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THE SCAFFOLD ON WHICH PLAINTIFF WAS STANDING FELL OVER WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE IT WHILE STANDING ON IT; PLAINTIFF WAS ENTITLED TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON HIS LABOR LAW 240(1) AND 241(6) CAUSES OF ACTION (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined plaintiff was entitled to summary judgment in this Labor Law 240(1) and 241(6) action. The scaffold fell over when plaintiff attempted to move it while standing on it. There was evidence one of the wheels, which was attached with wire, became detached:

… [T]he plaintiff demonstrated that he was directed to work on a Baker scaffold in order to perform his task of installing tracks on the ceiling, that the scaffold he was using was the only scaffold available to him, that as he was working without assistance, he tried to move the scaffold while he was standing on it, and that after the scaffold toppled over he observed that one of its wheels was detached. The plaintiff also submitted the affidavit of his foreman … who averred … that there were no nuts and bolts securing the wheels to the scaffold, and that the wheels were kept in place with the use of wire. Shortly after the accident, [the foreman] also observed that one of the wheels of the scaffold had become detached from its frame.

… [The] defendants failed to present a plausible view of the evidence—enough to raise a fact question—that there was no statutory violation and that the plaintiff’s own acts or omissions were the sole cause of the accident … . Masmalaj v New York City Economic Dev. Corp., 2021 NY Slip Op 05119, Second Dept 9-29-21

 

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SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE CONDUCTED AN INQUIRY TO ENSURE DEFENDANT INTELLIGENTLY WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL AFTER HIS ATTORNEY WAS PERMITTED TO WITHDRAW; NEW TRIAL ORDERED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court in this divorce action, determined the court did not make sure defendant intelligently waived his right to counsel after his attorney was permitted to withdraw:

A divorce litigant has a statutory right to counsel for the custody portion of the litigation (see Family Ct Act § 262[a][iii], [v]; Judiciary Law § 35[8]). Here, the defendant’s attorney was permitted to withdraw during the trial, and the defendant proceeded pro se. However, the Supreme Court did not determine whether the defendant was unequivocally, voluntarily, and intelligently waiving his right to counsel … and failed to inquire whether the defendant understood the risks and disadvantages of appearing pro se. … [W]e … remit the matter … for a new trial … . At that time, the court should conduct a more detailed inquiry to determine whether the defendant is eligible for assigned counsel. Brandel v Brandel, 2021 NY Slip Op 05116, Second Dept 9-29-21

 

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THE MOTION FOR A JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW (CPLR 4401) FINDING THE NYC HOUSING AUTHORITY LIABLE FOR A BEDBUG INFESTATION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the motion for a judgment as a matter law (CPLR 4401), finding the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) liable for a bedbug infestation of plaintiffs’ apartments, should not have been granted:

A motion pursuant to CPLR 4401 should not be granted unless, affording the party opposing the motion every inference which may properly be drawn from the facts presented, and viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmovant, there is no rational process by which the jury could find for the nonmovant against the moving party … . A court considering a motion for a directed verdict “must not ‘engage in a weighing of the evidence,’ nor may it direct a verdict where ‘the facts are in dispute, or where different inferences may be drawn or the credibility of witnesses is in question'” … .

… [T]he evidence adduced at trial, viewed in the light most favorable to NYCHA, did not establish that there is no rational process by which the jury could find in favor of NYCHA … . The evidence included the plaintiffs’ testimony, as well as the parties’ competing expert testimony regarding the appropriate protocols for the treatment of a bedbug infestation and competing conclusions by the expert witnesses as to whether NYCHA’s bedbug eradication efforts were appropriate. Although a landlord’s violation of a municipal ordinance, including, as relevant here, Administrative Code of the City of New York §§ 27-2017 and 27-2018, may constitute some evidence of negligence for the jury to take into account, it does not constitute negligence per se … . Aponte v New York City Hous. Auth., 2021 NY Slip Op 05114, Second Dept 9-29-21

 

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ALTHOUGH THE BROKER MAY HAVE REQUESTED THAT PLAINTIFF BE ADDED TO THE INSURANCE POLICY, THE BROKER ALLEGEDLY DID NOT VERIFY THE COVERAGE WAS IN PLACE BEFORE ERRONEOUSLY REPRESENTING TO THE PLAINTIFF THAT IT WAS INSURED; THERE WAS A QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER THE BROKER BREACHED A COMMON-LAW OR CONTRACTUAL DUTY OWED TO PLAINTIFF (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined there were triable issues of fact concerning whether defendant Ovation breached its common-law or contractual duty to procure insurance for plaintiff Concrete. Allegedly, Ovation had represented to Concrete that the insurance had been procured but did not verify that the coverage, to be provided by the insurer, was in place:

In general, “insurance brokers have a common-law duty to obtain requested coverage for their clients within a reasonable time or inform the client of the inability to do so” … . A claim of liability for a violation of this duty may sound in either contract or tort … . To state a claim based upon violation of the insurance broker’s common-law duty, the client must demonstrate that the broker failed to discharge its duty either by breaching the agreement with the client by failing to obtain the requested coverage or by failing to exercise due care in obtaining insurance on the client’s behalf … .

