You are here: / Bruce Freeman

Entries by Bruce Freeman

, ,

PLAINTIFF DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY ALLEGE THAT NEW YORK’S PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM DISCRIMINATES AGAINST PROPERTY OWNERS IN “MAJORITY-MINORITY” NEIGHBORHOODS; COMPLAINT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED IN ITS ENTIRETY (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, in a comprehensive opinion by Justice Kern, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined the complaint alleging the New York property tax system is unconstitutional should have been dismissed in its entirety for failure to state a cause of action. The opinion is too detailed to fairly summarize here. With respect to the allegations […]

, ,

28-YEAR PRE-INDICTMENT DELAY IN THIS MURDER CASE DID NOT VIOLATE DEFENDANT’S RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS; DNA PROFILE STEMMING FROM DEFENDANT’S 2008 ARREST MATCHED BLOOD EVIDENCE FROM THE 1984 MURDER (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Chambers, determined the 28 year pre-indictment delay in this murder case did not violate defendant’s due process rights. Defendant was arrested in 2008 and his DNA profile was obtained. He had been a suspect in the 1984 murder and the blood evidence from the murder was […]

,

REVOLVER FOUND BY A PASSERBY SEVEN BLOCKS FROM THE CRIME SCENE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ADMITTED IN EVIDENCE; ERROR DEEMED HARMLESS HOWEVER (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined a revolver found by a passerby seven blocks from the scene of the crime should not have been admitted in evidence. The error was harmless however: Supreme Court should not have admitted into evidence a revolver that was recovered by the police from underneath a vehicle five to seven blocks away […]

, ,

MOTION TO DISCONTINUE STATE FORECLOSURE ACTION WHILE FORECLOSURE WAS PURSUED IN FEDERAL COURT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED WITHOUT PREJUDICE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SHOWING OF PREJUDICE ON THE PART OF DEFENDANT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff’s motion to discontinue the foreclosure action should not have been granted with prejudice because there was no showing of prejudice on the part of the defendant (Jach): … [T]he plaintiff commenced this action … seeking to foreclose the subject mortgage. After interposing an answer, in which he […]

, ,

THE MORTGAGE-PAYMENT MODIFICATION AGREEMENT DID NOT CONSTITUTE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE MORTGAGE DEBT WITHIN THE MEANING OF GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW 17-101; THEREFORE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS DID NOT START ANEW; THE FORECLOSURE ACTION IS TIME-BARRED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendant’s trial payments as a condition for entering a mortgage-payment modification agreement (the Plan) did not amount to an acknowledgment of the debt such that the statute of limitations would start running anew: ” General Obligations Law § 17-101 effectively revives a time-barred claim when the debtor has […]

,

EXPERT WITNESSES CORROBORATED THE CHILD’S OUT-OF-COURT STATEMENTS IN THIS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CASE; THE PETITION, DISMISSED BY FAMILY COURT, REINSTATED AND A FINDING OF ABUSE MADE BY THE APPELLATE COURT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined that the child’s prior out-of-court statements should have been admitted in this child sexual abuse proceeding. The expert witnesses corroborated the child’s statements: “A child’s prior out-of-court statements may provide the basis for a finding of abuse, provided that these hearsay statements are corroborated, so as to ensure […]

PLAINTIFF WAS RIDING HER BICYCLE ON A SIDEWALK WHEN SHE COLLIDED WITH DEFENDANT’S VEHICLE AS DEFENDANT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING LOT; DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendant’s motion for summary judgment in this bicycle-vehicle collision case should not have been granted. Apparently plaintiff was riding on the sidewalk and collided with defendant’s vehicle as it was attempting to pull out of a parking lot: The plaintiff Jamie Heaney (hereinafter the plaintiff) alleges she was […]

, ,

SUPREME COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE, SUA SPONTE, DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, THEREBY DEPRIVING PLAINTIFF OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff bank’s motion to vacate the default in this foreclosure action should have been granted. Supreme Court had, sua sponte, dismissed the complaint without affording plaintiff an opportunity to be heard: Following the plaintiff’s failure to move for an order of reference … , the Court Attorney Referee […]

,

PLAINTIFF BANK DID NOT COMPLY WITH RPAPL 1306; DEFENDANT’S CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff bank’s failure to comply with RPAPL 1306 required that defendant’s cross-motion for summary judgment be granted: “RPAPL 1306 provides, in pertinent part, that within three business days of the mailing of the foreclosure notice pursuant to RPAPL 1304(1), every lender or assignee shall file’ certain information with […]

, ,

PROOF OF POSSESSION OF THE NOTE WHEN THE ACTION WAS COMMENCED WAS HEARSAY; PLAINTIFF BANK DID NOT DEMONSTRATE STANDING TO FORECLOSE (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff bank did not demonstrate standing to bring the foreclosure action. The assertions that the note was in plaintiff’s possession when the action was commenced were hearsay and were not supported by business records: … [T]he plaintiff, to establish its standing to commence this mortgage foreclosure action, submitted […]

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2026 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy