Third Department – Page 147 – New York Appellate Digest

OWNERS OF PROPERTY ABUTTING A ROADWAY CANNOT PROHIBIT PARKING ALONG THE ROADWAY UNLESS PARKED CARS IMPEDE ACCESS TO THE OWNERS’ PROPERTY (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined that plaintiffs, who owned property abutting a road, could not prohibit defendants from parking along the road unless plaintiffs’ access to the property was blocked by the defendants:

Supreme Court properly ruled that plaintiffs cannot prevent others from parking their vehicles within the highway easement on the road front property along the shoulder of Route 34, unless those individuals unreasonably interfere with plaintiffs’ right of ingress and egress … . Augusta v Kwortnik, 2018 NY Slip Op 03574, Third Dept. 5-17-18

REAL PROPERTY (OWNERS OF PROPERTY ABUTTING A ROADWAY CANNOT PROHIBIT PARKING ALONG THE ROADWAY UNLESS PARKED CARS IMPEDE ACCESS TO THE OWNERS’ PROPERTY (THIRD DEPT))/PARKING (HIGHWAYS AND ROADS, REAL PROPERTY, OWNERS OF PROPERTY ABUTTING A ROADWAY CANNOT PROHIBIT PARKING ALONG THE ROADWAY UNLESS PARKED CARS IMPEDE ACCESS TO THE OWNERS’ PROPERTY (THIRD DEPT))/HIGHWAYS AND ROADS (PARKING, OWNERS OF PROPERTY ABUTTING A ROADWAY CANNOT PROHIBIT PARKING ALONG THE ROADWAY UNLESS PARKED CARS IMPEDE ACCESS TO THE OWNERS’ PROPERTY (THIRD DEPT))

May 17, 2018

Lien Law

NOTICE SENT TO THE OWNER AND LIENHOLDER OF A CAR BY THE TOW SERVICE WHICH WAS STORING THE CAR DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LIEN LAW, THEREFORE THE STORAGE FEES COULD NOT BE COLLECTED BY THE TOW SERVICE (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined the tow service’s notice to the owner and lienholder of a car that was towed and then stored did not comply with the Lien Law and, therefore, no storage fees were due to the tow service:

… [R]espondent’s purported lien for storage was invalid. Pursuant to Lien Law § 184 (5), where an entity seeks to assert a lien for the storage of a motor vehicle that it has towed and stored at the direction of a law enforcement agency, such entity must “mail by certified mail, return receipt requested, a notice . . . to every person who has perfected a security interest in such motor vehicle or who is listed as a lienholder upon the certificate of title . . . within [20] days of the first day of storage.” Under the statute, which must be strictly construed … , the “notice shall include the name of the [entity] providing storage of the motor vehicle, the amount being claimed for such storage, and [the] address and times at which the motor vehicle may be recovered”… . In addition, “[t]he notice shall also state that the [entity] providing such notice claims a lien on the motor vehicle and that such motor vehicle shall be released upon full payment of all storage charges accrued on the date the motor vehicle is released”… .

Here, the notice — which was mailed to petitioner by certified mail, return receipt requested — included respondent’s name, address and regular business hours, as well as the total amount being claimed for storage. The notice further stated that the vehicle would “be released to the owner thereof, or his or her lawfully designed [sic] representative upon full payment of all charges accrued to the date that the said motor vehicle is released.” Fatally, however, the notice did not state, as required, that respondent “claim[ed] a lien” on the vehicle … . The word “lien” does not appear in the notice at all. Moreover, we are not persuaded by respondent’s contention that the requirement was satisfied by the language indicating that the vehicle would be released “upon full payment of all charges.” Strictly construed, Lien Law § 184 (5) requires that the notice state both that respondent “claims a lien on the motor vehicle and that such motor vehicle shall be released upon full payment of all storage charges accrued on the date the motor vehicle is released” … . Matter of Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp v All County Towing, 2018 NY Slip Op 03583, Third Dept 5-17-18

LIEN LAW (NOTICE SENT TO THE OWNER AND LIENHOLDER OF A CAR BY THE TOW SERVICE WHICH WAS STORING THE CAR DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LIEN LAW, THEREFORE THE STORAGE FEES COULD NOT BE COLLECTED BY THE TOW SERVICE (THIRD DEPT))/TOWING SERVICE (LIEN LAW, NOTICE SENT TO THE OWNER AND LIENHOLDER OF A CAR BY THE TOW SERVICE WHICH WAS STORING THE CAR DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LIEN LAW, THEREFORE THE STORAGE FEES COULD NOT BE COLLECTED BY THE TOW SERVICE (THIRD DEPT))/STORAGE FEES (TOWING SERVICE, LIEN LAW, NOTICE SENT TO THE OWNER AND LIENHOLDER OF A CAR BY THE TOW SERVICE WHICH WAS STORING THE CAR DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LIEN LAW, THEREFORE THE STORAGE FEES COULD NOT BE COLLECTED BY THE TOW SERVICE (THIRD DEPT))

May 17, 2018

Criminal Law

NO INDICATION IN THE INDICTMENT OR THE ALLOCUTION THAT THE THREE ‘POSSESSION OF A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD’ OFFENSES TOOK PLACE AT DIFFERENT TIMES OR LOCATIONS, CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES NOT AUTHORIZED (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined, based upon the wording of the indictment, the defendant should not have been given consecutive sentences the three counts of possession of a sexual performance of a child. The indictment alleged the offenses occurred at the same time and place:

… [T]he imposition of consecutive sentences for possession of a sexual performance by a child convictions were not authorized because his conduct amounted to a single criminal act … . “It is well settled that sentences are authorized to be imposed consecutively if multiple offenses are committed through separate and distinct acts, even though they may be part of a single transaction”… . To justify consecutive sentences in this context, the People were required to establish, either through the indictment or the facts adduced during the allocution, that defendant came into possession of the images at separate and distinct times … . Here, the counts in the indictment to which defendant pleaded guilty contained identical language as to the time, date and place of possession. Inasmuch as neither the indictment nor the facts adduced during the allocution establish that the digital images came into defendant’s possession at separate and distinct times, consecutive sentences were not authorized … . People v Stein, 2018 NY Slip Op 03566, Third Dept 5-17-18

CRIMINAL LAW (SENTENCING, NO INDICATION IN THE INDICTMENT OR THE ALLOCUTION THAT THE THREE ‘POSSESSION OF A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD’ OFFENSES TOOK PLACE AT DIFFERENT TIME OR LOCATIONS, CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES NOT AUTHORIZED (THIRD DEPT))/SENTENCING (NO INDICATION IN THE INDICTMENT OR THE ALLOCUTION THAT THE THREE ‘POSSESSION OF A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD’ OFFENSES TOOK PLACE AT DIFFERENT TIME OR LOCATIONS, CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES NOT AUTHORIZED (THIRD DEPT))

May 17, 2018

Civil Procedure

THE TIME PERIOD FOR LEARNING THE IDENTITY OF DEFENDANTS DOES NOT BEGIN TO RUN WHEN A PLAINTIFF RETAINS COUNSEL, HERE THE ACTION WAS COMMENCED WHEN COUNSEL WAS RETAINED THREE DAYS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, THE COMPLAINT NAMED DEFENDANTS AS ‘JOHN DOES’ WHO WERE NOT IDENTIFIED UNTIL AFTER THE STATUTE HAD RUN, THE ACTION WAS DEEMED TIME-BARRED (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined the time period for substituting a named defendant for a “John Doe” in a complaint does not begin to run when plaintiff retains counsel. Plaintiff alleged an overhead door fell on him and brought a negligence and products liability action naming “John Doe” defendants. The action was commenced when plaintiff retained counsel on August 1, 2014, three days before the statute of limitations expired. The attorney acted quickly by sending an investigator to the accident scene. The named defendants were added to amended complaints after the statute had run. The Third Department held Supreme Court correctly dismissed the action as time-barred:

A plaintiff who is unaware of the name or identity of a defendant may proceed against such defendant by designating so much of his or her name as is known (see CPLR 1024) and must show that he or she made timely and diligent efforts to ascertain the identity of an unknown defendant prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations… . In the absence of evidence that a plaintiff made the requisite timely and diligent efforts to identify an unknown defendant, he or she may not take advantage of the procedural mechanism provided by CPLR 1024 … .

We conclude that Supreme Court correctly determined that plaintiff failed to establish that he made timely and diligent efforts to discover defendants’ identities prior to when the statute of limitations expired on August 4, 2014 … . The only action that plaintiff took was retaining counsel on August 1, 2014, three days before the statute of limitations expired. Such fact, however, does not relieve him of his obligation to exercise diligent efforts. Indeed, we note that, upon retention, counsel immediately took action by sending an investigator to the accident scene. There is no explanation as to why plaintiff waited so long to retain counsel or any indication that he was somehow precluded from doing so prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations. Moreover, contrary to plaintiff’s assertion, preaction discovery under CPLR 3102 (c) is not limited to those parties who appear with counsel.

To that end, we reject plaintiff’s assertion that whether he exercised due diligence must be measured from the point when he retained counsel … . Plaintiff’s additional contention that the duty to exercise due diligence for purposes of CPLR 1024 commences when litigation is reasonably foreseeable is improperly raised for the first time on appeal … and, in any event, is without merit. Walker v Glaxosmithkline, LLC, 2018 NY Slip Op 03581, Third Dept 5-17-18

CIVIL PROCEDURE (JOHN DOES, THE TIME PERIOD FOR LEARNING THE IDENTITY OF DEFENDANTS DOES NOT BEGIN TO RUN WHEN A PLAINTIFF RETAINS COUNSEL, HERE THE ACTION WAS COMMENCED WHEN COUNSEL WAS RETAINED THREE DAYS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, THE COMPLAINT NAMED DEFENDANTS AS ‘JOHN DOES’ WHO WERE NOT IDENTIFIED UNTIL AFTER THE STATUTE HAD RUN, THE ACTION WAS DEEMED TIME-BARRED (THIRD DEPT))/CPLR 1024 (JOHN DOES, THE TIME PERIOD FOR LEARNING THE IDENTITY OF DEFENDANTS DOES NOT BEGIN TO RUN WHEN A PLAINTIFF RETAINS COUNSEL, HERE THE ACTION WAS COMMENCED WHEN COUNSEL WAS RETAINED THREE DAYS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, THE COMPLAINT NAMED DEFENDANTS AS ‘JOHN DOES’ WHO WERE NOT IDENTIFIED UNTIL AFTER THE STATUTE HAD RUN, THE ACTION WAS DEEMED TIME-BARRED (THIRD DEPT))/CPLR 3102 (JOHN DOES, THE TIME PERIOD FOR LEARNING THE IDENTITY OF DEFENDANTS DOES NOT BEGIN TO RUN WHEN A PLAINTIFF RETAINS COUNSEL, HERE THE ACTION WAS COMMENCED WHEN COUNSEL WAS RETAINED THREE DAYS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, THE COMPLAINT NAMED DEFENDANTS AS ‘JOHN DOES’ WHO WERE NOT IDENTIFIED UNTIL AFTER THE STATUTE HAD RUN, THE ACTION WAS DEEMED TIME-BARRED (THIRD DEPT))/JOHN DOES (CIVIL PROCEDURE, THE TIME PERIOD FOR LEARNING THE IDENTITY OF DEFENDANTS DOES NOT BEGIN TO RUN WHEN A PLAINTIFF RETAINS COUNSEL, HERE THE ACTION WAS COMMENCED WHEN COUNSEL WAS RETAINED THREE DAYS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, THE COMPLAINT NAMED DEFENDANTS AS ‘JOHN DOES’ WHO WERE NOT IDENTIFIED UNTIL AFTER THE STATUTE HAD RUN, THE ACTION WAS DEEMED TIME-BARRED (THIRD DEPT))

May 17, 2018

Labor Law, Unemployment Insurance

CLAIMANT, A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, RECEIVED REASONABLE ASSURANCE OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR (LABOR LAW 590), SHE WAS THEREFORE NOT ENTITLED TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, determined that the New York City Department of Education had demonstrated it had provided claimant, a substitute teacher, with reasonable assurance she would continue to be employed in the following school year. Her application for unemployment insurance benefits over the summer should, therefore, have been denied:

… [W]e find that the Board’s decision is not supported by substantial evidence. Initially, in reaching its conclusion, the Board essentially imposed a requirement that a reasonable assurance be a guarantee of earnings during the following school year, an interpretation that finds no support in the statute or case law. … Here, the 153 assignments that claimant obtained directly through school administrators during the 2015-2016 school year exceeded the 145 needed to satisfy the 90% threshold and should have been counted in determining whether she received a reasonable assurance of continued employment.

In addition to the June 2016 letter setting forth the basic terms of claimant’s continued employment during the 2016-2017 school year, the NYCDOE’s witness testified that no changes were anticipated with respect to the budget, salary or number of students and paraprofessionals needed for the upcoming school year. He further stated that 14% of jobs go unfilled, providing ample opportunity for substitutes to find openings. In view of the foregoing, the record establishes that the NYCDOE provided claimant a reasonable assurance of continued employment under Labor Law § 590 (11), thereby precluding her from receiving benefits … . Matter of Enman (New York City Dept. of Educ.–Commissioner of Labor), 2018 NY Slip Op 03416, Third Dept 5-10-18

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS, CLAIMANT, A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, RECEIVED REASONABLE ASSURANCE OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR (LABOR LAW 590), SHE WAS THEREFORE NOT ENTITLED TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS (THIRD DEPT))/LABOR LAW (SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, CLAIMANT, A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, RECEIVED REASONABLE ASSURANCE OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR (LABOR LAW 590), SHE WAS THEREFORE NOT ENTITLED TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS (THIRD DEPT))/SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS (UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, CLAIMANT, A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, RECEIVED REASONABLE ASSURANCE OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR (LABOR LAW 590), SHE WAS THEREFORE NOT ENTITLED TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS (THIRD DEPT))

May 10, 2018

Social Services Law

PETITIONER, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, COMMITTED NEGLECT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW WHEN SHE USED THE TERM ‘RETARDED’ IN A CONVERSATION OVERHEARD BY SERVICE RECIPIENTS (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined petitioner, an employee of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities at the Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Service Office, “committed acts of neglect [within the meaning of the Social Services Law] when [she] breached [her] duty towards multiple service recipients by failing to use appropriate and professional language in their presence.” Petitioner had used the work “retarded” in conversations overheard by two service recipients:

… [N]eglect is defined as an action “that breaches a custodian’s duty and that results in or is likely to result in physical injury or serious or protracted impairment of the physical, mental or emotional condition of a service recipient” (Social Services Law § 488 [1] [h]). Here, it is undisputed that petitioner used the word “retarded” while in a classroom when she was discussing mandated overtime work with the staff. Petitioner’s statement was overheard by two of the service recipients, who were, not surprisingly, offended by the word as evidenced by one service recipient running away from the classroom to report the incident and the other still being upset several days after the incident. Both of these service recipients were diagnosed with mild developmental disabilities, as well as a legion of other diagnoses. Petitioner, who had worked at the Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Service Office for 10 years, worked directly with the service recipients and was familiar with their emotional and psychological conditions. Further, petitioner is charged with caring for these service recipients, who of course develop trust for their aides. Given this context, it is foreseeable that the word used by the trusted caregiver would be likely to seriously impair the service recipients’ already fragile emotional and psychological condition and there is no need for expert testimony to establish same … . As such, substantial evidence supports respondent’s final determination that petitioner committed a category three act of neglect … . Matter of Kelly v New York State Justice Ctr. for The Protection of People With Special Needs, 2018 NY Slip Op 03407, Third Dept 5-10-18

