October 5, 2019

Stipulations.

Where the motion court so-orders the stipulation, its terms have the weight of a court order.

Gordon v. Schaeffer, NY Slip Op 07141 (1st Dep't October 3, 2019)

Here is the decision.

October 4, 2019

A dismissed claim of unjust enrichment.

There is no cause of action where the claim merely duplicates or replaces a conventional contract claim.

Markov v. Katt, NY Slip Op 07006 (1st Dep't October 1, 2019)

Here is the decision.

October 3, 2019

Appellate Practice.

Pursuant to CPLR 5511, the appeal will be dismissed where the appellant is not aggrieved by the final order.

Matter of Mahoney v. Martin, NY Slip Op 06969 (2d Dep't September 27, 2019)

Here is the decision.

October 2, 2019

CPLR 2016.

In this medical malpractice action, plaintiff's expert's affidavit, as originally submitted, was not notarized and, therefore, does not qualify as an affirmation. However, plaintiff corrected the defect by submitting a notarized version at oral argument.

Stewart v. Goldstein, NY Slip Op 06865 (1st Dep't September 26, 2019)

Here is the decision.

October 1, 2019

Amending a bill of particulars.

A plaintiff seeking leave to amend a bill of particulars by asserting a new injury must demonstrate a reason for the delay in asserting the injury and submit a medical affidavit showing a causal connection between the alleged injury and the original injuries sustained.

Cherry v. Longo, NY Slip Op 06741 (2d Dep't September 25, 2019)

Here is the decision.

September 30, 2019

CPLR 5015[a][1].

In order to vacate a default in opposing a motion, the moving party must demonstrate a reasonable excuse for the default and a potentially meritorious opposition to the motion.

Bazeli v. Azaz, NY Slip Op 06736 (2d Dep't September 25, 2019)

Here is the decision.

September 29, 2019

CPLR 3215(c).

Pursuant to the statute, "[i]f the plaintiff fails to take proceedings for the entry of judgment within one year after [a] default, the court shall not enter judgment but shall dismiss the complaint as abandoned, without costs, upon its own initiative or on motion, unless sufficient cause is shown why the complaint should not be dismissed." It is not necessary that the plaintiff actually obtain a default judgment within one year of the default in order to avoid statutory dismissal. Nor is the plaintiff required to specifically seek the entry of a judgment within a year. As long as the plaintiff has initiated proceedings for the entry of a judgment within one year of the default, there is no basis for dismissal of the complaint under the statute.

Aurora Loan Servs., LLC. v. Bandhu, NY Slip Op 06734 (2d Dep't September 25, 2019)

Here is the decision.

September 28, 2019

A claim for punitive damages.

The claim is dismissed, as no separate cause of action for punitive damages lies for pleading purposes. Even if it were properly pleaded, the claim does not lie in an action that is grounded on private breach of contract, and does not seek to vindicate a public right or deter morally culpable conduct.

Ahsanuddin v. Addo, NY Slip Op 06864 (1st Dep't September 26, 2019)

Here is the decision.

September 27, 2019

The computation of interest.

CPLR 5001(a) provides, in pertinent part, that "in an action of an equitable nature, interest and the rate and date from which it shall be computed shall be in the court's discretion." Pursuant to 5001(b), "interest shall be computed from the earliest ascertainable date the cause of action existed, except that interest upon damages incurred thereafter shall be computed from the date incurred."

Bistro Shop LLC v. N.Y. Park N. Salem, Inc., NY Slip Op 06696 (1st Dep't September 24, 2019)

Here is the decision.

September 26, 2019

Emails as sufficient modification of a lease.

In an email, plaintiff's counsel memorialized the parties' verbal agreement that plaintiff would continue to renovate the space while defendant waited for the necessary third-party approvals to complete its work. In a responding email, defendant acknowledged that plaintiff counsel's email was accurate. This exchange constitutes a written modification of the lease, permitting plaintiff to conduct additional renovations on the space.

Bistro Shop LLC v. N.Y. Park N. Salem, Inc., NY Slip Op 06696 (1st Dep't September 24, 2019)

Here is the decision.

September 25, 2019

Appellate practice.

Sua sponte orders which necessarily affect the final determination are reviewable on appeal from the final judgment.

Ahmed v. Ahmed, NY Slip Op 06580 (2d Dep't September 18, 2019)

Here is the decision.