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FORMER SISTERS-IN-LAW WHO LIVED ONE MILE APART AND SAW EACH OTHER FREQUENTLY FOR 30 YEARS HAD AN “INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP” WHICH SUPPORTED THE FAMILY OFFENSE PROCEEDING (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined the long-term relationship (as sisters-in-law) qualified as an “intimate relationship” which supports a family offense proceeding:

For purposes of Family Court Act article 8, “members of the same family or household” is defined to include “persons related by consanguinity or affinity,” and “persons who are not related by consanguinity or affinity and who are or have been in an intimate relationship regardless of whether such persons have lived together at any time” … …

… [T]he petitioner demonstrated that the parties had been in an “intimate relationship” within the meaning of Family Court Act § 812(1)(e), so as to confer subject matter jurisdiction upon the court. Beyond expressly excluding from the definition of “intimate relationship” a “casual acquaintance” and “ordinary fraternization between two individuals in business or social contexts” … , “the Legislature left it to the courts to determine, on a case-by-case basis, what qualifies as an ‘intimate relationship’ within the meaning of Family Court Act § 812(1)(e)” … . Factors to consider include “the nature or type of relationship, regardless of whether the relationship is sexual in nature; the frequency of interaction between the persons; and the duration of the relationship” … .

… [T]he petitioner demonstrated that the parties had known each other for more than 30 years, that they had a close relationship as sisters-in-law for most of this period, during which they lived within one mile of one another, frequently had dinner together, engaged in social activities in each other’s homes, attended most holiday celebrations together, supported each other during times of devastating family illnesses, and assisted each other with their respective children … . Matter of Eno v Illovsky, 2023 NY Slip Op 01506, Second Dept 3-22-23

Practice Point: A family offense proceeding can be brought in Family Court only if there was an “intimate relationship” between petitioner and respondent. Here petitioner and respondent had been sisters-in-law for 30 years. lived a mile apart and had seen each other frequently. Their relationship was an “intimate relationship” within the meaning of the Family L

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THE NOTICE OF CLAIM IN THIS CHILD VICTIMS ACT SUIT AGAINST THE STATE SUFFICIENTLY ALLEGED WHEN THE ABUSE OCCURRED (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) the Court of Claims in this Child Victims Act (CVA) suit, determined the notice of claim sufficiently alleged the time when the alleged sexual abuse of claimant took place in a state psychiatric center. The court noted that the respondeat superior cause of action should be dismissed because any sexual abuse by a state employee would not be within the scope of employment as a matter of law:

… [T]he Court of Claims incorrectly determined that the claimant was required to allege the exact date on which the sexual abuse occurred … . The claimant’s allegations, including that the abuse occurred in 1993 while she was 14 years old and attending a gym class at Sagamore, were sufficient to satisfy the “time when” requirement of Court of Claims Act § 11(b) in this claim brought pursuant to the CVA … . Wagner v State of New York, 2023 NY Slip Op 01546, Second Dept 3-22-23

Practice Point; Here in this Child Victims Act suit, the allegation that the sexual abuse took place in 1993, when claimant was 14 and attending gym class met the “time when” requirement for a notice of claim.

 

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RECOVERY OF A $280,000 SETTLEMENT PURPORTEDLY PAID TO DEFENDANTS BY PLAINTIFF IS BARRED BY THE STRUCTURED SETTLEMENT PROTECTION ACT WHICH REQUIRES COURT APPROVAL PRIOR TO PAYMENT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the complaint seeking to recover settlement funds ($280,000) purportedly made to the defendants should have been dismissed. The settlement was never approved by a court in violation of the Structured Settlement Protection Act (SSPA) (General Obligations Law 5-1701):

… [D]efendants demonstrated that the complaint fails to state a cause of action, on the ground that the plaintiff’s claims are prohibited by the SSPA. Enacted in 2002, the purpose of the SSPA … was to establish “procedural safeguards for those who sell settlements that are awarded as a result of litigation,” due to a recognition that “[m]any of the people who receive such settlements are being compensated for very serious, debilitating injuries, and have been unfairly taken advantage of in the past by the businesses that purchase their settlements” … . “Under this law, transfers such as the one at issue are prohibited unless approved by a court of competent jurisdiction based upon express findings … that the transfer is in the best interest of the payee and that the discount rate, fees and expenses used to determine the net amount advanced are fair and reasonable” (… General Obligations Law § 5-1706). In circumstances … where payment for a structured settlement transfer is made to the payee prior to the court’s approval of the transfer, whether intentionally or due to a mistaken belief that the transfer had already been approved, a proposed transferee must seek nunc pro tunc approval of the transfer, and such approval is not guaranteed … . Pinnacle Capital, LLC v O’Bleanis, 2023 NY Slip Op 01540, Second Dept 3-22-23

