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DEFENDANT CITY DEMONSTRATED IT DID NOT EXERCISE ANY SUPERVISORY CONTROL OVER THE MANNER OF PLAINTIFF’S WORK IN THIS LABOR LAW 200 ACTION; THEREFORE THE CITY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined the city’s motion for summary judgment on the Labor Law 200 cause of action in this construction accident case should have been granted. The city did not exercise any control over the manner of plainitiff’s work:

“Labor Law § 200 is a codification of the common-law duty of property owners and general contractors to provide workers with a safe place to work” … . “Where, as here, the plaintiff’s injuries arise from the manner in which the work is performed, to be held liable under Labor Law § 200, ‘a defendant must have the authority to exercise supervision and control over the work'” … . Evidence of mere general supervisory authority to oversee the progress of the work, to inspect the work product, or to make aesthetic decisions is insufficient to impose liability under Labor Law § 200 … . Here, the City established, prima facie, that it did not exercise any supervision or control over the method or manner in which the plaintiff’s work was performed … . Jarnutowski v City of Long Beach, 2022 NY Slip Op 06474, Second Dept 11-16-22

Practice Point: In order to be liable under Labor Law 200, where the construction-related injury was caused by the manner in which the work was done, the defendant must exercise supervisory control over the work.

 

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THE BANK IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION FAILED TO LAY A FOUNDATION FOR THE BUSINESS RECORDS REQUIRED TO SHOW STANDING TO BRING THE ACTION AND DID NOT SUBMIT SUFFICIENT PROOF OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE NOTICE-OF-DEFAULT MAILING REQUIREMENTS OF RPAPL 1304 (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the bank in this foreclosure did not demonstrate standing the bring the action and compliance with the notice-of-default mailing requirement of RPAPL 1304:

A plaintiff has standing to maintain a mortgage foreclosure action where it is the holder or assignee of the underlying note at the time the action is commenced … . Here, in support of its motion, the plaintiff submitted the affidavit of Shamona Marisa Truesdale, a vice president of loan documentation for Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (hereinafter Wells Fargo), the plaintiff’s loan servicer. Truesdale stated that she was familiar with Wells Fargo’s records and record-keeping practices. She further stated that the plaintiff was in possession of the note on October 8, 2009, the date this action was commenced. Truesdale’s statement that the plaintiff had possession of the note at the time this action was commenced was inadmissible hearsay. Although Truesdale stated that she was familiar with the records and record-keeping practices of Wells Fargo, the plaintiff’s loan servicer, she failed to state that she was familiar with the records and record-keeping practices of the plaintiff itself. Thus, Truesdale failed to lay a proper foundation for the admission of any of the plaintiff’s business records … . * * *

The plaintiff can establish strict compliance with RPAPL 1304 by submitting domestic return receipts, proof of a standard office procedure designed to ensure that items are properly addressed and mailed, or an affidavit from someone with personal knowledge that the mailing of the RPAPL 1304 notice actually happened … .

Here, the plaintiff relied on the affidavit of Jack Whitmarsh, a vice president of loan documentation for Wells Fargo, who averred that, based on his review of Wells Fargo’s records, the required notice was sent by both certified mail and first-class mail. The plaintiff also submitted a copy of the RPAPL 1304 notice, which was sent to the defendants at the mortgaged premises, and which was stamped with a certified mailing number, as well as a printout of a record purportedly evidencing certified mailing of the notice. However, these documents were insufficient to prove the mailing of the notice by certified mail actually occurred … . Moreover, the plaintiff failed to submit any evidence that the notice was mailed by first-class mail … . Further, Whitmarsh did not aver that he had personal knowledge of the mailing and did not describe any standard office procedure designed to ensure that the notices are mailed … . HSBC Bank USA, N.A. v Gordon, 2022 NY Slip Op 06473, Second Dept 11-16-22

Practice Point: Here the bank apparently submitted the business records necessary to demonstrate the bank’s standing to bring the foreclosure action but the accompanying affidavit did not lay a proper foundation for admitting them. In addition the bank failed to demonstrate compliance with the notice-of-default mailing requirements of RPAPL 1304.

