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Excuse for Default Found Inadequate

The Second Department determined the motion court erred when it found defendant’s excuse for default in appearing or answering adequate:

While the determination of what constitutes a reasonable excuse lies within the sound discretion of the Supreme Court, a general assertion that the default was occasioned by the defendant’s insurance broker or liability carrier is insufficient … . Here, the defendant’s unsubstantiated claims that he believed that his insurance broker had forwarded the summons and complaint to his insurer and that his insurer was providing a defense are unreasonable given that the defendant was served with the plaintiff’s motion for leave to enter a default judgment … .   Spitzer v Landau, 2013 NY Slip Op 02067, 2012-05686, Index No 001868/11, 2nd Dept 3-27-13

 

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Defaulting Party Can Give Testimony and Present Evidence at Damages Proceeding 

The defendant’s answer in a partition action was struck due to his failure to comply with disclosure requests and court orders.  At the inquest the defendant was allowed to cross-examine plaintiff’s witnesses but was not allowed give testimony or offer proof in mitigation of the alleged damages.  The Second Department wrote:

[A] defendant whose answer is stricken as a result of a default admits all traversable allegations in the complaint, including the basic allegation of liability, but does not admit the plaintiff’s conclusion as to damages'” … . Indeed, where an entry of a default judgment against a defendant is made after an application to the court, the defendant is entitled to a ” full opportunity to cross-examine witnesses, give testimony and offer proof in mitigation of damages'” … .  Rawlings v Gillert, 2013 NY Slip Op 02063, 2011-11951, Index No 7570/08, 2nd Dept 3-27-13

 

Notice of Appearance Does Not Waive Lack of Jurisdiction Defense

The Second Department noted that filing a Notice of Appearance does not waive the lack of personal jurisdiction which can be raised in a motion to dismiss pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(8) or as a defense in the answer pursuant to CPLR 3211.  Frederic v Israel, 2013 NY Slip Op 02049, 2012-03475, Index No 20290/06, 2nd Dept 3-27-13

 

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Criteria for Motions to Dismiss Pursuant to CPLR 3211 Discussed in Detail

In a full-fledged opinion by Justice Dickerson, the Second Department laid out the requirements for determining a motion to dismiss pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7), the elements of the theory of agency, the requirements for a judgment based on documentary evidence pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1), and the elements of a cause of action alleging breach of a fiduciary duty.  Faith Assembly v Titledge Of NY Abstract, LLC, 2013 NY Slip Op 02046, 2011-04345, Index No 28579/09, 2nd Dept 3-27-13

 

Plaintiff Could Not Demonstrate Valid “Nail and Mail” Service

The Second Department affirmed the trial court’s determination that plaintiff was unable to demonstrate the defendant had been validly served using the “nail and mail” method:

…[T]he Supreme Court properly granted that branch of the plaintiff’s motion which was to dismiss the complaint pursuant to CPLR. Where service is effected pursuant to CPLR 308(4), the so-called “nail and mail” method, the plaintiff must demonstrate that service pursuant to CPLR 308(1) or (2) (personal service or residence service) could not be made with ” due diligence'” … .This requirement must be ” strictly observed, given the reduced likelihood that a summons served pursuant to that section will be received'” … .

Here, the plaintiff produced the process server’s affidavit, which satisfied its prima facie burden regarding service. However, in her responsive affidavit, [defendant] rebutted that showing by stating specifically that (1) she was never personally served in this action, (2) she had never resided at the address where the process server attempted personal service and eventually affixed the papers, and (3) the summons and complaint were never affixed to the door of the subject premises where she had lived for more than 20 years. This showing was sufficient to warrant a hearing … .\At the hearing, the plaintiff failed to demonstrate that its process server made a genuine effort to determine [defendant’s] correct address or that he made “quality” efforts to serve her with process … . Aurora Loan Services, LLC v Gaines, et al, 2013 NY Slip Op 02034, 2011-04002, Index No 20180/08, 2nd Dept. 3-27-13

 