Practice Point: The Structured Settlement Protection Act (General Obligations Law 5-17-1 et seq) requires court approval of structured settlements. If, as here, there was no court approval before plaintiff purportedly paid the funds to defendants, the plaintiff seeking to recover the funds from the defendants may be out of luck.

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​ THE MISDEMEANOR INFORMATION WAS BASED ON THE POLICE OFFICER’S UNEXPLAINED CONCLUSION THE DOCUMENT WAS FORGED AND DID NOT ALLEGE FACTS TO SUPPORT ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE OFFENSE; CONVICTION REVERSED AND INFORMATION DISMISSED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing the conviction and dismissing the misdemeanor information, determined the factual allegations in the information were not sufficient to provide notice of the charged offense. The information relied on the police officer’s conclusory statement that the document was forged:

Where … an allegation “involves a conclusion drawn by a police officer that involves the exercise of professional skill or experience, some explanation concerning the basis for that conclusion must be evident from the accusatory instrument” … .

… [T]he information failed to include sufficient factual allegations regarding the basis for the officer’s conclusion that the “Texas buy tag” was forged. Mere reliance on “his training in the detection and identification of forged instruments” is insufficient. Although the officer made reference to the use of “Z-finest,” he did not explain what “Z-finest” is or how it helped him determine that the tag was forged. Further, he did not explain or describe the Texas “buy tag.” These allegations are too conclusory to meet the prima facie case requirement on the issue of whether the buy tag was a forgery … .

… [E]ven assuming that the information sufficiently alleged that the buy tag was a forgery, the information failed to provide sufficient factual allegations to “establish a presumption that [the] defendant had knowledge of the forged nature of the instrument” … . People v Rodriguez, 2023 NY Slip Op 01535, Second Dept 3-22-23

Practice Point: A misdemeanor information must include factual allegations which support every element of the charged offense. Here the police officer’s unexplained conclusion the document was forged was insufficient. In addition the element requiring knowledge the document was forged was not addressed by the factual allegations. The conviction was reversed and the information dismissed.

 

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VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW 1192(2) (DWI) IS A LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSE OF VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW 1192(2-A) (AGGRAVATED DWI) (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department noted that driving while intoxicated in violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law 1192(2) is a lesser included offense of aggravated driving while intoxicated in violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law 1192 (2-a):

… [D]riving while intoxicated in violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192(2) is a lesser included offense of aggravated driving while intoxicated in violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192(2-a) (see CPL 300.30[4] … ). A verdict of guilt upon the greater count is deemed a dismissal of every lesser count (see CPL 300.40[3]). Accordingly, we vacate the conviction of driving while intoxicated in violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192(2) and the sentence imposed thereon, and dismiss that count of the indictment … .  People v Watson, 2023 NY Slip Op 01538, Second Dept 3-22-23

Practice Point: Vehicle and Traffic Law 1192(2) (DWI) is a lesser included offense of Vehicle and Traffic Law 1192(2-a) (aggravated DWI).

 

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IN THIS NO-FAULT INSURANCE CASE, THE INSURER REQUESTED AN EXAMINATION UNDER OATH (EUO) WITHOUT AFFORDING THE MEDICAL PROVIDER SPECIFIC, OBJECTIVE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE REQUEST; SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO THE INSURER (FIRST DEPT).