Here, the Ovation defendants failed to establish … that Ovation did not breach its common-law or contractual duty to Concrete. Even assuming [there was a request] that Concrete be added to the existing policy … the deposition testimony submitted by the Ovation defendants … demonstrated that Ovation agreed to obtain insurance for Concrete and then represented that it had done so without verifying this fact. … [T]he Ovation defendants failed to establish, … the absence of a triable issue of fact as to whether Ovation undertook a duty to Concrete which it then failed to discharge. Alpha/Omega Concrete Corp. v Ovation Risk Planners, Inc., 2021 NY Slip Op 05113, Second Dept 9-29-21

 

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THE REFEREE’S REPORT WAS BASED UPON INFORMATION IN BUSINESS RECORDS WHICH WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THE AFFIDAVIT IN WHICH THE RECORDS WERE DESCRIBED; THE INFORMATION IN THE AFFIDAVIT WAS THEREFORE INADMISSIBLE HEARSAY (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the referee in this foreclosure action relied on information in business records which were not provided along with the affidavit describing them:

The defendant argues … that the Supreme Court erred in confirming the referee’s report because the referee’s computation was premised upon unproduced business records. “The report of a referee should be confirmed whenever the findings are substantially supported by the record, and the referee has clearly defined the issues and resolved matters of credibility” … . Here, the affidavit executed by an employee of the plaintiff submitted for the purpose of establishing the amount due and owing under the subject mortgage loan constituted inadmissible hearsay and lacked probative value because the affiant did not produce any of the business records she purportedly relied upon in making her calculations … . Consequently, the referee’s findings with respect to the total amount due under the mortgage were not substantially supported by the record … . Wells Fargo Bank, NA v Clerge, 2021 NY Slip Op 05038, Second Dept 9-22-21

 

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IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, DEFENDANT’S COUNTERCLAIMS FOR ABUSE OF PROCESS AND MALICIOUS PROSECUTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court in this foreclosure action, determined defendant’s (Yeshiva’s) counterclaims for abuse of process and malicious prosecution should have been dismissed:

Supreme Court should have granted those branches of Maspeth’s [the bank’s] motion which were to dismiss Yeshiva’s second and third counterclaims, sounding in abuse of process and malicious prosecution, respectively. To state a cause of action to recover damages for abuse of process, a party must allege the existence of (1) regularly issued process, (2) an intent to do harm without excuse or justification, and (3) the use of process in a perverted manner to obtain a collateral objective … . Here, Yeshiva failed to allege any actual misuse of the process to obtain an end outside its proper scope … . Moreover, “[t]he elements of the tort of malicious prosecution of a civil action are (1) prosecution of a civil action against the plaintiff, (2) by or at the instance of the defendant, (3) without probable cause, (4) with malice, (5) which terminated in favor of the plaintiff, and (6) causing special injury” … . Here, Yeshiva failed to adequately allege malice on the part of Maspeth in commencing the action, a termination of the action in favor of Yeshiva, or the requisite special injury. Maspeth Fed. Sav. & Loan Assn. v Elizer, 2021 NY Slip Op 05030, Second Dept 9-22-21

 

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THE HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION ACTED WITHIN ITS AUTHORITY WHEN IT REQUIRED A HOMEOWNER TO TAKE DOWN A FENCE; HOWEVER THE AUTHORITY FOR THE HEAVY FINE (OVER $35,000) WAS NOT VALID PURSUANT TO THE REAL PROPERTY LAW (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying} Supreme Court, determined that the homeowners’ association board (Fieldpoint) had the authority to require a homeowner to take down a fence and to fine the homeowner. However, the rule in effect at the time the fence was erected allowed only a one-time fine of $50.00. Supreme Court had awarded the homeowners’ association over $35,000. The amendment to the by-laws which provided for heavier fines was not incorporated in a recorded amended declaration as required by Real Property Law 339-u:

“‘In reviewing the actions of a homeowners’ association, a court should apply the business judgment rule and should limit its inquiry to whether the action was authorized and whether it was taken in good faith and in furtherance of the legitimate interests of the association'” … . Accordingly, a court should defer to the actions of a homeowners’ association board so long as the board acts for the purposes of the homeowners’ association, within the scope of its authority, and in good faith … .

