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PETITION SEEKING A SUMMARY INQUIRY PURSUANT TO THE NYC CHARTER INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING ERIC GARNER’S ARREST AND DEATH PROPERLY GRANTED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Singh, determined Supreme Court properly granted the petition seeking seeking a “summary inquiry pursuant to NYC Charter section 1109” into the circumstances surrounding the arrest and death of Eric Garner. The opinion is too detailed and comprehensive to fairly summarize here:

This appeal from the grant of a petition for summary inquiry pursuant to New York City Charter § 1109 has its genesis in the fatal arrest of Eric Garner and the subsequent investigations and actions that this tragedy prompted. We find that this is the rare case in which allegations of significant violations of duty, coupled with a serious lack of substantial investigation and public explanation, warrant a summary inquiry to bring transparency to a matter of profound public importance: the death of an unarmed civilian during the course of an arrest. * * *

… Petitioners seek an order convening a summary inquiry into “violations and neglect of duties” by respondents in seven areas:

(1) the stop and arrest of Garner and the force used by officers on him;

(2) the failure, after Garner’s death, to train NYPD officers adequately as to appropriate guidelines for the use of force and the prohibition on the use of chokeholds;

(3) filing false official NYPD documents concerning the arrest and making false statements in connection with NYPD’s internal investigation of Garner’s death;

(4) unlawfully leaking Garner’s alleged arrest and medical histories;

(5) incomplete and inaccurate statements to the media by the City concerning Garner’s arrest;

(6) the medical care provided to Garner; and

(7) the City’s investigation and adjudication of, and imposition of discipline for the foregoing, including false statements by NYPD officers concerning the arrest. Matter of Carr v De Blasio, 2021 NY Slip Op 04412, First Dept 7-15-21

 

IN THE CONTEXT OF A CONTRACT IMPOSING CAPS FOR “NONWILLFUL” AND “WILLFUL” BREACHES, THE FACT THAT THE BREACH MAY HAVE BEEN DELIBERATE DID NOT RENDER THE BREACH “WILLFUL,” WHICH SHOULD BE INTERPRETED TO REFER TO “TRULY HARMFUL, CULPABLE CONDUCT;” SUPREME COURT REVERSED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the term “willful” in the context of the damages provision of the contract should not be interpreted simply to mean “deliberate,” but rather to refer to “truly culpable, harmful conduct.” Therefore the damages cap for nonwillful breaches applied:

In the context of this contract, the term “willful” must be understood to be “truly culpable, harmful conduct” … and not … “merely intentional nonperformance” … . As the Court of Appeals noted … , “[g]enerally in the law of contract damages, as contrasted with damages in tort, whether the breaching party deliberately rather than inadvertently failed to perform contractual obligations should not affect the measure of damages” and “[t]he policy which runs through the fabric of the law of contracts is to bind a party by what he agrees to do whether or not he intends to do what he agrees” … . The last clause in the limitation-of-liability provision refers to special damages in the context of breaches caused willfully or by gross negligence. Thus,”[u]nder the interpretation tool of ejusdem generis applicable to contracts as well as statutes, the phrase ‘willful acts’ [or ’caused willfully’ … ] should be interpreted here as referring to conduct similar in nature to the . . . ‘gross negligence’ with which it was joined . . .” … . MUFG Union Bank, N.A. v Axos Bank, 2021 NY Slip Op 04414, First Dept 7-15-21

 

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IN THIS “RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES” AND “COLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATION” ACTION, PLAINTIFF RAISED QUESTIONS OF FACT ABOUT WHETHER DEFENDANTS’ FRAUD, AS OPPOSED TO THE 2008-2009 FINANCIAL CRISIS, CAUSED PLAINTIFF’S LOSS, AND WHETHER AN OMISSION ON DEFENDANTS’ PART WAS AN ACTIONABLE MISREPRESENTATION; SUPREME COURT REVERSED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, over an extensive dissent, determined defendants’ motion for summary judgment in this “residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS)” and “collateralized debt obligation (CDO)” fraud action should not have been granted. The plaintiff raised questions of fact whether defendants’ fraud, as opposed to the 2008-2009 financial crisis, caused plaintiff’s loss, and whether an omission on defendants’ part constituted an actionable misrepresentation:

“The empirical evidence shows that Magnetar deals in general, and Auriga in particular, performed worse than other mezzanine CDOs issued during the same period.” For example, the [plaintiff’s] expert noted, “Magnetar deals experienced events of default [‘EODs’] on average approximately four months faster than other mezzanine CDO bonds issued in 2006 and 2007” and Auriga “failed 175 days earlier than the average mezzanine non-Magnetar deal.” The expert further explained, “[a]ll 26 mezzanine Constellation deals experienced an [EOD.] This 100 percent EOD rate contrasts with an EOD rate of 82 percent . . . among non-Magnetar subprime CDOs issued in 2006 and 2007. The difference between these two EOD rates . . . is statistically significant.” * * *