 

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THE BANK IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE NOTICE-OF-DEFAULT MAILING REQUIREMENTS OF RPAPL 1304 (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the bank in this foreclosure action did not demonstrate compliance with the notice-of-default mailing requirements of RPAPL 1304:

“RPAPL 1304(1) provides that, ‘at least ninety days before a lender, an assignee or a mortgage loan servicer commences legal action against the borrower . . . , including mortgage foreclosure, such lender, assignee or mortgage loan servicer shall give notice to the borrower.’ The statute further provides the required content for the notice and provides that the notice must be sent by registered or certified mail and also by first-class mail to the last known address of the borrower” ( … see RPAPL 1304[2]). “Proper service of RPAPL 1304 notice on the borrower or borrowers is a condition precedent to the commencement of a foreclosure action, and the plaintiff has the burden of establishing satisfaction of this condition” … .  …

… [T]he plaintiff failed to demonstrate, prima facie, that it strictly complied with the mailing requirements of RPAPL 1304. The affidavit of Daniel Delpesche, a contract management coordinator for the plaintiff’s attorney-in-fact, Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC …, did not make the requisite showing that Delpesche was familiar with Ocwen’s mailing practices and procedures, and “therefore did not establish proof of a standard office practice and procedure designed to ensure that items are properly addressed and mailed” … . HSBC Bank USA, N.A. v Martin, 2022 NY Slip Op 06471, Second Dept 11-16-22

Practice Point: If the affidavit submitted by the bank in a foreclosure action to prove the notice of default was mailed in accordance with RPAPL 1304 does not state that affiant is familiar with the relevant entity’s mailing procedures the bank’s motion for summary judgment must be denied.​

 

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FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE BUSINESS RECORDS NECESSARY TO DEMONSTRATE DEFENDANTS’ DEFAULT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION REQUIRED DENIAL OF THE BANK’S SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the bank’s failure to submit the business records necessary to establish the defendants’ default in this foreclosure action precluded summary judgment in favor of the bank:

In support of the motion, the plaintiff submitted an affidavit from Helen Fraser, a vice president of document control of CitiMorgage, Inc. (hereinafter CitiMortgage), the plaintiff’s loan servicer. Fraser stated that she was familiar with the records and record-keeping practices of both CitiMortgage and the plaintiff. Fraser stated that the defendants “have defaulted under the terms and conditions of the above stated Note by failing to make the July 12, 2016 payment and all successive payments thereafter.” She did not attach any business records to her affidavit. * * *

… [I]t is the business record itself, not the foundational affidavit, that serves as proof of the matter asserted” … . Here, Fraser’s assertion in her affidavit regarding the defendants’ default, without attaching the business records upon which she relied in making that assertion, constituted inadmissible hearsay … . Citibank, N.A. v Potente, 2022 NY Slip Op 06464, Second Dept 11-16-22

Similar issues and result in Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v Pane, 2022 NY Slip Op 06516, Second Dept 11-16-22

Practice Point: Yet again: An affidavit which is not supported by the attachment of the business records referenced in the affidavit is considered hearsay which cannot be the basis for summary judgment in favor of the bank in a foreclosure action.

 

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ABSENT FRAUD, COLLUSION OR A MALICIOUS OR TORTIOUS ACT, DEFENDANT ATTORNEYS COULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR AUTHORITY AS AGENTS OF THE CLIENTS AND ALLEGEDLY ADVISING THEIR CLIENTS TO BREACH A CONTRACT WITH PLAINTIFFS (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the defendant attorneys (Jin Hu defendants) could not be liable to third parties (plaintiffs) for allegedly advising their clients (DeVito defendants) to breach a real estate purchase contract:

… “[I]nasmuch as the relationship created between an attorney and his client is that of principal and agent, an attorney is not liable for inducing his [or her] principal to breach a contract with a third person, at least where he [or she] is acting on behalf of his principal within the scope of his [or her] authority” … . “Absent a showing of fraud or collusion, or of a malicious or tortious act, an attorney is not liable to third parties for purported injuries caused by services performed on behalf of a client or advice offered to that client” … .

Here, the allegations in the complaint regarding the conduct of the Jin Hu defendants were impermissibly vague and conclusory … . Additionally, the complaint failed to sufficiently allege that the Jin Hu defendants acted outside the scope of their authority as counsel for the DeVito defendants or engaged in any conduct that could make them liable to the plaintiffs … . Asamblea De Iglesias Christianas, Inc. v DeVito, 2022 NY Slip Op 06456, Second Dept 11-16-22

Practice Point: Absent fraud, collusion of a malicious of tortios act, an attorney, as the agent for the principal (the client) acting within the scope of the attorney’s authority, cannot be liable to the plaintiff for advising the client to breach a contract with the plaintiff.

 

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IF A TRIAL JUDGE DECIDES THE DAMAGES AWARDED BY THE JURY ARE EXCESSIVE, THE PROPER PROCEDURE IS TO ORDER A NEW TRIAL UNLESS PLAINTIFF STIPULATES TO THE REDUCED AWARD (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department agreed with the trial judge’s reduction of damages awarded by the jury in this wrongful death case but noted that the judge should have ordered a new trial unless plaintiff stipulated to the lower damages amount:

… [W]hile the 21-year-old Bohdan [plaintiff’s decedent], who worked in the family business, lived with his parents, and cared for his younger sibling, was described as a wonderful, loving son who was especially helpful around the home, based on the record, the Supreme Court properly concluded that the jury awards for past pecuniary loss and future pecuniary loss were excessive. … . … [I]t was procedurally improper for the court to reduce the awards of damages for past pecuniary loss and future pecuniary loss without granting a new trial on those issues unless the plaintiff stipulated to reduce the verdict … . Vitenko v City of New York, 2022 NY Slip Op 06515, Second Dept 11-16-22

Practice Point: If the trial judge decides the damages awarded by the jury are excessive, the proper procedure is to order a new trial unless the plaintiff stipulates to the reduced amount.

 

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THE THREE-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR AGE DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS UNDER THE NYS AND NYC HUMAN RIGHTS LAW IS TOLLED BY FILING A CHARGE FOR AGE DISCRIMINATION WITH THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (EEOC) (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the age discrimination claims under the NYS and NYC Human Rights Law were timely brought because the three-year statute of limitations was tolled when plaintiff filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC):

Plaintiff’s action, asserting claims of age discrimination under the New York State Human Rights Law (Executive Law § 296[1][a]) and the New York City Human Rights Law (Administrative Code § 8-107), was timely commenced, as the three-year statute of limitations was tolled by her filing of a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) … . The filing of an EEOC charge constitutes a simultaneous and automatic filing with the New York State Division of Human Rights (SDHR) due to a work-sharing agreement between the two agencies … .

Moreover, Administrative Code § 8-502(d) provides, “[u]pon the filing of a complaint with the city commission on human rights or the state division of human rights and during the pendency of such complaint and any court proceeding for review of the dismissal of such complaint, such three-year limitations shall be tolled.” The interplay between the EEOC/SDHR work-sharing agreement and the tolling provision in § 8-502(d) “indicates that a charge filed with the EEOC would also toll the statute of limitations period for [City HRL] claims” … . Gabin v Greenwich House, Inc., 2022 NY Slip Op 06428, First Dept 11-15-22

Practice Point: Filing an age discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) tolls the three-year statute of limitation for filing age discrimination claims pursuant the NYS and NYC Human Rights Law.

 

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​ THE GUARDIAN OF THE PERSON AND PROPERTY OF THE INCAPACITATED PERSON (IP) AND THE ATTORNEY APPOINTED TO REPRESENT THE IP WERE PROPERLY REMOVED AND DISCHARGED WITHOUT A TESTIMONIAL HEARING, WHICH IS NOT REQUIRED BY THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW; THE GUARDIAN AND THE ATTORNEY FAILED TO INVESTIGATE THE BONA FIDES OF THE IP’S MARRIAGE AND THE PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT (FIRST DEPT). ​

The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Gische, determined the temporary guardian of the person and property (Mock) and the attorney appointed represent the incapacitated person (IP), Edgar, were properly removed and discharged without a testimonial hearing. The opinion is rich with allegations Edgar was being victimized financially which cannot be fairly summarized here:

On October 2, 2018, Alison Loew, the sister and only sibling of Edgar Valentine Loew, brought a petition for the appointment of an article 81 guardian for her then 74-year-old brother. The petition alleged that Edgar, who is wealthy, but suffers from mental health issues and has some physical limitations, was the victim of systematic financial exploitation by Rachida Naciri. …

A court evaluator (Britt Burner) was appointed on October 2, 2018, appellant Gary Elias was appointed as Edgar’s attorney, and appellant Judy S. Mock was appointed as Edgar’s temporary guardian of the person and property. * * *

The Mental Hygiene Law does not support appellants’ contention that they were entitled to a testimonial hearing in this case before being removed. Mental Hygiene Law § 81.35 provides that a guardian may be removed when she or he “fails to comply with an order, is guilty of misconduct, or for any other cause which to the court shall appear just” … . A motion on notice, served on the persons specified in Mental Hygiene Law § 81.16 (c), is required but there is no statutory right to a hearing (see Mental Hygiene Law §§ 81.16[c]; 81.35). This relaxed requirement stands in distinction to Mental Hygiene Law § 81.11 (a), which provides that the petition for the appointment of a guardian for an alleged IP, whose liberty interests are at stake, “shall be made only after a hearing” … . The reason a guardian has “no due process right to a full hearing,” nor is a “full blown” hearing necessary for their removal, is that a guardian has no “property interest” to protect … .

