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FAILURE TO INFORM THE DEFENDANT OF THE SPECIFIC OR MAXIMUM PERIOD OF POSTRELEASE SUPERVISION RENDERED THE GUILTY PLEA INVOLUNTARY (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, vacating defendant’s guilty plea, determined the plea was not voluntary because defendant was not informed of the specific or maximum period of postrelease supervision to which defendant would be sentenced: “To meet due process requirements, a defendant must be aware of the postrelease supervision component of that sentence in order to knowingly, […]

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THE EVIDENCE THE COMPLAINANT SUFFERED “SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY” FROM MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS WAS LEGALLY INSUFFICIENT; CONVICTIONS REDUCED TO ATTEMPTED GANG ASSAULT, ASSAULT AND ROBBERY (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department reduced defendant’s convictions to attempted gang assault first, attempted assault first, attempted robbery first and attempted assault second because the proof the complainant suffered “serious physical injury” was lacking: … [W]e find that the evidence was not legally sufficient to establish the defendant’s guilt on these counts. Although the complainant was stabbed […]

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PASSING REFERENCES TO DEFENDANTS’ INSURANCE COVERAGE IN THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CASE DID NOT WARRANT SETTING ASIDE PLAINTIFF’S VERDICT (FIRST DEPT).

The Frist Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the passing references to defendants’ insurance coverage in this traffic accident case did not warrant setting aside plaintiff’s verdict: Plaintiff sustained injuries … , when a livery cab in which he was a passenger collided with an SUV driven by defendant Williams. During direct examination by plaintiff’s counsel […]

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RENOVATION WORK ON DEFENDANTS’ TOWNHOUSE RENDERED PLAINTIFFS’ TOWNHOUSE, WHICH WAS NEXT DOOR, UNINHABITABLE; A LICENSE AGREEMENT WHICH GRANTED DEFENDANTS ACCESS TO PLAINTIFFS’ TOWNHOUSE INCLUDED A LIQUIDATED DAMAGES PROVISION WHICH WAS VALID AND ENFORCEABLE; PLAINTIFFS’ ACTION SOUGHT SOME EQUITABLE RELIEF BUT PRIMARILY SOUGHT MONEY DAMAGES; THEREFORE PLANTIFFS’ DEMAND FOR A JURY TRIAL SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN STRUCK (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department determined, among many other issues not summarized here, the liquidated damages provision in the license agreement was enforceable and plaintiffs’ demand for a jury trial should not have been struck. Defendants purchased an historic townhouse next to plaintiffs’ townhouse. In the course of the defendants’ major renovations, plaintiffs’ townhouse was damaged. High […]

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ACTIONS PURSUANT TO NEW YORK CITY’S “FREELANCE ISN’T FREE ACT” (FIFA) WHICH ALLEGED DEFENDANTS FAILED TO PAY PLAINTIFFS-FREELANCERS SURVIVED MOTIONS TO DISMISS (FIRST DEPT). ​

The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Moulton, in matters of first impression, interpreted the Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA) in the context of motions to dismiss. The opinion is detailed and fact-specific and cannot be fairly summarized here. The plaintiffs alleged they were hired by defendants as freelancers and defendants’ failure pay […]

HERE DEFENDANT SET A FIRE TO CONCEAL EVIDENCE AND WAS CONVICTED OF ARSON AND TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE; BECAUSE BOTH CHARGES AROSE FROM A SINGLE ACT, THE SENTENCES MUST RUN CONCURRENTLY (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined the sentences for arson and tampering with evidence arose from a single act and, therefore, the sentences must run concurrently. Defendant had participated in tying her disabled child to a bed. When defendant returned home, the child had died. To conceal the evidence, defendant participated in setting the home on fire. […]

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ONE OF THE PERSONS INVOLVED IN A VIOLENT CONFRONTATION OUTSIDE A SCHOOL THREATENED TO RETURN THE NEXT DAY WITH A GUN; A TEACHER IMMEDIATELY HELD A MEETING WHERE CALLING IN SICK THE NEXT DAY WAS DISCUSSED; 23 TEACHERS CALLED IN SICK; THAT ACTION CONSTITUTED AN ILLEGAL STRIKE PURSUANT TO CIVIL SERVICE LAW 210 (THIRD DEPT). ​

The Third Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Clark, determined that the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) properly found that the petitioner, the Buffalo Teachers Federation, engaged in an unlawful strike in violation of Civil Service Law section 210. There was a violent confrontation between two older individuals and students outside the school at […]

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ON REMAND FROM THE US SUPREME COURT, THE COURT OF APPEALS FOUND THAT THE VIOLATION OF DEFENDANT’S RIGHT OF CONFRONTATION WAS HARMLESS ERROR (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, on remand from the US Supreme Court, determined the evidentiary error was harmless and affirmed defendant’s conviction. The defendant was convicted of murder. The plea allocution of Morris, who was initially prosecuted for the same murder (but exonerated by DNA evidence). was allowed in evidence in defendant’s trial, a violation of […]

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THE BUILDING DEFENDANTS DEMONSTRATED THE AREA WHERE PLAINTIFF ALLEGED SHE SLIPPED AND FELL ON WATER ON THE FLOOR WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND TO BE DRY CLOSE IN TIME TO THE ALLEGED FALL; DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the affidavit of a building porter stating that the area where plaintiff slipped and fell was dry when he inspected shortly before the alleged fall warranted granting defendants’ summary judgment motion. Plaintiff alleged she slipped and fell on water ono the floor: …[T]the defendants established their prima facie […]

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THE ALLEGED MISPRESENTATION IN PLAINTIFF’S APPLICATION FOR CAR INSURANCE, I.E., THAT SHE LIVED IN NEW ROCHELLE AND THE CAR WOULD BE GARAGED THERE WHEN IN FACT SHE LIVED IN BROOKLYN AND THE CAR WOULD BE GARAGED THERE, WAS NOT DEMONSTRATED TO HAVE BEEN “MATERIAL” AS A MATTER OF LAW; THE INSURER HAD DENIED COVERAGE BASED UPON THE ALLEGED MISREPRESENTATION; THE INSURER’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the alleged misrepresentation in plaintiff’s application for car insurance was not demonstrated to have been “material” as a matter of law. Therefore defendant-insurer’s motion for summary judgment in this hit-and-run accident case should not have been granted. Plaintiff was alleged to have stated in her application that she […]

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