SOCIAL SERVICES LAW (PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, NEGLECT, PETITIONER, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, COMMITTED NEGLECT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW WHEN SHE USED THE TERM ‘RETARDED’ IN A CONVERSATION OVERHEARD BY SERVICE RECIPIENTS (THIRD DEPT))/DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED PERSONS (NEGLECT, PETITIONER, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, COMMITTED NEGLECT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW WHEN SHE USED THE TERM ‘RETARDED’ IN A CONVERSATION OVERHEARD BY SERVICE RECIPIENTS (THIRD DEPT))/NEGLECT (DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED PERSONS, SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, PETITIONER, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, COMMITTED NEGLECT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW WHEN SHE USED THE TERM ‘RETARDED’ IN A CONVERSATION OVERHEARD BY SERVICE RECIPIENTS (THIRD DEPT))/RETARDED'(PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, NEGLECT, PETITIONER, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, COMMITTED NEGLECT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW WHEN SHE USED THE TERM ‘RETARDED’ IN A CONVERSATION OVERHEARD BY SERVICE RECIPIENTS (THIRD DEPT))

May 10, 2018

Negligence

QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER ALLOWING TANDEM RIDING AND SPINNING THE TUBES IN ICY CONDITIONS UNREASONABLY INCREASED THE RISK IN THIS SNOW-TUBING INJURY CASE (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined the defendant’s motion for summary judgment, asserting assumption of the risk, was properly denied in this snow-tubing injury case. Apparently plaintiff went over a berm and collided with a padded pole. There was a triable issue of fact whether allowing plaintiff and her daughters to ride tandem and spinning their tubes, under icy conditions, unreasonably increased the risk:

… [P]laintiff primarily relied on the deposition testimony of her companion and the project manager to argue that the weather and the condition of the lanes and snow berms on the day in question were such that spinning and in tandem tubing were contraindicated and, therefore, should not have been allowed. In particular, plaintiff’s companion testified that she walked from plaintiff’s lane to the pole with which plaintiff collided and found the terrain to be “[i]cy” and “hard.” Additionally, based on his examination of the glare and shadows in the photographs taken on the day of the accident, the project manager testified that the lanes and snow berms appeared “icy” and that the lanes were “probably getting a bit frozen over” and “fast.” He stated that when the lanes “iced up” and became too fast, the lane safety attendants at the bottom of the hill were supposed to either cut down the number of tubers that were permitted to ride together or prohibit tandem riding altogether. He further stated that he had previously observed snow tubers leave their lanes as a result of being spun. In our view, the foregoing proof, considered in the light most favorable to plaintiff … , raises a factual issue as to whether the risk of injury was unreasonably increased by the actions of the lane attendants — namely, allowing plaintiff and her daughters to ride tandem and spinning their tubes prior to their descent — under the particular weather and terrain conditions at the time of plaintiff’s injury … . Thompson v Windham Mtn. Partners, LLC, 2018 NY Slip Op 03415, Third Dept 5-10-18

NEGLIGENCE (ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK, SNOW TUBING, QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER ALLOWING TANDEM RIDING AND SPINNING THE TUBES IN ICY CONDITIONS UNREASONABLY INCREASED THE RISK IN THIS SNOW-TUBING INJURY CASE (THIRD DEPT))/ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK (SNOW TUBING, ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK, SNOW TUBING, QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER ALLOWING TANDEM RIDING AND SPINNING THE TUBES IN ICY CONDITIONS UNREASONABLY INCREASED THE RISK IN THIS SNOW-TUBING INJURY CASE (THIRD DEPT))/SNOW TUBING (ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK, SNOW TUBING, QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER ALLOWING TANDEM RIDING AND SPINNING THE TUBES IN ICY CONDITIONS UNREASONABLY INCREASED THE RISK IN THIS SNOW-TUBING INJURY CASE (THIRD DEPT))

