CPLR 306-b and extending time.

Practice point:  The Appellate Division affirmed the motion court's denial of petitioner's request, made under the CPLR 306-b interest of justice standard, for an extension of time to personally serve the petition and amended petition.  Petitioner did not seek an extension of time until after the expiration of the four-month statute of limitations, pursuant to CPLR 217[1], and she failed to provide an excuse for the delay or for failing to timely serve.

Student note:  Petitioner's pro se status is not a reasonable excuse.

Case:  Druyan v. Board of Educ. of the City Sch. Dist. of the City of N.Y., NY Slip Op 04569 (1st Dept. 2015)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue:  Notice of claim as  condition precedent.

Summary judgment on a promissory note.

Practice point:  Plaintiff established prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by submitting the promissory note, the corresponding agreement between the parties, and her affidavit asserting that the defendants failed to pay the loan in accordance with the note's terms.

In opposition, however, defendant presented sufficient evidence to raise a triable issue of fact as to the applicability of the defense of usury, and the Appellate Division affirmed denial of the motion.

Student note:  To establish prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law with respect to a promissory note, a plaintiff must show the existence of a promissory note, executed by the defendant, containing an unequivocal and unconditional obligation to repay, and the failure by the defendant to pay in accordance with the note's terms. plaintiff makes such a showing, the burden shifts to defendant to establish by admissible evidence the existence of a triable issue of fact with respect to a bona fide defense.

Case:  Ahern v. Miloslau, NY Slip Op 04438 (2d Dept. 2015)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue:  CPLR 306-b and extending time.

A motion to vacate a default.

 Practice point:  The Appellate Division affirmed the motion court's denial, finding that defendant failed to demonstrate a potentially meritorious defense to the action. In support of his motion, defendant argued that the assignment of the mortgage to the plaintiff did not comply with the terms of the original lender's pooling service agreement. However, defendant did not have standing to assert noncompliance with the agreement. In addition, defendant failed to make a showing of a misrepresentation or that the plaintiff engaged in fraud or other misconduct that would warrant vacatur of the judgment of foreclosure and sale.

Student note:  A defendant seeking to vacate a default in answering or appearing upon the ground of excusable default must demonstrate a reasonable excuse for the default and a potentially meritorious defense to the action, pursuant to CPLR 5015(A)(1).  In addition, CPLR 5015(a)(3) permits a court to vacate a judgment or order upon the ground of fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party.

Case:  Bank of Am. N.A. v. Patino, NY Slip Op 04440 (2d Dept. 2015)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue:  Summary judgment on a promissory note.

A defamation claim and immunity.

Practice point:  Plaintiff-physician, who had treated a workers' compensation claimant, alleges that he was defamed in his profession by a report prepared by defendant, a consultant hired by the workers' compensation insurer to determine whether certain medications and treatment prescribed the claimant were indicated. Plaintiff alleges that defendant exceeded the scope of his assigned task by reporting that the medical records he reviewed indicated possible fraudulent billing and unnecessary treatment rendered, and recommending that the matter be referred to the Office of Professional Misconduct and the Attorney General's Office.

The Appellate Division modified the motion court's determination and reinstated the action sounding in libel per se. Defendant's communications are not cloaked with absolute immunity since there is no showing that he was engaged in a public function when he published the report, pursuant to Workers' Compensation Law § 20. In addition, there were no adversarial proceedings at the time of the report's publication.

Neither are defendant's communications subject to qualified immunity, as plaintiff's detailed allegations, accepted as true for purposes of the motion, are enough to establish actual malice.

Student note:  The Appellate Division affirmed dismissal of the claim sounding in intentional infliction of emotional distress, as defendant's report does go beyond all possible bounds of decency so as to be regarded as atrocious and intolerable in a civilized community.

Case:  Schottenstein v. Silverman, NY Slip Op 04416 (1st Dept. 2015)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue:  A motion to vacate a default.

Terminating a tenancy.

Practice point:  The Appellate Division confirmed the termination of petitioner's tenancy on the grounds of undesirability and violation of provisions of the lease and rules and regulations, finding that the agency's determination that, among other things, petitioner caused a fire in her apartment by lighting a candle in a closet containing clothing, is supported by substantial evidence.  The record also shows that petitioner had a prior fire in her apartment and that she kept two unregistered pitbull terrier dogs in her apartment.

Student note:  The agency's refusal to accommodate petitioner by continuing her tenancy subject to the agency's continued monitoring of her mental health and fire safety compliance did not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988.

Case:  Hobbs v. New York City Hous. Auth., NY Slip Op 04406 (1st Dept. 2015)

Here is the decision.

Monday's issue: A defamation claim and immunity.

Setting aside a foreclosure sale.

Practice point:  As a function of its equitable powers, a court has discretion to set aside a foreclosure sale where there is evidence of fraud, collusion, mistake, or misconduct.

Student note:  In the absence of such conduct, the mere inadequacy of price is an insufficient reason to set aside a sale unless the price is so inadequate as to shock the court's conscience.

Case:  Chiao v, Poon, NY Slip Op 04268 (2d Dept. 2015)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue:  Terminating a tenancy.

Waiving an argument of duress.

Practice point:  The Appellate Division affirmed dismissal, finding that, by waiting too long to file the instant action, plaintiffs waived their argument that they signed the subject release under duress. The Appellate Division noted that, while plaintiffs might have been excused from suing for the first two years due to their fear of the look-back period, they delayed an additional 10 months beyond those two years.

Student note:  Even if there were triable issues exist as to unconscionability and overreaching, plaintiffs' ratification of the release bars them from challenging it on those grounds.

Case:  Achache v. Achache, NY Slip Op 04386 (1st Dept. 2015)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue:  Setting aside a foreclosure sale.

Contract interpretation.

Practice point:  Agreements will be construed in accord with the parties' intent, and the best evidence of the parties' intent is what their writing says.  If the agreement is set down in a clear and complete document, it will be enforced according to its terms. The Appellate Division notes that this rule is especially applicable where there are sophisticated parties who are negotiating at arms' length.

Student note:  The agreement's language is deemed to be clear and unambiguous where it is reasonably susceptible of only one meaning or interpretation, and extrinsic evidence may not be introduced to create an ambiguity in an otherwise clear document.

Case:  Marin v. Constitution Realty, LLC, NY Slip Op 04225 (1st Dept. 2015)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue:  Waiving an argument of duress.

Court holiday.

Failure to deny an allegation in a complaint.

Practice point:  The failure to deny an allegation in a complaint constitutes an admission to the truth of that allegation, pursuant to CPLR 3018[a].

Student note:  Admissions in pleadings are always in evidence for all purposes at the trial of an action.

Case:  DeSouza v. Khan, NY Slip 04085 (2d Dept. 2015)

Here is the decision.

Tuesday's issue:  Contract interpretation.

A landowner's duty to protect.

Practice point:  A public establishment's owner has no duty to protect patrons against unforeseeable and unexpected assaults.

Student note:  While landowners in general have a duty to act in a reasonable manner to prevent harm to those on their property, an owner's duty to control the conduct of persons on its premises arises only when it has the opportunity to control such persons and is reasonably aware of the need for such control.

Case:  Bisignano v. Raabe, NY Slip Op 04081 (2d Dept. 2015)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue:  Failure to deny an allegation in a complaint.