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THE FORMER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S PTSD STEMMED FROM A SERIES OF INTERACTIONS WITH A CO-EMPLOYEE OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS AND THEREFORE WAS NOT THE RESULT OF AN “ACCIDENT;” SHE WAS NOT ENTITLED TO ACCIDENTAL DISABILITY RETIREMENT BENEFITS (ADR) (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, affirming the Appellate Division, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Cannataro, determined the petitioner’s post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from interactions with a another school employee did not entitle her to accidental disability retirement benefits (ADR) as opposed to ordinary disability retirement benefits (ODR)  The court found that the employee interactions […]

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THE “SHEPPARD-MOBLEY” BAR TO A MOTHER’S RECOVERY FOR EMOTIONAL HARM IF HER BABY IS BORN ALIVE DOES NOT APPLY TO A LACK-OF-INFORMED CONSENT, AS OPPOSED TO A MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, CAUSE OF ACTION; HERE MOTHER ALLEGED SHE DID NOT CONSENT TO TWO UNSUCCESSFUL VACUUM EXTRACTION ATTEMPTS WHICH PRECEDED THE C-SECTION; HER BABY DIED EIGHT DAYS AFTER BIRTH (FIRST DEPT). ​

The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Rodriguez, over a partial dissent, determined plaintiff’s lack-of-informed-consent cause of action properly survived defendant doctor’s (Grimaldi’s) motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff mother alleged she did not consent to the two unsuccessful vacuum extraction attempts which preceded the C-section delivery of her baby. The baby died eight […]

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THE RECORD WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO EVALUATE THE CLAIM DEFENSE COUNSEL’S FAILURE TO IMPEACH THE DETECTIVE’S TESTIMONY WITH AN INCONSISTENT STATEMENT CONCERNING THE IDENTIFICATION OF DEFENDANT AMOUNTED TO INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE; DEFENSE COUNSEL’S “PRE-PEOPLE V BOONE” FAILURE TO REQUEST A CROSS-RACIAL IDENTIFICATION JURY INSTRUCTION DID NOT AMOUNT TO INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE (CT APP).

he Court of Appeals, affirming defendant’s conviction, over a concurring opinion, determined the record was not sufficient to demonstrate defense counsel’s failure to impeach the defective’s testimony with inconsistencies concerning the identification of defendant amounted to ineffective assistance.  And the failure to request the cross-racial identification jury instruction, at a time when the instruction was […]

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A CROSS-RACIAL IDENTIFICATION JURY INSTRUCTION IS NOW MANDATORY UPON REQUEST; AT THE TIME OF DEFENDANT’S TRIAL THE CHARGE WAS DISCRETIONARY; DEFENSE COUNSEL’S FAILURE TO REQUEST THE INSTRUCTION DID NOT AMOUNT TO CONSTITUTIONAL INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Halligan, affirming defendant’s conviction, over a concurring opinion and two dissenting opinions, determined defense counsel’s failure to request a cross-racial identification jury instruction, which is now mandatory upon request (but was not at the time of trial), did not amount to constitutional ineffective assistance of […]

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DISPUTES INVOLVING THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF FOREIGN CORPORATIONS ARE RESOLVED UNDER THE LAW OF THE PLACE OF INCORPORATION (SCOTS LAW HERE); COURTS CAN TAKE JUDICIAL NOTICE OF THE FOREIGN LAW; HERE PLAINTIFFS STATED A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY UNDER SCOTS LAW (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, reversing the Appellate Division, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Singas, determined (1) in international business disputes involving the internal affairs of foreign corporations, the law of the place of incorporation (Scots law here) applies; (2) the court can take judicial of the foreign law; and (3) plaintiffs stated a cause […]

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FAILURE TO PROPERLY ASSESS A PATIENT’S RISK OF FALLING AND NEED FOR SUPERVISION SOUNDS IN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, NOT NEGLIGENCE (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the action sounded in medical malpractice, not negligence. Plaintiff’s decedent, who was blind, fell from an examining table when the nurse stepped away to throw away gauze in a nearby trash can: Allegations that a health care provider improperly assessed a patient’s risk of falling and need for […]

THE CUSTODY/GUARDIANSHIP HEARING TOOK SEVEN YEARS AND THE CHILDREN RESIDED WITH GRANDMOTHER AND UNCLE DURING THAT TIME; THE EXTENDED DISRUPTION OF CUSTODY CAUSED BY THE PROTRACTED COURT PROCEEDINGS DID NOT CONSTITUTE “EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES” WARRANTING AN AWARD OF CUSTODY TO GRANDMOTHER AND UNCLE (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, noted that the six or seven years during which the children resided with grandmother and uncle did not constitute “extraordinary circumstances” warranting granting grandmother and uncle, as opposed to mother, custody. Mother was seeking custody the entire time. The hearing started in 2014 and didn’t conclude until 2021: … […]

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THE CUSTODY-RELATED PRINCIPALS UNDERLYING MICHAEL B, 80 NY2D 299, APPLY TO THIS SURROGATE’S COURT GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDING WHERE BOTH PARENTS SEEK TO BE APPOINTED GUARDIAN OF THEIR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED SON AS HE TURNS 18; NEW EVIDENCE RENDERED THE RECORD INSUFFICIENT FOR A GUARDIANSHIP DETERMINATION; A NEW HEARING WAS ORDERED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Miller, in this Surrogate’s Court guardianship proceeding, determined the principals underlying Matter of Michael B, 80 NY2d 299, a custody case, should apply to this action to determine which parent should be appointed guardian of their developmentally disabled son, Joseph J D II, as he turned […]

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THE LAWSUIT SOUGHT RETURN OF A DOWN PAYMENT UNDER A REAL ESTATE CONTRACT; BECAUSE THE LAWSUIT DID NOT AFFECT TITLE, POSSESSION, USE OR ENJOYMENT OF THE PROPERTY A NOTICE OF PENDENCY IS NOT APPROPRIATE (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the notice of pendency should have been cancelled because the lawsuit, which sought the return of a down payment under a real estate contract, did not affect title, possession, use or enjoyment of the real property: Pursuant to CPLR 6501, “[a] notice of pendency may be filed only […]

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THERE IS A QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER THE SCHOOL’S DUTY TO SUPERVISE STUDENTS EXTENDS TO AN AREA OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL WHERE PARENTS PICK UP AND DROP OFF THE STUDENTS; INFANT PLAINTIFF TRIPPED AND FELL ON A ROAD DEFECT NEAR THE CURB (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the negligent supervision cause of action against defendant school should not have been dismissed. Infant plaintiff tripped and fell on a road defect that abutted a curb where students were picked up and dropped off by parents: “Schools are under a duty to adequately supervise the students in […]

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