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BUILDING OWNER NOT LIABLE FOR ALLEGED FAILURE TO ENSURE A SMOKE DETECTOR WAS FUNCTIONAL, DESPITE THE ALLEGATION THE OWNER REGULARLY INSPECTED THE SMOKE DETECTORS (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department determined the defendant landlord could not be held liable for the failure to ensure a smoke detector was functional: In this action where plaintiff alleges that he was injured as a result of a fire in his apartment due to defendant building owner’s negligent failure to provide an operable smoke detector, defendant demonstrated […]

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TRIAL JUDGE SHOULD NOT HAVE, SUA SPONTE, DECLARED A MISTRIAL TO ACCOMMODATE A JUROR’S WEEKEND PLANS; WRIT OF PROHIBITION GRANTED; RETRIAL BARRED; INDICTMENT DISMISSED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, granting petitioner’s application for a writ of prohibition and dismissing the indictment, determined the trial court should not have, sua sponte, declared a mistrial to accommodate a juror’s weekend travel plans. Retrial was barred: The trial court was not compelled by manifest necessity to declare a mistrial and terminate the proceedings …, […]

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THE INTERIM DECISION ISSUED BY SUPREME COURT WAS NOT THE EQUIVALENT OF AN ORDER; THE FIRST DEPARTMENT, THEREFORE, DISMISSED THE APPEAL FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, dismissing the appeal in this Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) case, determined the “interim decision” was not an appealable paper, depriving the First Department of jurisdiction: This proceeding stems from Spectrum News NY1’s (Spectrum) attempts to gain access to video files from the voluntary body camera experiment. Specifically, Spectrum filed a FOIL […]

PROTECTIVE ORDER VACATED UPON EXPEDITED REVIEW (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, vacating the protective order issued by Supreme Court, determined defense counsel should have been heard in opposition to the application for the protective order: … [T]he matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Nassau County, to afford the defendant an opportunity to make arguments to that court with respect to the People’s […]

SUPREME COURT DID NOT ABUSE ITS DISCRETION IN GRANTING A PROTECTIVE ORDER ALLOWING THE PEOPLE TO DELAY DISCLOSURE OF EVIDENCE IN THIS MURDER CASE UNTIL ONE WEEK BEFORE TRIAL; CRITERIA EXPLAINED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, in an expedited review of Supreme Court’s granting a protective order in a murder case, determined Supreme Court did not abuse its discretion, in part because defense counsel was notified of the ex parte proceeding: On January 15, 2020, the Supreme Court convened in an open session in the presence of the […]

PROTECTIVE ORDER ALLOWING THE PEOPLE TO HOLD BACK INFORMATION (OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO AUTOMATIC DISCLOSURE) UNTIL AFTER JURY SELECTION VACATED; MATTER REMITTED TO ALLOW THE DEFENSE TO OPPOSE THE REQUEST FOR THE ORDER; THE PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW DISCOVERY PROVISIONS ADDRESSED IN SOME DETAIL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, in an expedited appellate review of the issuance of a protective order by Supreme Court, vacated the protective order and sent the matter back to allow the defense to make an argument in opposition. The defendant is accused of stabbing his wife multiple times. The People, pursuant to CPL 245.70, ex parte, […]

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THE COURT OF CLAIMS IN THIS MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ACTION CREDITED BOTH EXPERTS, ONE OF WHOM OPINED DEFENDANT WAS AT RISK FOR FUTURE HEART PROBLEMS; THEREFORE THE AWARD OF ZERO DAMAGES FOR FUTURE PAIN AND SUFFERING WAS ERROR; AWARD INCREASED BY $10,000 (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing the Court of Claims, determined the conflicting expert evidence credited by the Court of Claims forced the conclusion claimant suffered some permanent damage to his heart. Therefore awarding nothing for future pain and suffering was error. The Third Department awarded an additional $10,000: … [T]he court accepted aspects of both experts’ opinions, crediting […]

FATHER’S NONVOLUNTARY UNION DUES SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEDUCTED FROM HIS INCOME FOR CALCULATION OF CHILD SUPPORT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Family Court, determined father’s nonvoluntary union dues should have been deducted from his income for the calculation of child support: Although no deduction from income for union dues is specifically mandated by the Family Court Act, there is an allowable deduction for “unreimbursed employee business expenses except to the extent […]

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QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER HOSPITAL MAY BE VICARIOUSLY LIABLE FOR TREATMENT PROVIDED BY A NON-EMPLOYEE IN THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined there was a question of fact whether the hospital, Good Samaritan, was vicariously liable for the alleged malpractice of a physician, Chin, who, although not a hospital employee, treated plaintiff in the hospital emergency room: “In general, under the doctrine of respondeat superior, a hospital may be held vicariously liable for […]

PLAINTIFF WAS PROVIDED WITH A LADDER WITHOUT RUBBER FEET WHICH SLID CAUSING PLAINTIFF TO FALL; PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON HIS LABOR LAW 240(1) CAUSE OF ACTION PROPERLY GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined plaintiff was entitled to summary judgment on his Labor Law 240(1) cause action in this ladder fall case: We agree with the Supreme Court’s determination granting that branch of the plaintiff’s motion which was for summary judgment on the issue of liability on the Labor Law § 240(1) cause of action asserted […]

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