Although a guardian cannot be summarily removed in the absence of a fully developed record or without any findings, and a hearing may be required where material facts are disputed … , here the parties had not only fully briefed [the] motion, but the salient facts were also known to the court and largely undisputed. A decision to remove a guardian of the person and property of an IP is within the sound discretion of the trial court … . Matter of Loew, 2022 NY Slip Op 06436, First Dept First Dept 11-15-22

Practice Point: The guardian and the attorney appointed to represent the incapacitated person (IP) were properly removed and discharged without a testimonial hearing, which is not required by the Mental Hygiene Law. The guardian and the attorney failed to investigate the bona fides of the IP’s marriage and prenuptial agreement.

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PLAINTIFF PEDESTRIAN ALLEGED THE NEGLIGENCE OF A TRAFFIC OFFICER IN DIRECTING TRAFFIC CAUSED THE ACCIDENT; PLAINTIFF DID NOT DEMONSTRATE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND PLAINTIFF, A PREREQUISITE FOR MUNICIPAL LIABILITY (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff-pedestrian’s complaint against the city in this traffic accident case should have been dismissed. Plaintiff alleged the traffic officer’s negligence in directing traffic caused the accident. The First Department found there was no demonstration of a “special relationship” between plaintiff and the city, a prerequisite for municipal liability:

Neither the notice of claim nor the complaint alleges the factual predicate for the special relationship theory between plaintiff and the City, as required to hold the City liable for plaintiff’s injuries based on a traffic officer’s alleged negligence in directing traffic and pedestrians at an intersection where plaintiff was crossing the street … . Plaintiff also did not sufficiently allege that the officer, in directing traffic, took control of “a known and dangerous safety condition” so as to set forth the existence of a special duty … . Plaintiff alleged only that the traffic officer negligently directed a vehicle at the intersection, causing the vehicle to hit her, thereby creating a dangerous condition; however, the dangerous condition must exist prior to the traffic officer’s assumption of any duty … . Plaintiff did not assert that the intersection was inherently dangerous or that the drivers of the cars at the intersection were violating any safety laws before the officer was directing pedestrians. Polito v Escorcia, 2022 NY Slip Op 06447, First Dept 11-15-22

Practice Point: In this pedestrian accident case, the plaintiff alleged the negligence of the traffic officer in directing traffic caused the accident. The plaintiff failed to demonstrate a special relationship between the city and plaintiff, a prerequisite for municipal liability.

 

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THE PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY EXCLUSION IN THE NAIL SALON’S INSURANCE POLICY IS NOT AMBIGUOUS AND EXCLUDES INJURY RESULTING FROM A “COSMETIC SERVICE;” PLAINTIFF ALLEGED SHE CONTRACTED AN INFECTION DURING A PEDICURE; COVERAGE WAS PROPERLY DENIED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the “professional liability” exclusion from the insured nail salon’s policy applied and coverage was properly denied. Plaintiff alleged she contracted an infection during a pedicure:

… [T]he professional liability exclusion states—in clear and unmistakable language—that the insured’s policy “does not apply to ‘bodily injury’ . . . due to . . . [t]he rendering of or failure to render cosmetic . . . services or treatments.” We agree with defendant that, contrary to plaintiff’s contention, “[t]here is no ambiguity in the wording of the exclusion” inasmuch as it is susceptible of only one reasonable interpretation: there is no coverage for bodily injury due to (i.e., “caused by”) the rendering (i.e., the performance) of a cosmetic service or treatment (e.g., a pedicure) … . Thus, employing ” ‘the test to determine whether an insurance contract is ambiguous [by] focus[ing] on the reasonable expectations of the average insured upon reading the policy and employing common speech’ ” … , we conclude that the exclusion is unambiguous because the average insured would understand the policy to exclude coverage for injuries caused by the performance of acts that constitute part of the pedicure service … . Walker v Erie Ins. Co., 2022 NY Slip Op 06332, Fourth Dept 11-10-22

Practice Point: Where an exclusion in an insurance policy is unambiguous it will be enforced. Here the nail salon’s insurance policy had a professional liability exclusion. Plaintiff alleged she contracted an infection during a pedicure. The pedicure was deemed included in the exclusion of bodily injury caused by the rendering of a cosmetic service (i.e., a pedicure).

 

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