… Fieldpoint established … that its actions in denying approval for the fence were protected by the business judgment rule … . In opposition to Fieldpoint’s prima facie showing, the plaintiffs failed to raise a triable issue of fact by submitting evidence that Fieldpoint acted “(1) outside the scope of its authority, (2) in a way that did not legitimately further the [interests of the association] or (3) in bad faith” … . Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly determined that Fieldpoint’s actions in denying approval for the fence were within the scope of its authority and taken in good faith. However, the court should have issued declarations to that effect rather than dismissing the causes of action seeking declarations to the contrary … . Ives v Fieldpoint Community Assn., Inc., 2021 NY Slip Op 05028, Second Dept 9-22-21

 

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PLAINTIFF BANK DID NOT PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO TAKE A TIMELY DEFAULT JUDGMENT; THE FORECLOSURE ACTION WAS ABANDONED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the foreclosure action should have been dismissed because plaintiff’s excuse for failing to take a timely default judgment was inadequate:

To avoid dismissal of a complaint pursuant to CPLR 3215(c) as abandoned, a plaintiff must demonstrate both that there is a reasonable excuse for the delay and that the action is meritorious … . “Although the determination of what constitutes a reasonable excuse lies within the sound discretion of the Supreme Court, reversal is warranted if that discretion is improvidently exercised” … .

Here, contrary to the Supreme Court’s determination, the excuse for the plaintiff’s failure to take proceedings for the entry of a judgment within one year after the action was released from the foreclosure settlement conference part was not reasonable … . Throughout the course of this litigation, there were unexplained gaps of time where months of inactivity passed. Neither the need to move for the appointment of a successor guardian nor the plaintiff’s change of attorney which change occurred after the statutory one-year period had expired constitutes a reasonable excuse for the plaintiff’s failure to timely prosecute this action … . HSBC Bank USA, N.A. v Whaley, 2021 NY Slip Op 05027, Second Dept 9-22-21

 

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PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY’S QUANTUM MERUIT ACTION FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED ON THE GROUND THAT IT WAS PRECLUDED BY A WRITTEN CONTRACT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court determined plaintiff-attorney’s quantum meruit action for legal services should not have been dismissed. The evidence did not demonstrate the existence of a written contract (which would preclude the quantum meruit action):

“In order to succeed on a cause of action to recover in quantum meruit, the plaintiff must prove (1) the performance of services in good faith, (2) the acceptance of the services by the person to whom they were rendered, (3) an expectation of compensation therefor, and (4) the reasonable value of the services” … . Recovery under the theory of quantum meruit is not appropriate where an express contract governs the subject matter involved … .

“[A] written agreement that is complete, clear and unambiguous on its face must be enforced according to the plain meaning of its terms” … . “[A]n unsigned contract may be enforceable, provided there is objective evidence establishing that the parties intended to be bound” … . “In determining whether the parties entered into a contractual agreement and what were its terms, it is necessary to look . . . to the objective manifestations of the intent of the parties as gathered by their expressed words and deeds” … . Gould v Decolator, Cohen & DiPrisco, LLP, 2021 NY Slip Op 05026, Second Dept 9-22-21

 

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THE GRANTOR WAS NOT THE SOLE HEIR OF THE TITLE HOLDER; THEREFORE THE DEED PURPORTING TO TRANSFER A 100% INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY WAS VOID AB INITIO (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined a deed was null and void because the grantor was not the sole heir of the title holder:

By a deed dated July 25, 2012, Colie Gallman, Jr., alleged to be the sole heir of Lillian Hudson, purportedly transferred his 100% interest in certain real property owned by Hudson to the defendant. In January 2015, the plaintiff commenced this action against the defendant seeking a judgment declaring that the July 25, 2012 deed is null and void. * * *

A misrepresentation in a deed that the seller of the property is the sole heir of the holder of the title to the property renders the conveyance void ab initio … . Here, the evidence and affidavits submitted by the plaintiff to the Supreme Court during the course of motion practice in this action established that Colie Gallman, Jr., was not the sole heir of Hudson as of the date of the subject deed, and thus, the deed purporting to convey all of the interest in the subject property is void ab initio … . In opposition, the defendant failed to raise a triable issue of fact. 23A Vernon, LLC v Oneal, 2021 NY Slip Op 05017, Second Dept 9-22-21

 

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