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THE SOURCE CODE USED TO CONNECT DNA FROM THE MURDER SCENE TO THE DEFENDANT GENERATED A REPORT WHICH IMPLICATED THE DEFENDANT AND WAS THEREFORE TESTIMONIAL, HOWEVER, THE SOURCE CODE, AS A FORM OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WAS NOT THE DECLARANT; THEREFORE THE FACT THAT DEFENDANT WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH THE SOURCE CODE DID NOT VIOLATE HIS RIGHT TO CONFRONT THE WITNESSES AGAINST HIM (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Pritzker, over a concurrence, determined the evidence concerning the TrueAllele source code used to connect the DNA found at the murder scene to the defendant was testimonial, but the source code, as artificial intelligence, was not the declarant. Therefore the fact that the defendant was not provided with the source code (which was not requested by the defendant during the trial) did not deprive defendant of the right to confront the witnesses against him. Rather, the Third Department found, the witness who testified about how the source code was used in the DNA testing was the declarant. Defendant had raised the intriguing question whether the source code, as a form of artificial intelligence, was the actual declarant triggering the right of confrontation:

Cybergenetics was “acting in the role of assisting the police and prosecutors in developing evidence for use at trial” … . Also, the report reflects TrueAllele’s conclusions “upon review of the raw data associated with the testing” … . TrueAllele, by running at the source code’s direction, compared DNA found at the crime scene to that of defendant’s DNA and generated the report containing the likelihood ratios, which, in effect, implicates defendant in the murder; thus, it is clearly biased in favor of law enforcement … . Accordingly, application of the primary purpose test reveals that the TrueAllele report is testimonial in nature … .

Despite concluding that the TrueAllele report is testimonial, we do not find, given the particular facts of this case, that the source code, even through the medium of the computer, is a declarant. This is not to say that an artificial intelligence-type system could never be a declarant, nor is there little doubt that the report and likelihood ratios at issue were derived through distributed cognition between technology and humans … . Indeed, similar to many expert reports, the testimonial aspects of the TrueAllele report are formulated through a synergy and distributed cognition continuum between human and machine … , but this fact alone does not tip the scale so far as to transform the source code into a declarant. People v Wakefield, 2019 NY Slip Op 06143, Third Department, 8-15-19

 

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DEFENDANT DID NOT DEMONSTRATE WHEN THE STAIRWELL WAS LAST INSPECTED OR CLEANED IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE, DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined defendant’s motion for summary judgment should not have been granted in this slip and fall case. Plaintiff alleged a discarded metrocard was the cause of her slip and fall on a train station stairwell. The defendant did not demonstrate when the stairwell was last inspected or cleaned:

Defendant failed to establish its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, in this action where plaintiff … alleges that he was injured when, while descending stairs in a subway station, he slipped and fell on a discarded Metrocard. Although the cleaner on duty in the station testified he was given a Cleaners Manual and a written cleaning schedule, evidencing that defendant had a “rational means for dealing with the problem” of strewn MetroCards on the stairwell of train stations, the cleaner conceded that he could not recall whether he had deviated from his usual work schedule on the date of plaintiff’s accident and he did not have an independent recollection of when the staircase was last cleaned or inspected prior to the accident … .

Because defendant did not establish its prima facie entitlement to summary judgment, the burden never shifted to plaintiff to establish how long the condition existed … . Carela v New York City Tr. Auth., 2019 NY Slip Op 06140, First Dept 8-13-19

 

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THERE WERE NO GROUNDS TO DISTURB THE FACTUAL FINDINGS MADE BY THE JUDGE IN THIS BENCH TRIAL OF A FORECLOSURE ACTION, TWO DISSENTERS ARGUED THE FINDINGS WERE AGAINST THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, over a two-justice dissent, determined that the evidence at the bench trial in this foreclosure proceeding supported the judge’s conclusion that plaintiff bank was not the cause of defendant’s inability to obtain financing to payoff the mortgage pursuant to a settlement agreement. The dissenters argued the trial judge’s findings were against the weight of the evidence, primarily because the judge found defendant’s testimony to be “honest and accurate.” The key issue in the appeal was whether there were sufficient grounds to disturb the  judge’s factual findings:

… [W]e perceive no basis on which to disturb the trial court’s determination. As articulated by the Court of Appeals, the standard of review on an appeal from a decision based on findings of fact, resting in large measure on determinations of the credibility of witnesses, made by the court after a bench trial, is as follows:

“[T]he decision of the fact-finding court should not be disturbed upon appeal unless it is obvious that the court’s conclusions could not be reached under any fair interpretation of the evidence, especially when the findings of fact rest in large measure on considerations relating to the credibility of witnesses” (Thoreson v Penthouse Intl., 80 NY2d 490, 495 [1992] …).

Supreme Court’s rejection of defendant’s claim — a claim based on testimony not only lacking support in the contemporaneous documentary evidence, but inconsistent with that evidence — more than passes muster under this highly deferential standard. Security Pac. Natl. Bank v Evans, 2019 NY Slip Op 06138, First Dept 8-13-19

 

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PLAINTIFF’S VERDICT IN THIS PERSONAL INJURY ACTION BROUGHT BY A FIREFIGHTER PURSUANT TO GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW 205-a AND LABOR LAW 27-a SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE, CRITERIA FOR SETTING ASIDE A VERDICT EXPLAINED IN DEPTH (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department reversed Supreme Court’s setting aside the verdict in this personal injury action brought by a firefighter pursuant to General Municipal Law 205-a and Labor Law 27-a. The firefighter alleged he tripped over a torn rug in the fire department office. The torn rug violated provisions of the NYC Administrative Code. The Second Department took great pains to explain the criteria for setting aside a verdict as a matter of law and as against the weight of the evidence pursuant to CPLR 4404:

Although there were no other individuals present when the plaintiff fell, his supervisor immediately responded to “the loud bang” that resulted from the accident. The plaintiff’s supervisor prepared a report that morning, which stated that the plaintiff had tripped on a piece of loose rug. Another one of the plaintiff’s supervisors testified that he responded to the location of the accident and observed “a ripped carpet there.” Photographs of the tear in the carpet that caused the plaintiff to fall were admitted into evidence and identified by the plaintiff’s witnesses. * * *

The plaintiff testified that at the time of the accident, he felt a “popping in [his] leg.” A doctor who examined the plaintiff after the accident, Leonard Harrison, testified that the plaintiff tore his hamstring as the result of the subject accident.

The City did not present any evidence to show that the plaintiff’s accident was caused by something other than the tear in the carpet, or that the accident did not occur at all. Although the jury was not required, as a matter of law, to credit the plaintiff’s uncontradicted testimony …  the City’s efforts to impeach the plaintiff as to the cause of the accident were particularly weak.  * * *

Despite the City’s attacks, the plaintiff’s testimony as to the cause of the accident was consistent throughout the course of the trial. Moreover, his testimony regarding the cause of the accident was consistent with the testimony he gave at his deposition, in which he repeatedly testified that “[his] foot got caught on a piece of torn rug, where [he] los[t] [his] balance and tripped.” The plaintiff’s trial testimony was also consistent with the reports he gave to his supervisor and to doctors shortly after the accident occurred.

On this record, any conclusion that the plaintiff’s accident was the result of some other unidentified cause, or that the entire incident was fabricated, could only be based upon mere speculation … . Annunziata v City of New York, 2019 NY Slip Op 06055, Second Dept 8-7-19

 

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BANK DID NOT SUBMIT SUFFICIENT PROOF OF A LOST NOTE AND COMPLIANCE WITH NOTICE REQUIREMENTS IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION; SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, modifying Supreme Court, determined the bank, inter alia,  did not demonstrate compliance with the RPAPL 1304 notice provisions and failed to submit sufficient proof of a lost note in this foreclosure action:

… [A]lthough the plaintiff came forward with evidence establishing that the note was assigned to it and establishing the note’s terms, the affidavit of lost note submitted in support of its motion failed to establish the facts that prevent the production of the original note (see UCC 3-804 …). Additionally, we note that Riley’s out-of-state affidavit lacked a certificate of conformity as required by CPLR 2309(c), although such defect by itself would not be fatal to the plaintiff’s motion … .

