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Elements of Constructive Trust Not Demonstrated 

The plaintiff had conveyed her 25% interest in real property to her cousin, allegedly with the understanding plaintiff would share in the proceeds if the property were sold. Eventually the cousin was deeded 100% of the property. The cousin lived on the property from 1989 to 2005.  The cousin deeded the property to her brother and his wife, the defendants. The defendants maintained the house and paid taxes on it, although they did not live there.  The plaintiff did not contribute to the property maintenance or taxes and did not submit any proof that the defendants had been unjustly enriched by owning the property (i.e. rental income). The Second Department upheld the referee in finding that the plaintiff had not proved the elements of a real-property constructive trust.  The Second Department explained the elements as follows:

“The elements of a constructive trust are a confidential or fiduciary relationship, a promise, a transfer in reliance thereon, and unjust enrichment… . These requirements, however, are not to be rigidly applied …. The ultimate purpose of a constructive trust is to prevent unjust enrichment, and it will be imposed ” [w]hen property has been acquired in such circumstances that the holder of the legal title may not in good conscience retain the beneficial interest'” ….  Broderson v Parsons, 2013 NY Slip Op 03050, 2nd Dept, 5-1-13

 

Emergency Doctrine Warranted Summary Judgment to Defendant Bus Company

The plaintiff, a bus passenger, was injured when the bus stopped quickly and she fell to the floor.  The Transit Authority moved for summary judgment under the emergency doctrine, submitting evidence the bus driver stopped to avoid a collision with a car that cut in front of the bus.  In granting summary judgment, the Second Department described the emergency doctrine as follows:

Through the emergency doctrine, the law recognizes ” that those faced with a sudden and unexpected circumstance, not of their own making, that leaves them with little or no time for reflection or reasonably causes them to be so disturbed that they are compelled to make a quick decision without weighing alternative courses of conduct, may not be negligent if their actions are reasonable and prudent in the context of the emergency’ … .

“Although the existence of an emergency and the reasonableness of the response to it generally present issues of fact for purposes of application of the emergency doctrine …, those issues may in appropriate circumstances be determined as a matter of law” …. Marri v New York City Tr Auth, 2013 NY Slip Op 03065, 2nd Dept, 5-1-13

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

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Consolidation of Trials Okay Even If Some Prejudice Results; Potential for Inconsistent Verdicts Eliminated by Consolidation

In a personal injury action, the fact that consolidation of two actions arising from the same accident will result in the jury learning of the existence of insurance did not warrant the denial of the motion to consolidate.  The Second Department wrote:

The trial court has broad discretion in determining whether to order consolidation … . The interests of justice and judicial economy are better served by consolidation in those cases where the actions share material questions of law or fact … . A motion to consolidate should be granted absent a showing of prejudice to a substantial right by a party opposing the motion .. . Here, the appellants principally argued that they would be prejudiced if the two actions are tried before the same jury since it will bring to the jury’s attention the existence of insurance in Action No. 1 …. However, even assuming that under the circumstances of this case, the appellants would be prejudiced by consolidation, any such prejudice is outweighed by the possibility of inconsistent verdicts if separate trials ensue … . Furthermore, the possibility of such prejudice to the appellants can be mitigated by appropriate jury instructions.  Hanover Ins Group v Mezansky, 2013 NY Slip Op 02713, 2nd Dept, 4-24-13

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, PEDESTRIANS

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Forum Selection Clause Upheld; Not Shown to Be Unreasonable

In upholding the validity of a contractual forum selection clause, the Second Department wrote:

“Although once disfavored by the courts, it is now recognized that parties to a contract may freely select a forum which will resolve any disputes over the interpretation or performance of the contract” … “A contractual forum selection clause is prima facie valid and enforceable unless it is shown by the challenging party to be unreasonable, unjust, in contravention of public policy, invalid due to fraud or overreaching, or it is shown that a trial in the selected forum would be so gravely difficult that the challenging party would, for all practical purposes, be deprived of its day in court” … . Lifetime Brands, Inc v Garden Ridge, LP, 2013 NY Slip Op 02721, 2nd Dept, 4-24-13

 

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Contractual Shortened Statute of Limitations Okay

