July 28, 2008

Negligent parental supervision.

Practice point: New York does not recognize a cause of action based on negligent parental supervision.

Case: Mazza v. Ed Tompkins Plumbing Corp., NY Slip Op 06360 (2d Dept. 2008)

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July 25, 2008

Statute of limitations.

Practice point: Pursuant to CPLR 3211[a][5], a plaintiff who has timely interposed a claim against one defendant may be barred by the statute of limitations from adding another defendant, as a matter of right, pursuant to CPLR 3025[a]; 1003.

Case: Hirsh v. Perlmutter, NY Slip Op 06359 (2d Dept. 2008)

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July 24, 2008

Alternative dispute resolution.

Practice point: Arbitration and other alternative procedures for resolving disputes are creatures of contract, and while the law favors such alternatives to litigation, a party will not be denied judicial resolution of a controversy unless there is a governing provision requiring alternative dispute resolution.

Case: FCI Group, Inc. v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 06352 (1st Dept. 2008)

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July 23, 2008

Service.

Practice point: Pursuant to CPLR 317, a defendant who has been served with a summons other than by personal delivery may seek relief from a default upon a showing that it did not receive notice of the summons in time to defend, and that it has a meritorious defense.

Case: Fatima v. Twenty Seven-Twenty Four Realty Corp., NY Slip Op 06284 (2d Dept. 2008)

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July 22, 2008

Premium fees.

Practice point: An attorney's premium fee is enforceable if the retainer agreement satisfies the plain language and specificity requirements of 22 NYCRR 1400.3(8). The client must be advised beforehand as to how such a fee will be calculated, e.g., as a flat amount, a fixed percentage or a reasonable percentage of the total hourly charges incurred.

Case: Sheresky Aronson & Mayefsky, LLP v.Whitmore, NY Slip Op 06175 (1st Dept. 2008)

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July 21, 2008

Privacy law.

Practice point: New York State does not recognize the common-law tort of invasion of privacy except to the extent it comes within the ambit of Civil Rights Law §§ 50 and 51. These statutes protect against the appropriation of a plaintiff's name or likeness for a defendant's benefit and create a cause of action in favor of any person whose name, portrait or picture is used for advertising purposes or for trade without the plaintiff's consent.

Case: Farrow v. Allstate Insurance Co., NY Slip Op 06283 (2d Dept. 2008)

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July 18, 2008

Summary judgment motions.

Practice point: A party should be given a reasonable opportunity to conduct discovery prior to the determination of a motion for summary judgment.

Case: Richardson v. New York City Transit Authority, NY Slip Op 04675 (2d Dept. 2008)

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July 17, 2008

Property.

Practice point: The title owner of property encumbered by a mortgage or a tax lien has the right to redeem the property at any time prior to the actual sale under a judgment of foreclosure.

Case: NYCTL 1996-1 Trust v. Moore, NY Slip Op 04667 (2d Dept. 2008)

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July 16, 2008

Statute of limitations.

Practice point: Actions for malpractice against nonmedical professionals are governed by the three-year statute of limitations, pursuant to CPLR 214(a)(6).

Case: M.G. McLaren, P.C. v. Massand Eng'g, L.S., P.C., NY Slip Op 04661 (2d Dept. 2008)

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July 15, 2008

Specific performance.

Practice point: When requiring specific performance on a contract for the sale of real property, a seller's time-of-the-essence letter is a nullity unless it gives the purchaser sufficient time to perform.

Case: Iannucci v. 70 Wash. Partners, LLC, NY Slip Op 04653 (2d Dept. 2008)

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July 14, 2008

Labor Law.

Practice point: Pursuant to Labor Law § 240(1), the failure to provide any protective devices for workers establishes, as a matter of law, an owner's or contractor's liability.

Case: Hamilton v. Kushnir Realty, NY Slip Op 04650 (2d Dept. 2008)

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