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Entries by Bruce Freeman

FAILURE TO PROVIDE NOTICE TO COUNSEL OF THE CONTENTS OF JURY NOTES AND FAILURE TO MAKE A RECORD DEMONSTRATING MEANINGFUL NOTICE REQUIRED REVERSAL AND A NEW TRIAL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department reversed defendant’s convictions and ordered a new trial because the trial judge failed to comply with the strict requirements surrounding providing notice to counsel of the contents of notes sent out by the jury: Here, on the morning of the first day of deliberations, the Supreme Court received three notes from the jury […]

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COURT ATTORNEY REFEREE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE A CONTESTED FAMILY OFFENSE PETITION OR CUSTODY AND VISITATION ISSUES (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined the court attorney referee was not authorized to determine a contested family offense petition or custody and visitation issues: A referee derives authority from an order of reference by the court (see CPLR 4311, 4317…). Here, as correctly asserted by the mother, the order of reference did not authorize the Court Attorney […]

PLAINTIFF WALKED INTO THE REAR OF A TRACTOR TRAILER WHICH WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN, DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendants’ (truck owner’s and driver’s) motion for summary judgment in this pedestrian traffic accident case should have been granted. Plaintiff was injured by the rear portion of a tractor trailer which had completed 85% of a right turn: … [T]he plaintiff allegedly was walking on a sidewalk … […]

TOWN PROPERLY DISSOLVED THE EXISTING FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT AND CREATED TWO NEW FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Rivera, over a dissenting opinion, determined the Town of Champion had properly dissolved the existing fire protection district (FPD) and replaced it with two new FPD’s. The dissent argued the existing FPD had not been properly dissolved, but rather was merely divided: … [P]etitioners claim […]

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LOCAL LAW REQUIRING A PERMIT FOR THE TRANSPORT OF WASTE WITHIN THE COUNTY WAS NOT PREEMPTED BY STATE LAW (WHICH ALSO REQUIRED A PERMIT) AND DID NOT VIOLATE THE COMMERCE CLAUSE, PETITIONER PROPERLY FINED FOR FAILURE TO OBTAIN A COUNTY PERMIT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined that the Westchester County Solid Waste Commission properly found that petitioner had not obtained a permit to allow the transport of waste within Westchester County and imposed a $15,000 fine. Petitioner had obtained a permit from the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and argued that the Westchester County law was […]

WHERE THERE IS NO PREJUDICE TO A DEFENDANT, PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR A VOLUNTARY DISCONTINUANCE WITHOUT PREJUDICE SHOULD BE GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined that plaintiff’s motion for a voluntary discontinuance without prejudice should have been granted: CPLR 3217(b) permits a voluntary discontinuance of a claim by court order “upon terms and conditions, as the court deems proper” (CPLR 3217[b]…). In general, absent a showing of special circumstances, including prejudice to a […]

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UTILITY BOX RECESSED IN CITY SIDEWALK WAS OPEN AND OBVIOUS AND NOT INHERENTLY DANGEROUS, DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE PROPERLY GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined the utility box recessed into a city sidewalk was open and obvious and was not inherently dangerous. Defendants were therefore entitled to summary judgment in this slip and fall case: There is ” no duty to protect against an open and obvious condition provided that, as a matter of law, the […]

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QUALIFIED, NOT ABSOLUTE, PRIVILEGE APPLIES WHEN THE SUBJECT OF THE ALLEGED DEFAMATION HAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO REBUT THE ALLEGEDLY DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Fahey, over a two-judge dissent, determined that qualified privilege, rather than absolute privilege, applied to allegations made to a Federal Drug Administration (FDA) investigator about plaintiff doctor’s involvement in a cancer-drug trial. The controlling issue was whether the statements were made in a proceeding which […]

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IN THIS ACTION STEMMING FROM PLAINTIFF’S INSURING OF RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES ISSUED BY DEFENDANT, PLAINTIFF WAS REQUIRED TO SHOW JUSTIFIABLE RELIANCE AND LOSS CAUSATION FOR ITS FRAUDULENT INDUCEMENT CAUSE OF ACTION, PLAINTIFF’S RECOVERY WAS LIMITED TO THAT DESCRIBED IN THE SOLE REMEDY PROVISION, AND PLAINTIFF WAS NOT ENTITLED TO ATTORNEY’S FEES (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Garcia, over a partial dissent, determined certain aspects of defendant Countrywide’s motion for summary judgment against plaintiff insurer, Ambac, stemming from residential mortgage backed securities issued by Countrywide, were properly granted. Ambac’s argument that it need not demonstrate justifiable reliance or loss causation in support […]

DEFENDANT’S SIGNING A WRITTEN WAIVER OF THE RIGHT TO AN INDICTMENT BY GRAND JURY MET CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS, ALTHOUGH BETTER PRACTICE WOULD INCLUDE ELICITING DEFENDANT’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE RIGHT BEING WAIVED (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Wilson, over a two-judge dissent, determined that the defendant’s waiver of his right to indictment by grand jury followed proper procedure and was therefore valid. However the court noted that it would be better practice to elicit defendant’s understanding of the right being waived in […]

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