With regard to lack of justifiable reliance on misrepresentations, the other ground on which the motion court granted summary judgment, plaintiff’s fraud claim depends both on an affirmative representation (that Auriga’s collateral manager would independently select the collateral) and an omission or concealment (that defendants structured Auriga to facilitate Magnetar’s net-short strategy). * * *

… [T]o the extent plaintiff relies on an omission, its claim is not barred. … [T]he omission in the instant action came from defendants … . Loreley Fin. (Jersey) No. 28, Ltd. v Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., 2021 NY Slip Op 04413, First Dept 7-15-21

 

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A TIMELY BUT DEFECTIVE ATTEMPT TO COMMENCE AN ARTICLE 78 PROCEEDING IS A JURISDICTIONAL DEFECT WHICH CANNOT BE CURED BY A SECOND ATTEMPT AFTER THE FOUR-MONTH STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS RUN (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the petitioner’s Article 78 action should have been dismissed because it was not properly commenced within four months. An attempt to commence the action was timely made, but the petition was returned:

An article 78 proceeding must be commenced within four months of the final determination under review (see CPLR 217[1]). Such a proceeding is commenced when the clerk of the court receives the petition in valid form … . Although petitioners attempted to file the petition in Queens County within four months, they did not do so in a manner which was then authorized (see CPLR 304[b]; 22 NYCRR 202.5-b[a], 202.5-bb[a]). The petition was returned to petitioners, who filed it after the four-month period had passed. The petition was untimely, and the court had no discretion to extend the statute of limitations … . Contrary to petitioners’ contention, the deficiency in their initial filings is not subject to correction pursuant to CPLR 2001 so as to render the proceeding timely, as the failure to file the papers required to commence a proceeding constitutes a nonwaivable, jurisdictional defect … . Matter of Heffernan v New York City Mayor’s Off. of Hous. Recovery Operations, 2021 NY Slip Op 04276, First Dept 7-8-21

 

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THERE IS A QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER DEFENDANTS HAD CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE OF THE WORN STEP IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE; DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined there was a question of fact whether defendants had constructive notice of the condition of a step in this slip and fall case:

… [T]he affidavit of plaintiff’s expert and the photographic evidence were sufficient to raise an issue of fact as to constructive notice. The expert opined that the condition depicted in the photographs violated the Building Code and that the step was worn for several years prior to the accident. Furthermore, the photographs depicted a condition that a jury might find was present for a sufficient time for defendants to have discovered and remedied it … . Martinez v 560-568 Audubon Realty LLC, 2021 NY Slip Op 04277, First Dept 7-8-21

 

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A SUPPRESSION MOTION CANNOT BE DENIED ON A GROUND NOT RAISED BY THE PEOPLE (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, holding the appeal in abeyance, noted that a suppression motion may not be denied on a ground not raised by the People:

The motion to suppress should not have been denied on a ground not raised by the People. It is unclear to what extent the suppression court considered and credited the People’s argument regarding probable cause or whether the search was outside of the Fourth Amendment’s purview under the circumstances. Accordingly, we hold the appeal in abeyance and remand for determination, based on the hearing minutes, of the issues raised at the hearing, but not decided … . People v Hatchett, 2021 NY Slip Op 04282, First Dept 7-8-21

 

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A SETTLEMENT EMAIL WILL BE DEEMED SIGNED BY THE SENDING ATTORNEY WITHOUT RETYPING THE ATTORNEY’S NAME IN THE EMAIL (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Moulton, overruling precedent, determined it is no longer necessary for an attorney to retype his or her name in an email stipulation of settlement. As long as  the attorney’s name appears in the “prepopulated” area of the email it will be deemed to have been signed by the attorney:

We now hold that this distinction between prepopulated and retyped signatures in emails reflects a needless formality that does not reflect how law is commonly practiced today. It is not the signoff that indicates whether the parties intended to reach a settlement via email, but rather the fact that the email was sent. Since 1999, New York State has joined other states in allowing, in most contexts, parties to accept electronic signatures in place of “wet ink” signatures. Section 304(2) of New York’s Electronic Signatures and Records Act (ESRA) provides: “unless specifically provided otherwise by law, an electronic signature may be used by a person in lieu of a signature affixed by hand. The use of an electronic signature shall have the same validity and effect as the use of a signature affixed by hand.” Moreover, the statutory definition of what constitutes an “electronic signature” is extremely broad under the ESRA, and includes any “electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with an electronic record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record” (State Technology Law § 302[a]). We find that if an attorney hits “send” with the intent of relaying a settlement offer or acceptance, and their email account is identified in some way as their own, then it is unnecessary for them to type their own signature. Matter of Philadelphia Ins. Indem. Co. v Kendall, 2021 NY Slip Op 04284, First Dept 7-8-21