​The First Department, reversing Supreme Court in this no-fault insurance case, determined the insurer did not provide the medical provider with objective justification for its request for an examination under oath (EUO). Summary judgment should not have been awarded to the insurer:

Although plaintiff timely requested an EUO and subsequently issued a timely denial … , the motion court erred in granting summary judgment. 11 NYCRR 65-3.5 (e) requires an EUO request be based on application of objective standards, and that the insurer must have a specific objective justification. Summary judgment is premature under CPLR 3212 where an insurer fails to provide a medical provider with its objective justification for requesting the EUO … . This Court has explained that the insurer’s reason for the EUO is essential for medical providers to oppose an insurer’s summary judgment motion, and that information is in the exclusive knowledge and control of the insurer … . Country-Wide Ins. Co. v Alicea, 2023 NY Slip Op 01474, First Dept 3-21-23

Practice Point: In a no-fault insurance matter, the insurer’s request for an examination under oath (EUO) must be supported by “specific objective justification.” Here the failure to afford the medical provider objective justification precluded summary judgment in favor of the insurer.

 

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PLAINTIFF DID NOT ALLEGE SUFFICIENT CONTACTS WITH NEW YORK TO SUPPORT LONG-ARM JURISDICTION OVER THE DEFENDANT IN ISRAEL; THE EVIDENCE DID NOT JUSTIFY JURISDICTIONAL DISCOVERY (FIRST DEPT).

​The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff did not demonstrate a basis for long-arm jurisdiction over the defendant in Israel, and did not make a “sufficient start” to justify jurisdictional discovery:

Plaintiff, a Rhode Island corporation with its principal place of business in Nevada, commenced this action against defendant, a resident of Israel, alleging that defendant breached his fiduciary duty to plaintiff by failing to perform his marketing and management duties while serving as plaintiff’s director. …

… [D]efendant submitted evidence to show that he had no contacts with New York, had not been in New York since mid-2018, and that the specific transactions alleged in the complaint involved business contacts in Texas and Rhode Island, not New York. In opposition, plaintiff did not dispute defendant’s showing, but submitted evidence that it leased an office and opened a bank account in New York with defendant’s approval and assistance, and an affidavit of its chief executive officer who made vague and unsubstantiated assertions that defendant did business on plaintiff’s behalf in New York at unspecified times with unnamed employees and customers, which was insufficient to establish long-arm jurisdiction … . Because plaintiff failed to make a “sufficient start, via tangible evidence,” of showing that defendant transacted any business in New York having any substantial relationship to the claim alleged in the complaint, jurisdictional discovery was not warranted, and the complaint should have been dismissed … . Noris Med., Inc. v Siev, 2023 NY Slip Op 01482, First Dept 3-21-23

Practice Point: The alleged connections with New York did not state a basis for long-arm jurisdiction over the defendant in Israel.

Practice Point: The evidence did not make a “sufficient start” such that jurisdictional discovery was warranted.

 

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THE COMPLAINT STATED A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR UNPAID OVERTIME WITHOUT SPECIFYING PARTICULAR DATES OR WEEKS; AFFIDAVITS ARE NOT DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE WHICH WILL SUPPORT A “DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE” MOTION TO DISMISS (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the complaint stated a cause of action for unpaid overtime wages pursuant to the Labor Law and the proof submitted by defendant did not support a motion to dismiss based on documentary evidence:

Plaintiffs’ complaint sufficiently states a claim for unpaid overtime wages in violation of Labor Law §§ 191 and 663 and 12 NYCRR 142-2.2 … . Plaintiffs allege that they were not compensated for hours spent before and after their shift, loading company vehicles and receiving job assignments, before traveling to construction sites throughout the New York City region … . Although the complaint does not contain the particular dates or weeks that plaintiffs were allegedly underpaid, it provides sufficient notice of their causes of action for unpaid wages and overtime based on pre-shift and post-shift work performed at defendant’s yard … .

In addition, defendant’s documentary evidence is insufficient to support a motion to dismiss under CPLR 3211(a)(1). Dismissal on the basis of documentary evidence is appropriate only if that evidence “utterly refutes plaintiff’s factual allegations, conclusively establishing a defense as a matter of law” … . Affidavits are not documentary evidence that can support a 3211(a)(1) motion … . The documentary evidence fails to utterly refute plaintiffs’ claim that they were not timely paid overtime compensation. Despite defendant’s assertions, it is unclear whether the daily reports submitted with its motion properly reflect the alleged work performed before plaintiffs’ shifts began or after their shifts had purportedly ended. Rosario v Hallen Constr. Co., Inc., 2023 NY Slip Op 01490, First Dept 3-21-23

Practice Point: Here the complaint stated a cause of action for unpaid overtime despite the absence of specific dates or week when plaintiffs were allegedly underpaid.

