June 13, 2022

Labor Law § 200 and common-law negligence claims.

A general contractor's general supervisory authority, without more, is insufficient to impose liability.

Zherka v. Hudson Meridian Constr. Group LLC, NY Slip Op 03704 (1st Dep't June 7, 2022)

Here is the decision.

June 12, 2022

Appellate practice.

No appeal lies from the branches of the two orders denying reargument.

2497 Realty Corp. v. Fuertes, NY Slip Op 03678 (1st Dep't June 7, 2022)

Here is the decision.

June 11, 2022

CPLR 3116[a].

The rejection of a party's errata sheet for his deposition testimony does not render the errata sheet inadmissible. Here, the plaintiff's statement of the reasons for making the revisions was sufficient justification for the five minor changes that he made, which were consistent with other portions of his testimony. Accordingly, the weight to be afforded to the plaintiff's errata sheet and the effect on his credibility, if any, are issues to be assessed by the trier of fact.

Hernandez v. NY Prepaid Wireless LLC, NY Slip Op 03573 (1st Dep't June 2 2022)

Here is the decision.

June 10, 2022

Judicial estoppel and res judicata.

A party who assumes a certain position in a prior legal proceeding and secures a favorable judgment therein is precluded from assuming a contrary position in another action simply because its interests have changed. Here, the doctrine of judicial estoppel is inapplicable because the plaintiff did not receive a favorable judgment in the prior proceeding.

Under the doctrine of res judicata, or claim preclusion, a disposition on the merits bars litigation between the same parties, or those in privity with them, of a cause of action arising out of the same transaction or series of transactions as a cause of action that either was raised or could have been raised in the prior proceeding. Here, the docrrine is inapplicable because the 2013 action was dismissed for lack of standing, without reaching the merits of the foreclosure claim itself.

Capital One, N.A. v. Trubitsky, NY Slip Op 03492 (2d Dep't June 1, 2022)

Here is the decision.

June 9, 2022

Real estate commissions.

A real estate broker claiming entitlement to an earned commission must allege that he was the procuring cause of the transaction. There must be a showing of something beyond the broker's mere creation of an amicable atmosphere or an amicable frame of mind that might have led to the ultimate transaction, but the broker need not control the transaction, and the broker need not negotiate the transaction's final terms or be present at the closing. The procuring cause standard applies equally to causes of action sounding in breach of contract and quasi contract, such as claims for quantum meruit and unjust enrichment.

LHWS LLC v. S.L. Green Realty Corp., NY Slip Op 03574 (1st Dep't June 2, 2022)

Here is the decision.

June 8, 2022

Civil contempt.

In order to prevail on a motion to hold another party in civil contempt, the movant must prove, by clear and convincing evidence: (1) that a lawful court order was in effect, clearly expressing an unequivocal mandate; (2) the appearance, with reasonable certainty, that the order was disobeyed; (3) that the party to be held in contempt had knowledge of the court's order; and (4) prejudice to the right of a party to the litigation. The burden then shifts to the alleged contemnor to refute the movant's showing, or to offer evidence of a defense, such as an inability to comply with the order.

Board of Mgrs. of Brightwater Towers Condominium v. M. Marin Restoration, Inc., NY Slip Op 03491 (2d Dep't June 1, 2022)

Here is the decision.

June 7, 2022

CPLR 7804[g].

Where an Article 78 petition raises an issue of substantial evidence, the Supreme Court should transfer the petition to the Appellate Division for disposition.

Matter of 475 Kent Owner, LLC v. New York City Loft Bd., NY Slip Op 03568 (1st Dep't June 2, 2022)

Here is the decision.

June 5, 2022

A hostile environment claim.

The cause of action requires allegations of repeated conduct, not discrete acts such as termination, failure to promote, denial of transfer, or refusal to hire.

Blackman v. Metropolitan Tr. Auth., NY Slip Op 03490 (2d Dep't June 1, 2022)

Here is the decision.

June 4, 2022

Appellate practice.

An argument that is not raised before the motion court may be considered on appeal if it appears on the face of the record, involves no new facts, and could not have been avoided if it had been timely raised.

Peralta v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 03579 (1st Dep't June 2, 2022)

Here is the decision.

June 3, 2022

Defaults.

By failing to answer, the defaulting defendants are deemed to have admitted the factual allegations in the complaint.

State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Axial Chiropractic, P.C., NY Slip Op 03487 (1st Dep't May 31, 2022)

Here is the decision.