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Defective Handrail Could Have Been Factor in Plaintiff’s Injuries.

In reversing the trial court’s grant of a motion to set aside the verdict, the Second Department determined that the violation of an Administrative Code concerning stairway handrails could have been a factor in the injuries to the plaintiff. The plaintiff tried to stop his fall down a stairway but could not grab the handrail which was flush with the wall.  Expert testimony established that a handrail flush to the wall was dangerous and defective.  Cusumano v City of New York, 2012-00015, Index No 4207/01, Second Dept. 3-6-13

 

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Prior Written Notice Law Protects City from Liability for Dangerous Road Condition.

“Where a municipality has enacted a prior written notice law, it may not be subjected to liability for injuries arising from a dangerous roadway condition unless it has received prior written notice of the dangerous condition, or an exception to the prior written notice requirement applies…  .  The only recognized exceptions to the statutory prior written notice requirement involve situations in which the municipality created the defect or hazard through an affirmative act of negligence, or where a special use confers a benefit upon the municipality…” .  Because the City established it had not received prior written notification of the condition which caused plaintiff’s injuries it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law.  Connor v City of New York, 2012-02970, Index No 30407/05, Second Dept. 3-6-13

 

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Hospital Generally Not Liable for Negligence of Private Attending Physician.

“ ‘[I]n general, a hospital cannot be held vicariously liable for the negligence of a private attending physician’ … . Further, a hospital cannot be held concurrently liable with such a physician unless its employees commit independent acts of negligence or the attending physician’s orders are contraindicated by normal practice…’ “.  Aronov v Soukkary, 2012-00155, Index No 2061/09, Second Dept. 3-6-13

 

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Herniated Disc not “Serious Injury”—Insufficient Proof of Physical Limitations.

The Second Department reversed the trial court’s denial of a motion pursuant to CPLR 4404 to set aside the jury verdict.  The issue was whether the plaintiff had proven he sustained “serious injury” within the meaning of Insurance Law 5102(d).  The plaintiff had a bulging or herniated disk but did not provide objective proof of the extent or degree of the alleged physical limitations caused by the disc injury. In describing the criteria for analysis, the Court wrote:  “ ‘A motion pursuant to CPLR 4404(a) to set aside a jury verdict and for judgment as a matter of law will be granted where there is no valid line of reasoning and permissible inferences which could possibly lead rational persons to the conclusions reached by the jury on the basis of the evidence presented at trial…’ “.  Bacon v Bostany, 2011-08654, 2012-07634, Index No 997/08, Second Dept. 3-6-13

 

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Erroneous Discharge of Mortgage Can Be Set Aside Where No Detrimental Reliance

The Second Department explained: “ ‘ A mortgagee may have an erroneous discharge of mortgage, without concomitant satisfaction of the underlying mortgage debt, set aside, and have the mortgage reinstated where there has not been detrimental reliance on the erroneous recording’ … .Only bona fide purchasers and lenders for value are entitled to protection from an erroneous discharge of a mortgage based upon their detrimental reliance thereon.”  Beltway Capital, LLC v Soleil,et al, 2011-02773, Index no 22244/07, Second Dept. 3-6-13

 

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Failure to Hold a Hearing on Mother’s Petition for Custody and Failure to Inform Father of Right to Counsel Required Reversal of Custody Determination

The Second Department determined Family Court’s failure to hold a hearing to determine the mother’s petition for custody, and the Court’s failure to advise the father that he had the right to counsel, required reversal of the grant of custody to the mother.  In the Matter of Savoca v Bellofatto, 2012-02935, Docket No V-22033-11, Second Dept 3-6-13

 

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Record-Keeping Was a Condition Precedent to Insurance Coverage

The record-keeping requirement in an insurance policy was a condition precedent. “Here, the defendant established its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by submitting evidence that the plaintiff failed to comply with the record-keeping requirement set forth in the subject insurance policy, which was a clear condition precedent to coverage … “ Stars Jewelry…v Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., 2011-09098, Index No 5221/10, 2nd Dept. 3-6-13

 

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10-Year-Old Plaintiff’s Testimony Should Have Been Considered—No Need for Hearing to Determine Testimonial Capacity

The trial court’s determination the testimony of the 10-year-old plaintiff at a 50-h hearing should not be considered because there was no hearing to determine the infant plaintiff’s testimonial capacity was reversed by the Second Department.  “None of the parties challenged the infant plaintiff’s capacity to testify.  Under the circumstances, neither the infant plaintiff’s age nor his responses to the questioning necessitated a hearing.”  Perez v City of New York, 2012-03711, Index No 3451/10, 2nd Dept. 3-6-13

 

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Law Office Failure Justified Vacation of Default Judgment

The Second Department found the evidence in the motion to vacate a default was sufficient: “Here, the moving defendants’ claim of law office failure was supported by a ‘detailed and credible’ explanation of the default.  Moreover, the moving defendants demonstrated the existence of a potentially meritorious opposition to plaintiff’s motion. Accordingly, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in vacating their default in opposing the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.”  Properties, LLC v McDonald, LLC, et al, 2011-11434, 2012-04529, Index No 14525/09, 2nd Dept. 3-6-13

 

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Service Upon Employee Did Not Confer Personal Jurisdiction Over Corporation

The Second Department held that service upon an employee who was not an officer, director, managing agent, cashier, or an agent authorized to accept service, did not confer jurisdiction over a corporation, and the motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction should have been granted.  Fernandez v Town of Babylon …, Omni Recycling of Babylon, Inc., 2012-05513, Index No 4102/01, 2nd Dept. 3-6-13

 

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