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Entries by Bruce Freeman

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PLAINTIFF SUBMITTED INSUFFICIENT PROOF THAT THE NOTICE REQUIRED BY RPAPL 1304 AND THE MORTGAGE WAS PROVIDED TO DEFENDANTS; PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined plaintiff did not present sufficient evidence to demonstrate compliance with Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law (RPAPL) 1304 or with the notice provisions of the mortgage: … [T]he plaintiff failed to attach, as exhibits to the motion, any documents to prove that the mailing actually happened … . […]

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THE ESTATE OF A JOINT TENANT WAS NOT A NECESSARY PARTY IN THE FORECLOSURE ACTION BECAUSE THE INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY PASSED UPON DEATH, THE ESTATE’S MOTION TO INTERVENE PROPERLY DENIED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined the estate’s motion to intervene in a foreclosure proceeding was properly denied. When Sydney Burt, a joint tenant with right of survivorship, died, his interest in the property subject to the foreclosure action passed to the joint tenant, Karyn Berkley, and not to Sydney’s estate. Therefore the estate did not have […]

DISPUTE BETWEEN RIVAL FACTIONS OF THE CAYUGA NATION INVOLVES TRIBAL LAW AND IS NOT THEREFORE WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF NEW YORK COURTS (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a lengthy, comprehensive opinion by Judge Feinman, over two dissenting opinions, determined the dispute between two factions of the Cayuga Nation involved tribal law and therefore was not within the jurisdiction of New York courts. The opinion is too detailed to fairly summarize here: Members of the Cayuga Nation, a […]

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DEFENDANT WAS ACQUITTED OF MURDER AFTER IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS; HIS FALSE ARREST AND MALICIOUS PROSECUTION ACTION WAS PROPERLY DISMISSED AT THE SUMMARY JUDGMENT STAGE; TWO-JUDGE DISSENT ARGUED CONTESTED FACTS REQUIRED A TRIAL (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a one-sentence memorandum decision, over a two-judge dissenting opinion, determined that the defendants’ motion for summary judgment in this false arrest/malicious prosecution case was properly granted. The dissenters argued contested facts required a trial: The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs. Plaintiff failed to raise any […]

THE TOP COUNT OF A MISDEMEANOR COMPLAINT WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY SWORN ALLEGATIONS OF FACT, BUT THE LESSER COUNTS WERE SUPPORTED; A GUILTY PLEA TO THE JURISDICTIONALLY DEFECTIVE TOP COUNT DID NOT WAIVE THE DEFECT AND DEFENDANT’S CONVICTION WAS PROPERLY REVERSED (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a two sentence memorandum decision, followed by two lengthy concurring opinions, and a lengthy three-judge dissenting opinion, determined the Appellate Term properly reversed defendant’s guilty plea to a jurisdictionally defective count of a misdemeanor complaint. The top count of the misdemeanor complaint (oxycodone possession) was not sufficiently supported by the […]

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THE TRIAL COURT PROPERLY PRECLUDED DEFENDANTS FROM CALLING PLAINTIFF’S TREATING PHYSICIANS AS WITNESSES IN THIS POLICE EXCESSIVE FORCE CASE BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE NOTICE AND THE TRIAL COURT PROPERLY ACCEPTED PLAINTIFF’S REDACTIONS OF THE MEDICAL RECORDS BECAUSE DEFENDANTS FAILED TO SUGGEST THEIR OWN REDACTIONS (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department determined the trial court properly precluded the defendants to call plaintiff’s (Walid’s) treating physicians as witnesses and properly redacted plaintiff’s medical records. Plaintiff, a teenager with autism, brought this action against police officers for assault, battery and use of excessive force. Defendants did not give timely notice of their wish to call […]

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ALTHOUGH THE EXCUSE WAS INADEQUATE, THE CITY HAD ACTUAL NOTICE OF THE HOLE PETITIONER STEPPED IN AND DELAY IN FILING THE NOTICE OF CLAIM DID NOT PREJUDICE THE CITY, PETITIONER’S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE A LATE NOTICE OF CLAIM SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined petitioner’s motion for leave to file a late notice of claim in this slip and fall case should have been granted. Although the excuse was inadequate, the city had actual notice and was not prejudiced by the delay: Petitioner’s assertion that he was unaware of the requirement that […]

RES IPSA LOQUITUR DOCTRINE MAY APPLY IN THIS ELEVATOR MALFUNCTION CASE (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department determined the res ipsa loquitur doctrine may apply to this elevator malfunction case and defendant’s motion for summary judgment was properly denied: Summary judgment was properly denied in this action where plaintiff was injured when the elevator door in defendant’s building closed unexpectedly on her hand as she attempted to exit. Defendant has […]

COURT SHOULD HAVE INQUIRED OF JURORS WHETHER THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT NOT BEING PAID BY THEIR EMPLOYERS DURING JURY DUTY WOULD AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO RENDER AN IMPARTIAL VERDICT, NEW TRIAL ORDERED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the trial judge should have conducted further inquiry when three jurors stated that they could not continue deliberating because they were not being paid by their employers for the days they were on jury duty: The court should have granted the defense request for inquiries into whether the […]

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THERE IS A QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER PLAINTIFF’S WORK CONSTITUTED ‘ALTERING’ WITHIN THE MEANING OF LABOR LAW 241 (6); ACTION AGAINST OUT-OF-POSSESSION LANDLORD PROPERLY DISMISSED, NO SUPERVISORY CONTROL OF THE WORK (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the defendant’s motion for summary judgment should not have been granted in this Labor Law 241 (6) action. But action against the out-of–possession landlord was properly dismissed because the landlord did not exercise and supervisory control over the work: Plaintiff alleges that he was injured while installing a […]

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