May 10, 2018

Criminal Law, Family Law

WIFE NOT ENTITLED TO UNSEAL RECORD OF HUSBAND’S ALLEGED ASSAULT AGAINST HER IN THESE DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS, HUSBAND WAS GRANTED AN ADJOURNMENT IN CONTEMPLATION OF DISMISSAL AND DID NOT PLACE THE CRIMINAL MATTER IN ISSUE, THE RECORD WAS SEALED BY OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined the wife’s request, in this divorce proceeding, to unseal the record of her husband’s criminal proceedings was properly denied. The husband had been charged with an assault against the wife, and the proceedings terminated favorably to the husband (he was granted an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal). The record was therefore sealed by operation of statute (Criminal Procedure Law (CPL)160.50):

By “provid[ing] for the sealing of records in a criminal proceeding which terminates in favor of the accused” … ,CPL 160.50 “serves the laudable goal of insuring that one who is charged but not convicted of an offense suffers no stigma as a result of his [or her] having once been the object of an unsustained accusation” … . It is undisputed that the charges against the husband related to the December 2015 incident were “deemed dismissed as a result of an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal and, therefore, the records of that criminal prosecution were sealed” … . The wife does not claim that any statutory exception entitles her to the records. Her primary contention is instead that the husband, by denying the alleged behavior that led to the charges, waived the statutory bulwark against disclosure by “commenc[ing] a civil action and affirmatively plac[ing] the information protected by CPL 160.50 into issue”… ..

The wife’s argument founders upon the fact that it was she, not the husband, who has “place[d] in issue elements that are common or related to the prior criminal action” by alleging the husband’s assaultive conduct … . Prag v Prag, 2018 NY Slip Op 03414, Third Dept 5-10-18

FAMILY LAW (CRIMINAL LAW, SEALING OF RECORD, WIFE NOT ENTITLED TO UNSEAL RECORD OF HUSBAND’S ALLEGED ASSAULT AGAINST HER IN THESE DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS, HUSBAND WAS GRANTED AN ADJOURNMENT IN CONTEMPLATION OF DISMISSAL AND DID NOT PLACE THE CRIMINAL MATTER IN ISSUE, THE RECORD WAS SEALED BY OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW (THIRD DEPT))/CRIMINAL LAW (FAMILY LAW, SEALING OF RECORD OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, WIFE NOT ENTITLED TO UNSEAL RECORD OF HUSBAND’S ALLEGED ASSAULT AGAINST HER IN THESE DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS, HUSBAND WAS GRANTED AN ADJOURNMENT IN CONTEMPLATION OF DISMISSAL AND DID NOT PLACE THE CRIMINAL MATTER IN ISSUE, THE RECORD WAS SEALED BY OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW (THIRD DEPT))/SEALING (CRIMINAL LAW, WIFE NOT ENTITLED TO UNSEAL RECORD OF HUSBAND’S ALLEGED ASSAULT AGAINST HER IN THESE DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS, HUSBAND WAS GRANTED AN ADJOURNMENT IN CONTEMPLATION OF DISMISSAL AND DID NOT PLACE THE CRIMINAL MATTER IN ISSUE, THE RECORD WAS SEALED BY OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW (THIRD DEPT))

May 10, 2018

Disciplinary Hearings (Inmates)

