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Entries by Bruce Freeman

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THE HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT ALLEGATIONS STATED CLAIMS UNDER THE STATE AND CITY HUMAN RIGHTS LAW (HRL); THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS STATED A CLAIM UNDER ONLY THE CITY HRL; THE CONTINUING VIOLATION DOCTRINE DID NOT APPLY TO ISOLATED STATEMENTS MADE OUTSIDE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined plaintiff stated a hostile work environment claim under the state and city Human Rights Law (HRL) and sexual harassment claim under the city, but not the state, HRL: The isolated statement made outside the statute of limitations were not subject to the continuing violation doctrine: Plaintiff’s allegations, […]

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THE PARTIES HAD ALREADY STIPULATED TO RESTORE THE ACTION TO THE CALENDAR; THE JUDGE SHOULD HAVE GRANTED PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO VACATE THE DISMISSAL OF THE ACTION FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR AT CONFERENCES OR OUTLINE REMAINING DISCOVERY (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff’s motion to vacate the order dismissing the action based on plaintiff’s failure to appear at conferences or file a stipulation outlining discovery should have been granted. The parties had already stipulated to restore the action to the calendar and the court should have enforced the stipulation: The […]

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THE JUDGE DENIED DEFENDANT’S REQUEST FOR NEW COUNSEL WITHOUT INQUIRING ABOUT THE REASON FOR THE REQUEST; CONVICTION REVERSED (FIRST DEPT). ​

The First Department, reversing defendant’s conviction, determined the judge should have allowed the defendant to explain the reason he was requesting new counsel: Defendant is entitled to a new trial because the court denied his request for new counsel without making any inquiry, and without giving defendant any opportunity to explain the basis for his […]

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IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE, THE DEFENDANTS DEMONSTRATED MEDICAL RECORDS PERTAINING TO PLAINTIFF’S PRIOR ANKLE INJURY WERE MATERIAL AND NECESSARY TO THE DEFENSE; DISCOVERY OF THOSE RECORDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendants were entitled to discovery of the medical records for plaintiff’s prior injuries in this slip and fall case. Although the facts are not explained, the appellate court deemed he medical records relevant to whether plaintiff was negligent: The plaintiff Shadia Hamed allegedly sustained personal injuries when she […]

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THE BANK DID NOT DEMONSTRATE THE NOTICE OF DEFAULT COMPLIED WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE MORTGAGE AGREEMENT BECAUSE THE NOTICE OF DEFAULT WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE PAPERS; THE JUDGE SHOULD NOT HAVE DENIED DEFENDANT’S CROSS MOTION FOR A HEARING ON WHETHER PLAINTIFF NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH AS REQUIRED BY CPLR 3408 (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the plaintiff bank did not demonstrate compliance with the provision in the mortgage agreement requiring certain advisements in the notice of default. The affidavit purporting to demonstrate compliance did not have the notice of default attached. In addition, Supreme Court should not have denied defendant’s cross motion for […]

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CANCELLATION AND DISCHARGE OF A MORTGAGE AND VACATION OF A NOTICE OF PENDENCY MUST BE SOUGHT BY AN ACTION OR A COUNTERCLAIM PURSUANT TO RPAPL 1501, NOT, AS HERE, BY A CROSS-MOTION; THE ISSUE WAS PROPERLY RAISED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON APPEAL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined defendant’s cross-motion to cancel and discharge the mortgage pursuant to RPAPL 1501(4) should not have been granted because that relief must be sought in an action or counterclaim, not by motion. The issue was properly raised for the first time on appeal: Supreme Court should not have […]

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ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE PLED IN THE ALTERNATIVE, A QUANTUM MERUIT CAUSE OF ACTION MUST BE DISMISSED WHERE THE ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY A VALID CONTRACT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) the Court of Claims, determined the quantum meruit cause of action should have been dismissed because the action was based upon a valid contract: Contrary to the conclusion of the Court of Claims, that branch of the State’s motion which was for summary judgment dismissing the eleventh cause of action, […]

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ALTHOUGH TRADER JOE’S APPARENTLY DID NOT OWN THE PARKING LOT WHERE PLAINTIFF FELL, IT FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE IT DID NOT OCCUPY, CONTROL OR MAKE SPECIAL USE OF THE PARKING LOT; TRADER JOE’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined defendant Trader Joe’s motion for summary judgment in this parking lot slip and fall case should not have been granted. Although the parking lot was apparently owned by the town, Trader Joe’s did not demonstrate it did not occupy, control, or make special use of the parking […]

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A DECISION TO RETURN TO THE REGULAR ACCESS SCHEDULE OF PARENTING TIME AFTER A PERIOD OF SUPERVISED PARENTAL VISITS MUST BE BASED UPON ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE; WHERE FACTS REMAIN IN DISPUTE, A HEARING IS REQUIRED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined that a hearing should have been held before granting defendant’s motion to return to the regular access schedule of parenting time because some facts were still in dispute: … Supreme Court should have conducted an evidentiary hearing prior to directing that the regular access schedule as set forth […]

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THE AMOUNT OF RESTITUTION IS PART OF THE SENTENCE AND MUST BE PRONOUNCED AT SENTENCING; THE ISSUE NEED NOT BE PRESERVED FOR APPEAL AND SURVIVES A WAIVER OF APPEAL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined the judge’s failure to pronounce the amount of restitution at sentencing required vacating the imposition of restitution and remitting the matter for further proceedings. The issue does not need to be preserved for appeal and is not precluded by a waiver of appeal: “CPL 380.20 and 380.40(1) collectively require that courts […]

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