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PLAINTIFF DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED HER TO SLIP ON A STAIRWAY STEP BUT SHE TESTIFIED SHE LOOKED FOR SOMETHING TO HOLD ONTO AND THERE WAS NO HANDRAIL; THERE WAS A QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER THE ABSENCE OF A HANDRAIL WAS A PROXIMATE CAUSE OF HER FALL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendant’s motion for summary judgment in this stairway slip and fall case should not have been granted. Although plaintiff did not know what caused her to slip on the step, she testified she “wanted something to hold on to” but there was no handrail: Although the plaintiff testified […]

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ALTHOUGH THE JUDGE INFORMED DEFENDANT HE COULD BE SUBJECT TO AN ENHANCED SENTENCE IF HE DIDN’T APPEAR FOR THE PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION INTERVIEW OR GOT INTO TROUBLE BEFORE SENTENCING, THE JUDGE DID NOT SPECIFICALLY INFORM DEFENDANT HE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO AN ENHANCED SENTENCE IF HE DID NOT APPEAR FOR SENTENCING; SENTENCE VACATED (THIRD DEPT). ​

The Third Department, vacating defendant’s sentence and remitting the matter, determined defendant was not specifically informed that his failure to show up for sentencing could result in an enhanced sentence. Therefore the enhanced sentence was vacated: In satisfaction of the indictment and other pending charges, defendant agreed to plead guilty to one count of falsely […]

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THE EXECUTIVE LAW WHICH MAKES A LANDLORD’S REFUSAL TO ACCEPT TENANTS WHO RECEIVE SECTION 8 VOUCHERS AN UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE, AS A RESULT OF ACCEPTING SECTION 8 FUNDS, LANDLORDS MUST SUBMIT TO UNREASONABLE SEARCHES OF APARTMENTS AND RECORDS (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Ceresia, determined Executive Law section 296(5)(a)(1) is unconstitutional. The statute makes a landlord’s refusal to rent to tenants who receive Section 8 housing vouchers an unlawful discriminatory practice. The landlords argued “the source-of-income discrimination law is unconstitutional on its face because it, in effect, requires landlords […]

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THE REQUIREMENT IN THE LONG-TERM SOLITARY CONFINEMENT ACT (HALT ACT) THAT A HEARING BE HELD WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF PLACING AN INMATE IN A SEGREGATED HOUSING UNIT (SHU) IS “DIRECTORY,” NOT MANDATORY; THEREFORE ANY ISSUE RELATED TO A DELAY IN HOLDING THE HEARING MUST BE PRESERVED FOR REVIEW AND THE INMATE MUST DEMONSTRATE PREJUDICE CAUSED BY THE DELAY (THIRD DEPT).

The Second Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice McShan, determined the requirement that, under the Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act (HALT Act), a disciplinary hearing be held within five days of an inmate’s placement in a segregated housing (SHU) is directory, not mandatory. Therefore the issue must be preserved for review and the inmate must […]

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THE GOVERNOR’S EMERGENCY COVID-19 TOLLS OF STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS EXTENDED THE TWO-YEAR WINDOW FOR FILING CHILD VICTIMS ACT (CVA) CAUSES OF ACTION BY 228 DAYS (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Voutsinas, determined the amendment of the Child Victims Act (CVA), which enlarged to window for filing otherwise time-barred actions, did not supersede the governor’s COVID-19 executive orders tolling statutes of limitations. Therefore two-year window for filing CVA actions was extended by the 228-day COVID-19 tolls and […]

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PURSUANT TO THE RES IPSA LOQUITUR DOCTRINE, THERE IS A QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER EPIDURAL INJECTIONS WERE DONE NEGLIGENTLY; THE FACT THAT PLAINTIFF SIGNED A CONSENT FORM WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON THE LACK OF INFORMED CONSENT CAUSE OF ACTION (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the defendants’ motions for summary judgment in this medical malpractice and lack of informed consent action should not have been granted. The plaintiff raised a question of fact re: medical malpractice under the res ipsa loquitur doctrine. And the fact that plaintiff signed a consent form was not […]

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NONE OF DEFENDANT’S CONVICTIONS STOOD UP TO APPELLATE SCRUTINY; THE GRAND LARCENY AND CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION CONVICTIONS WERE AGAINST THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE; THE COUNTS CHARGING SCHEME TO DEFRAUD AND APPEARING AS AN ATTORNEY WITHOUT BEING ADMITTED WERE DISMISSED AS DUPLICITOUS (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department reversed the grand larceny and criminal impersonation counts, with the People’s consent, under a weight-of-the-evidence analysis. The proof demonstrated the grand larceny counts failed because the “victims” voluntarily gave defendant the money. The criminal impersonation counts failed because the defendant did not impersonate a “real person.” The scheme to defraud and “appearing […]

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DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS UNAVOIDABLY DELAYED IN GETTING TO COURT AND SO INFORMED THE JUDGE; IN DEFENSE COUNSEL’S ABSENCE A JUROR REQUESTED TO BE DISCHARGED BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN DEATH OF HER FRIEND’S SON; THE DISCHARGE OF THE JUROR WITHOUT DEFENSE COUNSEL’S CONSENT REQUIRED REVERSAL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the defense motion for a mistrial should have been granted. Defense counsel, because of a child-care issue, informed the court she could not be there at 9 am but would arrive at court later in the morning. While defense counsel was absent, a juror requested to be discharged […]

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PLAINTIFF ATTEMPTED TO MOVE A SCAFFOLD WHILE STANDING ON IT AND IT FELL OVER; PLAINTIFF WAS ENTITLED TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON THE LABOR LAW 240(1) AND 241(6) CAUSES OF ACTION (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined plaintiff was entitled to summary judgment on the Labor Law 240(1) cause of action. Plaintiff was standing on a Baker scaffold, attempting to move it, when it toppled over. The scaffold did not have safety railings and plaintiff was not provided with any safety equipment.. Plaintiff’s comparative […]

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UNDER THE FORECLOSURE ABUSE PREVENTION ACT (FAPA), A DEFENDANT CAN RENEW A SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION AFTER A JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AND AFTER THE TIME FOR APPEAL HAS EXPIRED AS LONG AS THE SALE HAS NOT YET BEEN CONDUCTED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the defendant’s motion for renewal of its summary judgment motion in this foreclosure proceeding should have been granted. The motion was based upon the retroactive application of the Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA). Renewal should be granted after a judgment of foreclosure and after the time for appeal […]

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