Practice Point: A motion to dismiss based on documentary evidence is not supported when the documents are affidavits.

 

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IN A TAX FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING, EVIDENCE THE LETTERS PROVIDING NOTICE OF THE FORECLOSURE WERE NOT RETURNED TO THE TAXING AUTHORITY DOES NOT PRECLUDE RAISING A QUESTION OF FACT WITH PROOF NOTICE WAS NOT RECEIVED (CT APP). ​

The Court of Appeals, reversing the Appellate Division, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Cannataro, determined the controlling statute, Real Property Tax Law (RPTL) 1125(1)(b), does not preclude plaintiff in a tax foreclosure proceeding from presenting evidence the statutory notice requirements were not complied with. The statute states that notice of the foreclosure “shall be deemed received” if neither the certified letter nor the letter sent by first class mail are returned within 45 days. The taxing authority presented evidence the letters were not returned. Plaintiff presented evidence notice was sent to the wrong address and the certified letter lacked a postmark. The Court of Appeals held plaintiff had raised a question of fact about compliance with the statutory notice requirement, notwithstanding the evidence the letters were not returned:

By its unambiguous terms, RPTL 1125 (1) (b) (i) relates to whether notice will be “deemed received,” not whether the taxing authority has complied with the statutory mailing requirements. Although the taxing authority must ensure that “[a]n affidavit of mailing of such notice [is] executed” … , the statute expressly provides that “[t]he failure of an intended recipient to receive any such notice shall not invalidate any tax or prevent the enforcement of the same as provided by law” … . It is only when both the certified mailing and the first class mailing are returned that the statute requires the taxing authority to take additional action beyond the requirements set forth in RPTL 1125 (1) (b) (i) … .

That is not the end of the analysis, however, in cases where the interested party argues, as plaintiff does here, that the taxing authority failed to comply with the mailing requirements set forth in RPTL 1125 (1) (b) (i). … RPTL 1125 (1) (b) (i) contains no “presumption of service” … . Nor does section 1125 (1) (b) (i) bar an interested party from submitting evidence that would call the taxing authority’s compliance with its requirements into issue or limit the proof an interested party may use to raise an issue of fact with respect to that compliance only to evidence that both the certified and first class mailings were returned. Courts “may not create a limitation that the legislature did not enact” … . James B. Nutter & Co. v County of Saratoga, 2023 NY Slip Op 01469, CtApp 3-21-23

Practice Point: In a tax foreclosure proceeding, proof that the letters notifying the property owner of the foreclosure were not returned to the taxing authority (RPTL 1125(1)(b)) does not preclude the owner from raising a question of fact with evidence notice was not received (here evidence the certified letter did not have a postmark and a letter was sent to the wrong address).

 

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EVEN WHERE A SENTENCE HAS BEEN AGREED TO BY THE DEFENDANT AS PART OF A PLEA BARGAIN, AN INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT IS OBLIGATED TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE SENTENCE IS UNDULY HARSH OR SEVERE, SEPARATE AND APART FROM WHETHER THE SENTENCE IS LEGAL (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in two concurring opinions, determined the matter should be sent back to the Appellate Term for consideration of defendant’s argument his plea-bargained sentence (a $500 fine) was unduly harsh or severe. An appellate court’s power to reduce an unduly harsh or severe sentence can be applied, even when the sentence was part of a plea bargain:

The Appellate Term concluded that there was “no basis for reducing the fine” … . Although the Court was not required to go further and set forth the basis for its conclusion (see CPL 470.25 [1] …), here, it did so, reasoning that “[d]efendant received the precise sentence for which he had bargained, which was within the permissible statutory range” …  . In other words, the sentence was legal and bargained-for. Certainly, the Appellate Term cannot be faulted for considering and addressing the legality of the sentence because the intermediate appellate courts “cannot allow an illegal sentence to stand” … . However, the legality of the sentence was irrelevant to the entirely separate issue of whether it was unduly harsh or severe … , and it was improper for the Appellate Term to treat the bargained-for nature of defendant’s sentence as dispositive of his challenge to the severity of the sentence. People v Ba, 2023 NY Slip Op 01468, CtApp 3-21-23

Practice Point: An intermediate appellate court is constrained to consider whether a sentence is unduly harsh or severe, even where the sentence was agreed to by the defendant as part of a plea bargain.

 

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