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Entries by Bruce Freeman

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THE USUAL PROHIBITIONS RE: VACATING ORDERS ISSUED OPON A PARTY’S DEFAULT DO NOT APPLY IN CHILD CUSTODY MATTERS; TO MODIFY CUSTODY, A FULL AND PLENARY HEARING IS NECESSARY; IF A PARTY DOES NOT APPEAR IN A MODIFICATION PROCEEDING, AN INQUEST SHOULD BE HELD TO CREATE A RECORD (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, noted that courts should be more willing to vacate orders issued upon a party’s default in child custody matters. Mother had defaulted and custody was modified awarding custody to father. Mother’s motion to vacate the modification order should have been granted: Although the determination of whether to relieve a […]

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ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE THE RELEVANT BUSINESS RECORDS WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THE AFFIDAVITS, THE STATEMENTS IN THE AFFIDAVITS WERE HEARSAY; PLAINTIFF BANK DID NOT PROVE STANDING TO FORECLOSE OR DEFENDANT’S DEFAULT (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the bank in this foreclosure action did not prove standing and did not prove defendant’s default because the relevant business records were not attached to the relevant affidavits (yet another of the hundreds of reversals on this issue): … “‘[i]t is the business record itself, not the foundational […]

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​HERE THE DEFENDANTS DID NOT PRESENT A REASONABLE EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO APPEAR OR ANSWER AND DID NOT DEMONSTRATE THE EXISTENCE OF A POTENTIALLY MERITORIOUS DEFENSE; THE JUDGE SHOULD NOT HAVE, SUA SPONTE, GRANTED DEFENDANTS AN EXTENSION OF TIME TO ANSWER (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the judge should not have, sua sponte, granted defendants an extension of time to answer the complaint in the face of plaintiff’s cross-motion to enter a default judgment, The defendants did not demonstrate a reasonable excuse for failing to appear or answer or the existence of a potentially […]

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ABSENT AN ORDER BASED UPON AN EXCEPTION TO THE SECRECY PROVSIONS IN TAX LAW SECTION 697, THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE WAS NOT REQUIRED TO TURN OVER TAX FORMS SUBMITTED BY THE CORPORATE DEFENDANTS IN THIS LABOR LAW ACTION TO RECOVER UNPAID WAGES AND TIPS (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiffs’ subpoena demanding that the nonparty NYS Department of Taxation and Finance turn over tax forms submitted by the corporate defendants should have been quashed. The plaintiffs brought a class action to recover unpaid wages and tips pursuant to Labor Law 196-d. The relevant portion of the Tax […]

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PURSUANT TO THE PRIMARY JURISDICTION DOCTRINE, PLAINTIFFS’ COMPLAINTS ABOUT FINES IMPOSED BY DEFENDANT NATURAL-GAS PROVIDER MUST FIRST BE HEARD BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the “primary jurisdiction” doctrine required that plaintiffs bring their complaint against defendant natural-gas provider before the Public Service Commission: “The doctrine of primary jurisdiction is intended to co-ordinate the relationship between courts and administrative agencies to the end that divergence of opinion between them not render ineffective the […]

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HERE THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL IN THE ORIGINAL DEED DIVIDING THE PROPERTY INTO EIGHT PARTS WAS A VALID DEFENSE TO THE PARTITION ACTION; HOWEVER, IF DEEMED TO RUN WITH THE LAND, THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL VIOLATED THE RULE AGAINST PERPETUITIES (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined the right of first refusal in the original deed which divided the property into eight parts was a valid defense to the partition action. However the right of first refusal could not be enforced because it violated the rule against perpetuities: A right of first refusal . […]

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TO, SUA SPONTE, DECIDE BRANCHES OF A MOTION AND CROSS-MOTION ON A GROUND NOT RAISED BY THE PARTIES DEPRIVED PLAIINTIFF OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFUTE THE JUDGE’S DETERMINATION (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court in this foreclosure action, determined the judge should not have decided branches of a motion and cross-motion on a ground not raised by the parties, i.e. “in the interest of justice” on the ground the action was commenced “when foreclosures were stayed due to [the[ Covid-19 pandemic:” “The […]

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HERE TWO DISSENTERS ARGUED THE JUDGE DID NOT MAKE THE REQUIRED FINDINGS THAT THE PROSECUTOR’S RACE-NEUTRAL REASONS FOR PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES WERE NON-PRETEXTUAL (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, over a two-justice dissent, determined County Court properly denied Batson challenges to the prosecutor’s peremptory challenges: From the dissent: Although trial courts are permitted to implicitly determine that the race-neutral explanations offered by the prosecutor are not pretextual … , we find that the language utilized by County Court cannot be construed […]

THE COMMISSIONER OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE CAN RECOUP MONEY PAID TO A SSI-BENEFIT-APPLICANT UNDER A WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM (WEP) DURING THE PERIOD THE APPLICANT IS AWAITING SSI-BENEFIT APPROVAL (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the Commissioner of Temporary and Disability Assistance can seek reimbursement of income earned in a work experience program (WEP) while awaiting approval of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits: … [T]he Commissioner offers the example of an individual who receives $14,000 in interim assistance while waiting 28 months for […]

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THE LEASE FOR THE LAND WHERE PLAINTIFF PLANTED CROPS HAD A MUTUAL 90-DAY TERMINATION PROVISION WHICH DEFENDANTS EXERCISED; DEFENDANTS THEN DESTROYED THE CROPS MONTHS BEFORE THEY COULD BE HARVESTED; PLAINTIFFS’ COMPLAINT STATED CAUSES OF ACTION FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT AND CONVERSION BASED UPON THE IMPLIED COVENANT OF GOOD FAITH AND FAIR DEALING AND THE THEORY OF EMBLEMENTS (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Pritzker, over a partial dissent, determined the complaint stated causes of action for breach of contract and conversion. Plaintiffs leased land from defendants to grow crops. There was a provision in the lease allowing termination upon 90 days notice. Plaintiffs alleged they planted […]

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