PETITIONER-INMATE, WHO WAS CONDUCTING A CLASS ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, DID NOT VIOLATE PRISON RULES PROHIBITING GANG ACTIVITY BY DISCUSSING THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY AND THE BLOODS (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, annulling the disciplinary determination, held that petitioner-inmate, who was teaching a course on African-American history, did not violate prison rules prohibiting gang activity by describing the the operating rules of the Black Panther Party or by commenting on the Bloods:

While discussing the history of the Black Panther Party and its apparent code of ethics, known as the “Eight Points of Attention,” petitioner stated that the eighth point was “[i]f we ever have to take captives, do not ill treat them.” Later in the class while critiquing another group, known as “Damu” or the Bloods gang, he stated, in relevant part, that “they could be the biggest army across this country if they were to organize themselves.” * * *

A review of the videotape of the class clearly reveals that petitioner made the statements at issue while discussing African-American organizations from an historical, cultural and political perspective and that such statements were consistent with the approved subject matter of the class. At no point did petitioner advocate that the class participants, none of whom were revealed to be gang members, engage in violent behavior by actually taking hostages or that they organize by banding together to become members of the Bloods gang. Rather, the videotape discloses that petitioner engaged in a detailed discussion of various historical events during the 1½-hour class and recited facts regarding these organizations that he thought were relevant in an effort to engage the class participants. Viewing the statements in the proper context, the evidence does not establish that petitioner “engage[d] in any violent conduct or conduct involving the threat of violence either individually or in a group” … or that he “l[ed], organize[d], participate[d], or urge[d] other inmates to participate, in a work-stoppage, sit-in, lock-in, or other actions which may be detrimental to the order of the facility” … . Likewise, the evidence does not demonstrate that petitioner “engage[d] in or encourage[d] others in gang activities or meetings” … . Matter of Bottom v Annucci, 2018 NY Slip Op 03413, Third Dept 5-10-18

DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS (INMATES) (PETITIONER-INMATE, WHO WAS CONDUCTING A CLASS ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, DID NOT VIOLATE PRISON RULES PROHIBITING GANG ACTIVITY BY DISCUSSING THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY AND THE BLOODS (THIRD DEPT))/GANGS (INMATES, DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS, PETITIONER-INMATE, WHO WAS CONDUCTING A CLASS ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, DID NOT VIOLATE PRISON RULES PROHIBITING GANG ACTIVITY BY DISCUSSING THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY AND THE BLOODS (THIRD DEPT))

May 10, 2018

Civil Procedure, Contract Law

PARTIES’ CONDUCT AFTER THE PURPORTED TERMINATION OF THE SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT COULD INDICATE THE PARTIES INTENDED THE CONTRACT TO CONTINUE (IMPLIED CONTRACT), DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS THIS BREACH OF CONTRACT ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the parties’ conduct after a purported termination of a shareholders’ agreement could indicate the parties intended the contract to continue (an implied contract). Defendant’s motion to dismiss this breach of contract action should not have been granted:

“On a motion to dismiss pursuant to CPLR 3211, we construe the pleadings liberally, accept the allegations in the complaint to be true, give [the] plaintiff[] the benefit of any favorable inferences and ‘determine only whether the facts as alleged fit within any cognizable legal theory'”… . Supreme Court held that defendant could not have breached the shareholders’ agreement in 2016, as the agreement explicitly terminated when he became the “only . . . remaining [s]hareholder” of the dealerships in 2007. It is true that “[w]hen a contract is terminated, such as by expiration of its own terms, the rights and obligations thereunder cease” … . Nevertheless, “the conduct of parties to a contract following its termination may demonstrate that they intended to create an implied contract to be governed by the terms of the expired contract, and whether there was a ‘meeting of the minds’ required for formation of such an enforceable agreement is generally a question of fact” … . It is undisputed that defendant continued to make monthly payments as required by the shareholders’ agreement after the shares were conveyed, and this ongoing compliance with the agreement’s terms required further inquiry into “the conduct of the parties to determine whether the terms of the [shareholders’ agreement] continue[d] to apply” … . Supreme Court accordingly erred in concluding, as a matter of law, that defendant could not have breached the terms of the shareholders’ agreement due to its termination. Harris v Reagan, 2018 NY Slip Op 03408, Third Dept 5-10-18