 

BECAUSE PLAINTIFF WAS FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS OF HIS FOREMAN WHEN INJURED BY AN IMPROPERLY HOISTED LOAD, HE COULD NOT BE THE SOLE PROXIMATE CAUSE OF HIS INJURIES (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the plaintiff in this Labor Law 240 (1) and 241 (6) action could not be the sole proximate cause of his injuries because he was following the directions of his foreman when struck by an improperly hoisted load:

Plaintiff Samuel Hayek demonstrated prima facie entitlement to summary judgment on his Labor Law § 240(1) claim, where the undisputed evidence showed that he was injured when struck by an improperly hoisted or inadequately secured load of L-shaped steel rebar weighing between 2000 and 3000 pounds, while doing construction work at defendant Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Eastside Access project … .

In opposition, defendants failed to raise a triable issue as to the statutory violation and whether plaintiff was the sole proximate cause of his injury. Given the undisputed evidence that plaintiff was following the directions of his foreman at the time of his injury, plaintiff cannot be the sole proximate cause of his injuries … . Hayek v Metropolitan Transp. Auth., 2021 NY Slip Op 04103, First Dept 6-29-21

 

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THE PROSECUTION’S REASONS FOR EXCLUDING AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROSPECTIVE JUROR WERE PRETEXTUAL; NEW TRIAL ORDERED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing defendant’s conviction, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Renwick, determined the two explanations offered by the prosecution for excluding an African-American prospective juror were pretextual and should not have been accepted by the court:

On its face, the subject explanation, that an older gentleman with no children living with roommates would not able to appreciate a domestic violence situation, was not a valid trial-related concern at all. “To recognize the proffered explanation as valid and legitimate would, in our view, emasculate the constitutional protection recognized in Batson . . . and we refuse to do so” … . In fact, the prosecutor does not cite to a single case where this Court or any other court has found such a dubious explanation as a valid-race neutral reason. * * *

… [T]he second explanation was equally pretextual. In essence, the prosecution explained that it “selected people who had higher level jobs with all other things being equal,” as well as “[p]eople who indicated that they read.” According to the prosecutor, those types of jurors had more capacity to follow the instructions and understand the law. The prosecutor’s explanation is essentially an attempt to convince this Court with the preposterous proposition that only jurors with “higher level jobs” can effectively consider all the evidence in this case. While a juror’s employment status might be an appropriate race-neutral reason for exclusion, it should be related to the facts of the case … . However, if the employment of the potential juror has no connection with the specific facts of the case then an exclusion of such a juror could constitute discrimination … .

… [T]he prosecutor did not relate his concerns about the prospective juror’s employment to the factual circumstances of the case. People v Murray, 2021 NY Slip Op 04108, First Dept 6-29-21

 

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THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DID NOT ENTITLE PLAINTIFF COMMERCIAL TENANT TO RENT ABATEMENT UNDER THE LEASE OR RESCISSION BASED UPON FRUSTRATION OF PURPOSE OR IMPOSSIBILITY (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined that the COVID-19 pandemic did not entitle plaintiff to rent abatement under the lease and did support rescission of the lease based upon frustration of purpose or impossibility:

… [P]laintiff is not entitled to a rent abatement under the lease “due to loss of use of all or a portion of the Demised Premises due to [a] Casualty[.]” That portion of the lease refers to singular incidents causing physical damage to the premises and does not contemplate loss of use due to a pandemic or resulting government lockdown … . …

The doctrine of frustration of purpose does not apply as a matter of law where, as here, the tenant was not “completely deprived of the benefit of its bargain” (… 558 Seventh Ave. Corp. v Times Sq. Photo Inc., 194 AD3d 561 [1st Dept 2021] [finding that reduced revenues did not frustrate the purpose of the lease]). Furthermore, plaintiff’s assertion that Executive Order 202.8 [re: COVID-related suspension of laws] rendered it objectively impossible to perform its operations as a retail store as required by the lease is unavailing as defendant correctly points out that by the time plaintiff filed its complaint in July 2020, this was no longer the case … . Gap, Inc. v 170 Broadway Retail Owner, LLC, 2021 NY Slip Op 04115, First Dept 6-29-21

 

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