, the issues of whether any spoliation had occurred and whether any adverse inference is warranted should be presented to the jury in the first instance … . Children’s Magical Garden, Inc. v Marom, 2023 NY Slip Op 05464, First Dept 10-31-23

Practice Point: With respect to spoliation of evidence, an adverse inference charge should permit, rather than require, the jury to find spoliation.

Practice Point: It appears that this appeal was brought before trial to address the erroneous adverse inference charge fashioned by the judge. The appeal successfully required the revision of the erroneous charge before the jury heard it.

 

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THE QUESTIONNAIRES FILLED OUT BY APPLICANTS FOR CITY JUDICIAL POSITIONS WERE PROTECTED FROM THE FOIL REQUEST BY THE PERSONAL PRIVACY EXEMPTION; AN APPELLATE COURT DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CONSIDER AN UNPRESERVED ISSUE IN AN ARTICLE 78 PROCEEDING (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined judicial questionnaires filled out by applicants for city judicial positions were protected from the FOIL request by the personal privacy exemption. The First Department noted that it did not have the authority in an article 78 proceeding to consider an unpreserved issue in the interest of justice:

… [T]he City properly applied the personal privacy exemption (Public Officer’s Law § 89[2][a]) to deny petitioner’s FOIL request in its entirety, as the City sustained its burden of establishing that disclosure of the records sought in this case — “all Uniform Judicial Questionnaires for applicants . . . under review by the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary” as of October 21, 2020 — would “constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy” (Public Officers Law § 87[2][b] …). Disclosure of the questionnaire, which states the word “CONFIDENTIAL” in upper-case letters and boldface near the top of its first page, would undermine the assurances of confidentiality provided to candidates for judicial office … .

Moreover, disclosure would create a chilling effect, thus potentially diminishing the candor of applicants and causing others to decide against applying for judicial positions. The questionnaire contains extensive questions touching on highly personal and sensitive matters, such as personal relationships, reasons for leaving jobs, reasons for periods of unemployment, substance abuse, arrests, criminal convictions, testifying as a witness in criminal cases, and reasons for anticipated difficulty in handling the stresses involved in being a judge, as well as a catch-all question at the end of the questionnaire asking for any other information, specifically including unfavorable information, that could bear on the evaluation of the judicial candidate. In addition to the particular contents of the questionnaires, disclosure of the very fact that certain candidates submitted the questionnaires could harm those persons’ reputations by revealing that they sought to leave their jobs, or were unsuccessful in their applications for judicial positions … . Matter of Fisher v City of N.Y. Off. of the Mayor, 2023 NY Slip Op 05468, First Dept 10-31-23

Practice Point: Here the questionnaires filled out by applicants for city judicial positions were protected from the FOIL request by the personal privacy exemption.

Practice Point: In an article 78 proceeding an appellate court cannot consider an unpreserved issue in the interest of justice.

 

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SENDING THE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE TO BOTH BORROWERS IN THE SAME ENVELOPE VIOLATED RPAPL 1304 (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the bank in this foreclosure action failed to comply with RPAPL 1304 by sending the notice of foreclosure to both borrowers in the same envelope:

As the Second Department noted, the language of RPAPL 1304 (1) is careful to distinguish a borrower, singular, from borrowers, plural (see Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v Yapkowitz, 199 AD3d at 134). However, RPAPL 1304 (2), which requires that notices be sent in separate envelopes, only discusses “borrower,” singular (see Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v Yapkowitz, 199 AD3d at 134; RPAPL 1304 [2]). In that case, the Court also drew attention to the fact that, although it is possible that whichever borrower reads the notice would alert the other borrower of the mailing, this is not always what occurs (see Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v Yapkowitz, 199 AD3d at 135). Accordingly, we now also adopt the holding of the Second Department in Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Thus, given that the requisite 90-day notices were jointly addressed to both borrowers, plaintiff did not comply with RPAPL 1304 … . Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v Zatari, 2023 NY Slip Op 05436, Third Dept 10-26-23

Practice Point: Sending the notice of foreclosure to two borrowers in the same envelope is a violation RPAPL 1304.