Further, the evidence submitted in support of the plaintiff’s motion failed to establish, prima facie, that the plaintiff strictly complied with RPAPL 1304. Proper service of the RPAPL 1304 notice containing the statutorily mandated content is a condition precedent to the commencement of a foreclosure action … . The plaintiff failed to submit an affidavit of service or any proof of mailing by the post office demonstrating that it properly served the defendant pursuant to the terms of the statute … . Contrary to the plaintiff’s contention, the affidavit of a representative of its loan servicer was insufficient to establish that the notice was sent to the defendant in the manner required by RPAPL 1304, as the representative did not provide evidence of a standard office mailing procedure and provided no independent evidence of the actual mailing … .

Likewise, the plaintiff failed to establish, prima facie, that it complied with the condition precedent contained in the mortgage requiring it to give notice of default prior to demanding payment in full … . U.S. Bank N.A. v Cope, 2019 NY Slip Op 06111, Second Dept 8-7-19

 

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FACT THAT DEFENDANT CONTRACTOR HAD BEEN ISSUED A PERMIT FOR DRILLING IN THE STREET DID NOT RAISE A QUESTION OF FACT ABOUT WHETHER THE CONTRACTOR CREATED A DEFECT IN THE SIDEWALK IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the contractor’s motion for summary judgment in this sidewalk slip and fall case should have been granted. The contractor presented evidence it did no work on the sidewalk. The fact that a permit for drilling on the street had been issued to the contractor did not raise a question of fact:

The plaintiff allegedly was injured when he tripped on a raised sidewalk flag. He commenced this personal injury action against, among others, the defendant Craig Geotechnical Drilling Co., Inc. (hereinafter Craig Drilling), a contractor, alleging that it was negligent in, among other things, creating the allegedly dangerous condition that caused the accident. …

A contractor may be liable for an affirmative act of negligence which results in the creation of a dangerous condition upon a public street or sidewalk … . Here, Craig Drilling demonstrated its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by presenting evidence that it performed no work in the area of the raised sidewalk flag prior to the subject accident … . In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to whether Craig Drilling created or exacerbated the raised sidewalk flag. Under the circumstances of this case, the mere fact that a permit had been issued to Craig Drilling to perform work on the street was insufficient to raise a triable issue of fact as to whether Craig Drilling created or exacerbated the raised sidewalk flag … . Sindoni v City of New York, 2019 NY Slip Op 06110, Second Dept 8-7-19     

 

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SUPREME COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE DENIED PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION WITHOUT A HEARING AND THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN VACATED WITHOUT A HEARING, DEFENDANTS WERE SEEKING TO TERMINATE PLAINTIFF’S DIALYSIS TREATMENT BASED UPON SHARPLY CONFLICTING EVIDENCE OF PLAINTIFF’S BEHAVIOR (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the the temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing defendant dialysis provider from stopping plaintiff’s treatment should not have been vacated and plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction should have been denied without a hearing. The dialysis provider, Avantus, wanted to discontinue treatment because of plaintiff’s behavior. However the evidence of plaintiff’s behavior was sharply conflicting:

… [T]he motion court had found that Avantus had not produced evidence showing that it had complied with any of the federal procedural requirements for terminating a patient’s care. Defendants had not presented any new evidence that it had done so before the court issued the order presently on appeal. Indeed, the court did not address the merits of defendants’ decision to terminate plaintiff’s care at all. Accordingly, the motion court should not have denied plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction without holding a hearing.

The motion court also improperly vacated the TRO without a hearing. Plaintiff’s showing that he would be irreparably injured in the absence of a TRO never changed. The court was presented with no evidence inconsistent with its finding in issuing the TRO that “there is no dispute that dialysis is a life-saving measure which plaintiff sorely needs, and at this stage of the litigation, the defendants have not established that the reasons for plaintiff’s discharge from the facility outweigh the risks that discharge would carry with regard to plaintiff’s health.”