Buyout Upon Dissolution Can Be Ordered by Judge 

The Second Department determined a court can order a buyout of another’s interest in a limited liability company (LLC) upon judicial dissolution of the LLC:

The Limited Liability Company Law “does not expressly authorize a buyout in a dissolution proceeding “ … . Nonetheless, in certain circumstances, a buyout may be an appropriate equitable remedy upon the dissolution of an LLC … . Under the facts of this case, the remedy of a buyout by the plaintiff is appropriate … . Contrary to the defendant’s contention, the provisions of the LLC agreement regarding dissolution of the LLC do not preclude an order authorizing a buyout upon the judicial dissolution of the LLC pursuant to Limited Liability Company Law § 702 … . Mizrahi v Cohen, 2013 NY Slip Op 02056, 2012-02021, Index No 3865/10, 2nd Dept 3-27-13

 

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Religious Holidays in Teachers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement Violate the Establishment Clause 

A provision in a collective bargaining agreement that allowed teachers to take up to five religious holidays as paid days off was deemed unconstitutional by the Second Department:

“There is no firmer or more settled principle of Establishment Clause jurisprudence than that prohibiting the use of the State’s power to force one to profess a religious belief” … . Here, the clear wording of the religious holidays provision rewarded members of the Association who claimed to be religiously observant with more paid days off than those afforded to agnostics, atheists, and members who were less observant. As a result, the religious holidays provision violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution … .   Matter of Board of Educ … v Mineola Teachers Assn, 2013 NY Slip Op 02070, 2011-11373, Index No 7359/11, 2nd Dept 3-27-13

 

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Handwriting Expert Not Necessary to Create Question of Fact About Authenticity of Signature

The Second Department determined the defendant had raised a question of fact about the authenticity of his signature without submitting an affidavit by a handwriting expert:

The plaintiff made a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by demonstrating the existence of a promissory note executed by the defendant, the unconditional terms of repayment, and the defendant’s default thereunder … . However, in response, the defendant raised a triable issue of fact as to the validity of his signature on the note by pointing out several alleged irregularities in the document’s signature page and by submitting an affidavit on his own behalf … . While the defendant did not submit an affidavit by a handwriting expert, where, as here, the defendant has provided more than his own unsubstantiated, conclusory allegations of fraud, expert testimony is not strictly necessary, and would be more appropriate for proof at trial … .  Cooper Capital Group, Ltd v Densen, 2013 NY Slip Op 02042, 2011-06030, Index No 39107/10, 2nd Dept 3-27-13

 

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Ambiguity in Separation Agreement Construed Against Drafter

The Second Department determined the ambiguity in a separation agreement about whether the decedent was obligated to maintain life insurance policy should be construed against the decedent, whose attorney drafted the document:

Here, the separation agreement was ambiguous as to whether the decedent’s obligation to maintain a life insurance policy naming the defendants as beneficiaries extended beyond the date of the defendants’ emancipation. However, it is undisputed that the decedent’s attorney drafted the separation agreement. Pursuant to the doctrine of contra proferentem, the Supreme Court should have construed the ambiguity against the decedent’s estate … .  DeAngelis v DeAngelis, 2013 NY Slip Op, 2011-08587, Index No 8485/08, 2nd Dept 3-27-13

 

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Circumstances Under Which Contractor Can Be Held Liable for Slip on Snow and Ice 

In this slip and fall case, the Second Department explained the circumstances under which a snow-and-ice-removal contractor can be held liable for injuries to third parties:

Generally, “a limited contractual obligation to provide snow removal services does not render the contractor liable in tort for the personal injuries of third parties” … . However, there are three recognized exceptions: “(1) where the contracting party, in failing to exercise reasonable care in the performance of his duties, launche[s] a force or instrument of harm; (2) where the plaintiff detrimentally relies on the continued performance of the contracting party’s duties and (3) where the contracting party has entirely displaced the other party’s duty to maintain the premises safely” … .  Santos v Deanco Servs, Inc, 2013 NY Slip Op 02065, 2012-02786, Index No 5927/09, 2nd Dept 3-27-13

 

 

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