The Second Department held that a shortened statute of limitations agreed to in an employment contract was enforceable:

“The parties to a contract may agree to limit the period of time within which an action must be commenced to a period shorter than that provided by the applicable statute of limitations” (…see CPLR 201…). “ Absent proof that the contract is one of adhesion or the product of overreaching, or that [the] altered period is unreasonably short, the abbreviated period of limitation will be enforced” … . Hunt v Raymour & Flanigan, 2013 NY Slip Op 02715, 2nd Dept, 4-24-13

 

Construction Manager Not Liable Unless Delegated Authority of General Manager

In finding the action against a construction manager should have been dismissed because the construction manager had not been delegated the responsibilities of a general contractor, the Second Department wrote:

“Although a construction manager is generally not considered a contractor responsible for the safety of the workers at a construction site . . . it may nonetheless become responsible if it has been delegated the authority and duties of a general contractor, or if it functions as an agent of the owner of the premises” . ” A party is deemed to be an agent of an owner or general contractor under the Labor Law when it has supervisory control and authority over the work being done where a plaintiff is injured”… . The defendant … made a prima facie showing of its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by establishing, through the admission of construction documents and agreements and the deposition testimony of the parties, that it had not been delegated the authority and duties of a general contractor, and did not have supervisory control and authority over the work being done … . McLaren v Turner Constr Co, 2013 NY Slip Op 02726, 2nd Dept, 4-24-13

 

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Best Interests of Child Allowed Mother’s Relocation

In reversing Family Court’s determination the best interests of the child did not permit the mother’s relocation, the Second Department wrote:

After weighing the appropriate factors set forth in Matter of Tropea v Tropea …, we find that the mother established by a preponderance of the evidence that the children’s best interests would be served by permitting the relocation … .

The mother demonstrated that she could not meet the family’s living expenses in New York and that the father did not make regular child support payments …. She also demonstrated that, if permitted to relocate, she would accept an offer of employment in her field of experience, and would receive financial assistance, including housing and a car, from extended family members … . The desires of the children, while properly considered, are not determinative … . Matter of Tracy A G v Undine J, 2013 NY Slip Op 02751, 2nd Dept, 4-24-13

 

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Mother Not Given Sufficient Opportunity to Substantiate Her Income

In finding Family Court did not have a sufficient basis to determine the mother failed to substantiate her income in a child support proceeding, the Second Department wrote:

The Support Magistrate improperly awarded child support based on the needs of the child rather than the mother’s income, upon concluding that the mother failed to substantiate her income (see Family Ct Act § 413[1][k]). The record reflects that, prior to the hearing at which the Support Magistrate issued the order, the mother had appeared before the Support Magistrate only twice and, on both occasions, the appearances were very brief. … Moreover, the Support Magistrate failed to advise the mother that her failure to fill out the financial disclosure affidavit would result in an award of support based on the child’s needs, instead of the mother’s income … . Accordingly, the matter must be remitted … for a new hearing on the petition and a new determination thereafter as to the mother’s support obligation.  Matter of Anderson v Pappalardo, 2013 NY Slip Op 02745, 2nd Dept, 4-24-13

 

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Restitution Can Not Be Ordered When Not Addressed in Plea Agreement

The Second Department, in the interest of justice, determined the sentencing court should not have imposed restitution because restitution was not addressed in the plea agreement.  The matter was remitted for re-sentencing without restitution. People v Thompson, 2013 NY Slip Op 02770, 2nd Dept, 4-24-13

 

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Failure to Follow Statutory Procedure Re: Notes Sent Out By Jury Is a “Mode of Proceedings” Error Requiring Reversal

In reversing a conviction because the trial court committed a “mode of proceedings” error (not requiring preservation) by not following the procedure mandated in Criminal Procedure Law 310.30 (re: notes sent out by the jury during deliberations), the Second Department explained:

“Specifically, the Court of Appeals has held that whenever a substantive written jury communication is received by the Judge,’ it should be read into the record in the presence of counsel,’ and that, [a]fter the contents of the inquiry are placed on the record, counsel should be afforded a full opportunity to suggest appropriate responses'” … . These requirements were not satisfied here.People v Fenton, 2013 NY Slip Op 02761, 2nd Dept, 4-24-13

 

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