In addition, although the court concluded that plaintiff had failed to comply with the conditions set forth in the TRO, the parties presented sharply divergent facts on that issue, which could not be resolved without a hearing. Wilder v Fresenius Med. Care Holdings, Inc., 2019 NY Slip Op 06054, First Dept 8-7-19

 

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PLAINTIFFS DID NOT DEMONSTRATE DEFENDANT HAD ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DOG’S VICIOUS PROPENSITIES IN THIS DOG BITE CASE, DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FOURTH DEPT). ​

The Fourth Department determined defendant’s motion for summary judgment in this dog bit case should have been granted.  The evidence that the dog had barked at a neighbor did not demonstrate defendant was made aware of the incident and did not demonstrate when the incident occurred:

Even assuming, arguendo, that the dog possessed the requisite vicious propensities, we conclude that defendant met her initial burden on the motion by submitting deposition testimony from herself, her son, and her then boyfriend, which established that defendant lacked actual or constructive knowledge that the dog had any vicious propensities, and plaintiffs failed to raise an issue of fact … . In opposition to the motion, plaintiffs submitted the affidavit of one of defendant’s neighbors, who averred that, on at least two prior occasions, she had seen the dog roaming the neighborhood, and that the dog entered into her backyard and started to bark at her in an aggressive and angry way, thereby putting her in fear that she would be bitten by the dog. The neighbor does not aver that she informed defendant of the two incidents, and thus the affidavit does not raise an issue of fact whether defendant had actual knowledge of the dog’s vicious propensities. Furthermore, the neighbor’s affidavit does not detail when the two prior incidents occurred, and thus the affidavit does not raise an issue of fact whether defendant had constructive knowledge of the dog’s vicious propensities, i.e., that the vicious propensities had “existed for a sufficient period of time for a reasonable person to discover them” … . Jennifer M.C.-Y. v Boring, 2019 NY Slip Op 05901, Fourth Dept 7-31-19

 

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DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO SET ASIDE THE VERDICT, BASED UPON A JUROR’S KNOWLEDGE AND CONDUCT, SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DENIED WITHOUT A HEARING (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department determined defendant’s motion to set aside the verdict, based upon a connection between a juror and defendant’s mother, should not have been denied without a hearing:

… [T]he court erred in summarily denying his motion to set aside the verdict pursuant to CPL 330.30 (2). The sworn allegations in support of defendant’s motion, including those in the affidavit of his mother, indicated that a juror may have had an undisclosed, potentially strained relationship with the mother resulting from attending high school and working together, possibly knew about defendant’s criminal history, and purportedly attempted to speak with the mother’s husband during a lunch break at trial, and that the alleged misconduct was “not known to the defendant prior to rendition of the verdict” … . We conclude that the allegations ” required a hearing on the issue whether the juror’s alleged misconduct prejudiced a substantial right of defendant’ ” … . We therefore hold the case, reserve decision and remit the matter to County Court to conduct a hearing on defendant’s CPL 330.30 motion. People v Blunt, 2019 NY Slip Op 05917, Fourth Dept 7-31-19

 

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PLAINTIFF DID NOT DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE NOTICE/MAILING REQUIREMENTS AND THEREFORE DID NOT DEMONSTRATE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER DEFENDANTS, THE REFEREE’S REPORT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the referee’s report in this foreclosure action should not have been confirmed because plaintiff did not demonstrate compliance with the notice requirements:

… [T]he Supreme Court should not have confirmed the Referee’s report. The plaintiff failed to submit any evidence at the hearing of compliance with the mailing requirement of CPLR 308(2) and, thus, failed to demonstrate that personal jurisdiction had been obtained over the defendants … . Federal Natl. Mtge. Assn. v Puretz, 2019 NY Slip Op 05958, Second Dept 7-31-19

 

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