CONTRACT LAW (PARTIES’ CONDUCT AFTER THE PURPORTED TERMINATION OF THE SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT COULD INDICATE THE PARTIES INTENDED THE CONTRACT TO CONTINUE (IMPLIED CONTRACT), DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS THIS BREACH OF CONTRACT ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (THIRD DEPT))/CIVIL PROCEDURE (MOTION TO DISMISS, PARTIES’ CONDUCT AFTER THE PURPORTED TERMINATION OF THE SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT COULD INDICATE THE PARTIES INTENDED THE CONTRACT TO CONTINUE (IMPLIED CONTRACT), DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS THIS BREACH OF CONTRACT ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (THIRD DEPT))/CPLR 3211(PARTIES’ CONDUCT AFTER THE PURPORTED TERMINATION OF THE SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT COULD INDICATE THE PARTIES INTENDED THE CONTRACT TO CONTINUE (IMPLIED CONTRACT), DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS THIS BREACH OF CONTRACT ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (THIRD DEPT))/IMPLIED CONTRACT (PARTIES’ CONDUCT AFTER THE PURPORTED TERMINATION OF THE SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT COULD INDICATE THE PARTIES INTENDED THE CONTRACT TO CONTINUE (IMPLIED CONTRACT), DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS THIS BREACH OF CONTRACT ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (THIRD DEPT))

May 10, 2018

Tag Archive for: Third Department

OWNERS OF PROPERTY ABUTTING A ROADWAY CANNOT PROHIBIT PARKING ALONG THE ROADWAY UNLESS PARKED CARS IMPEDE ACCESS TO THE OWNERS’ PROPERTY (THIRD DEPT).

NOTICE SENT TO THE OWNER AND LIENHOLDER OF A CAR BY THE TOW SERVICE WHICH WAS STORING THE CAR DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LIEN LAW, THEREFORE THE STORAGE FEES COULD NOT BE COLLECTED BY THE TOW SERVICE (THIRD DEPT).

NO INDICATION IN THE INDICTMENT OR THE ALLOCUTION THAT THE THREE ‘POSSESSION OF A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD’ OFFENSES TOOK PLACE AT DIFFERENT TIMES OR LOCATIONS, CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES NOT AUTHORIZED (THIRD DEPT).

CLAIMANT, A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, RECEIVED REASONABLE ASSURANCE OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR (LABOR LAW 590), SHE WAS THEREFORE NOT ENTITLED TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS (THIRD DEPT).

QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER ALLOWING TANDEM RIDING AND SPINNING THE TUBES IN ICY CONDITIONS UNREASONABLY INCREASED THE RISK IN THIS SNOW-TUBING INJURY CASE (THIRD DEPT).

WIFE NOT ENTITLED TO UNSEAL RECORD OF HUSBAND’S ALLEGED ASSAULT AGAINST HER IN THESE DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS, HUSBAND WAS GRANTED AN ADJOURNMENT IN CONTEMPLATION OF DISMISSAL AND DID NOT PLACE THE CRIMINAL MATTER IN ISSUE, THE RECORD WAS SEALED BY OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW (THIRD DEPT).

PETITIONER-INMATE, WHO WAS CONDUCTING A CLASS ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, DID NOT VIOLATE PRISON RULES PROHIBITING GANG ACTIVITY BY DISCUSSING THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY AND THE BLOODS (THIRD DEPT).

PARTIES’ CONDUCT AFTER THE PURPORTED TERMINATION OF THE SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT COULD INDICATE THE PARTIES INTENDED THE CONTRACT TO CONTINUE (IMPLIED CONTRACT), DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS THIS BREACH OF CONTRACT ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (THIRD DEPT).

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.