 

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​EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGES, AS OPPOSED TO PECUNIARY DAMAGES, WILL NOT SUPPORT AN ACTION FOR BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY (FIRST DEPT). ​

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined emotional and psychological damages, as opposed to pecuniary damages, will not support an action for breach of fiduciary duty:

… [P]laintiffs proffered no evidence showing that Atesa [plaintiff] sustained pecuniary damages, and adduced proof identifying only emotional and psychological injuries. Contrary to plaintiffs’ contention, the allegations in the complaint that Atesa incurred financial expenses as a result of having to seek medical treatment and retain new counsel due to defendants’ alleged misconduct are insufficient to defeat summary judgment, absent any supporting evidentiary proof (see CPLR 3212[b] …). Plaintiffs’ contention that they could present such proof at trial is unavailing … . Because plaintiffs failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to whether recoverable damages were incurred, summary judgment dismissing the claim should have been granted … . Pacelli v Peter L. Cedeno & Assoc., PC, 2023 NY Slip Op 05448, First Dept 10-26-23

Practice Point: Emotional and psychological damages, as opposed to pecuniary damages, will not support an action for breach of fiduciary duty.

 

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DEFENDANT GAVE TWO STATEMENTS, ONE IN THE MORNING TO THE POLICE, ONE IN THE AFTERNOON TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY; THE FIRST STATEMENT WAS INDUCED BY MISINFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER THE STATEMENT COULD BE USED AGAINST THE DEFENDANT AND WAS SUPPRESSED BY THE MOTION COURT; THE SECOND STATEMENT, AND THE KNIFE AND DNA RECOVERED BASED UPON THE SECOND STATEMENT, SHOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined both statements by the defendant, the first in the morning to detectives, the second in the afternoon to the district attorney, should have been suppressed. The first statement was suppressed by Supreme Court because the police told the defendant that any statement he made would not necessary be used against him and could help him if confessed. The second statement, although also preceded by the Miranda warnings, should have been suppressed because nothing was done to correct the misinformation from the police which preceded the first statement:

… Statement #2, along with the knife and DNA evidence recovered from the knife, should have been suppressed as there was not a sufficient break in the interrogation to dissipate the taint from the initial Miranda violation. This is not a case where defendant initially received improper warnings prior to giving Statement #1 and then later received proper warnings prior to giving Statement #2. Instead, defendant received complete and proper Miranda warnings prior to giving Statement #1, but they were undermined by the additional commentary and misleading statements made by the police officers … thereby violating defendant’s Miranda rights and requiring the suppression of Statement #1. Moreover, after the officers made the misleading statements, nothing was specifically done to correct any resulting misunderstanding to ensure that the defendant understood the import and effect of the Miranda warnings and that his statements could, and would, be used against him. This misunderstanding cannot be assumed to have simply dissipated after the Assistant District Attorney gave defendant the second Miranda warnings, even though the second warnings took place hours later and in a different room. As the second Miranda warnings did not dissipate the taint, they did not effectively protect defendant’s rights. Although it “is not the business of the police or the courts” to “provid[e] a general legal education” … , those institutions also cannot be allowed to proliferate misleading information in situations where a suspect is entitled to be advised of his rights. People v Savage, 2023 NY Slip Op 05452, First Dept 10-26-23

Practice Point: Although both the initial tainted statement to the police and the subsequent statement to the DA were preceded by Miranda warnings, because nothing was done to correct the misinformation provided by the police prior to the first statement, the second statement, made the same day, and the knife and DNA located based on the second statement, should have been suppressed.

 

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DEFENDANT DEMONSTRATED IT WAS AN OUT-OF-POSSESSION LANDLORD WHICH HAD RELINQUISHED CONTROL OVER THE AREA WHERE PLAINTIFF SLIPPED AND FELL ON A FLOOR ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN SLIPPERY BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN WAXED (FIRST DEPT). ​

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendant Trinity demonstrated it was an out-of-possession landlord and the area where plaintiff slipped and fell was under the control of the lessee (LSSNY), plaintiff’s employer. Plaintiff alleged the floor was slippery because it had been waxed:

Defendant established prima facie that it was an out-of-possession landlord with no contractual obligation to maintain the demised premises. Defendant also established prima facie, that the accident was not caused by a structural or design defect that violated a specific statutory safety provision … . * * *

… [P]laintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to whether defendant possessed and controlled the leased premises for purposes of liability. Plaintiff’s averment that she saw defendant’s personnel freely using the location during the three years she worked at the premises was insufficient to demonstrate that there exists a triable issue of fact as to whether defendant relinquished complete control over the area before she fell … . Rodriguez v Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2023 NY Slip Op 05453, First Dept 10-26-23

Practice Point: Here the out-of-possession landlord was not liable for plaintiff’s fall on a slippery floor. The alleged defect was not structural and did not violate a statutory duty.

 

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PLAINTIFF, WHO FELL FROM A HORSE, COULD SUE UNDER STANDARD PRINCIPLES OF NEGLIGENCE, AS OPPOSED TO THE STRICT LIABILITY THEORY IN THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW; PLAINTIFF’S SUIT WAS PRECLUDED BY THE ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK DOCTRINE (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined standard negligence principles, not strict liability, applied to this falling-off-a-horse case. Plaintiff, who fell from the horse when the horse stopped suddenly, assumed the risk of such an injury:

Defendant argues that, because the injury at issue was caused by a horse — a domestic animal — plaintiff may only sue in strict liability (see Agriculture and Markets Law § 108 [7]; … ). However, where a plaintiff suffers injuries stemming from horseback riding, such as here, the plaintiff may bring suit against the owner of the horse under traditional negligence standards … . Regardless, the primary assumption of risk doctrine functions as a “principle of no duty,” serving to “den[y] the existence of any underlying cause of action” … . Stanhope v Burke, 2023 NY Slip Op 05427, Third Dept 10-26-23

Practice Point: Plaintiff could maintain a standard negligence action against to owner of a horse stemming from plaintiff’s fall from the horse, as opposed to a strict liability action pursuant to the Agriculture and Markets Law.

Practice Point: Whether plaintiff sued in negligence or strict liability, the assumption of risk doctrine would apply to preclude the action.

 

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PRIOR FORECLOSURE ACTIONS DISMISSED FOR LACK OF STANDING DO NOT ACCELERATE THE DEBT AND THEREFORE DO NOT START THE RUNNING OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the prior foreclosure actions had been dismissed for lack of standing and therefore did not accelerate the debt and did not start the running of the statute of limitations. Here the plaintiffs sought discharge and cancellation of the mortgage on the ground the statute of limitations for a foreclosure action had expired:

Because the 2009 and the 2012 actions were dismissed due to lack of standing by defendant, the debt was not validly accelerated when those actions were commenced. As such, the statute of limitations to foreclose on the mortgage did not start to run. Stated differently, the statute of limitations has not expired. Caprotti v Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co., 2023 NY Slip Op 05428m Third Dept 10-26-23

Practice Point: Foreclosure actions dismissed for lack of standing do not accelerate the debt and do not start the running of the statute of limitations.

 

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DEFENDANT’S WAIVER OF APPEAL WAS INVALID; BASED UPON DEFENDANT’S STATEMENTS AT SENTENCING, THE JUDGE SHOULD HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT WHETHER DEFENDANT WISHED TO WITHDRAW HIS PLEA (THIRD DEPT). ​

​The Third Department, reversing defendant’s conviction by guilty plea, determined defendant’s waiver of appeal was invalid and, based upon defendant’s statements at sentencing, the judge should have inquired about whether defendant wished to withdraw his plea:

The People concede … that defendant’s waiver of the right to appeal is invalid, as County Court’s explanation of the waiver “failed to make clear to defendant that the appeal waiver was not a total bar to defendant taking an appeal, and the written waiver was similarly overbroad and did not clarify or supplement the court’s defective colloquy” … . … [D’efendant contends that his plea was not knowing, intelligent and voluntary based upon certain statements that he made at sentencing that raised potential defenses. “A trial court should conduct a hearing or further inquiry when at plea-taking or upon sentencing it appears the defendant misapprehends the nature of the charges or the consequences of the plea” … . “[S]tatements made by a defendant that negate an element of the crime to which a plea has been entered, raise the possibility of a particular defense or otherwise suggest an involuntary plea require the trial court to then conduct a further inquiry or give the defendant an opportunity to withdraw the plea” … .

At sentencing, defendant stated that he was “extremely remorseful and ashamed” for his actions in injuring the victim, but asserted that this occurred after he and the victim had consumed significant amounts of alcohol and the victim became “combative and physical . . . gouging my eyes and face with her fingernails, and then biting my lips, face and hands.” In explanation of his statement, defendant stated that he had wanted “to present evidence and [the] sequence of events.” Despite County Court’s agreement with the People’s voiced concerns that such statements raised the possibility of a defense, the court proceeded to sentence defendant without conducting a further inquiry and without providing him with an opportunity to withdraw his plea. People v Van Alstyne, 2023 NY Slip Op 05423, Third Dept 10-26-23

Practice Point: If the judge does not make it clear that an appeal waiver is not a complete bar to taking an appeal the waiver of appeal is invalid.

Practice Point: Here the defendant’s statements at sentencing raised the possibility of a defense to the charges. The judge should have inquired whether defendant wanted to withdraw his plea.

 

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