October 31, 2025

Contract Law: Warranties and Representations.

Where the contract expressly disclaims any warranties or representations, a cause of action alleging breach based on a warranty or representation does not lie.

4 Colonial Dr., LLC v. Suburban Consultants, Ltd., NY Slip Op 05930 (2d Dep't October 29, 2025)

Here is the decision.

October 30, 2025

Default Judgments.

A default judgment cannot exceed in amount or differ in the kind of relief from what is demanded in the complaint. The judgment is vacated and the matter remitted to the Supreme Court for entry of an amended judgment limiting the award to the amount originally demanded in the complaint.

Deutsch v. Levy, NY Slip Op 05790 (2d Dep't October 22, 2025)

Here is the decision.

October 29, 2025

Arbitration.

A party seeking to compel arbitration must establish that there is a valid agreement to arbitrate. General Business Law § 399-c voids arbitration clauses in a written contract for the sale of consumer goods to which a consumer is a party.

Chrzan v. Malinowski, NY Slip Op 05788 (2d Dep't October 22, 2025)

Here is the decision.

October 28, 2025

Contract Law: Recission.

Rescission is an equitable remedy, and a claim for rescission may be asserted only against a party to the contract.

Will B. Sandler Disclaimer Trust v. Swersky, NY Slip Op 05909 (1st Dep't October 23, 2025)

Here is the decision.

October 27, 2025

Motion for Renewal.

Defendant's motion for renewal is denied as untimely, since it was filed after the time to appeal from the judgment had passed.

Wilmington Sav. Fund Socy. FSB v. Scaffidi, NY Slip Op 05910 (1st Dep't October 23, 2025)

Here is the decision.

October 26, 2025

Amending a Pleading.

A party may amend its pleading at any time by leave of court or by stipulation of all parties, pursuant to CPLR 3025[b]. Whether to grant leave to amend is within the trial court's discretion. Leave to amend a pleading should be granted where the amendment is neither palpably insufficient nor patently devoid of merit, and the delay in seeking amendment does not prejudice or surprise the opposing party. The burden of demonstrating prejudice or surprise, or that a proposed amendment is palpably insufficient or patently devoid of merit, falls upon the party opposing the motion. No evidentiary showing of merit is required under CPLR 3025(b).

Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v. David, NY Slip Op 05791 (2d Dep't October 22, 2025)

Here is the decision.

October 25, 2025

Written Orders.

A written order must conform strictly to the court's decision, and in the event of an inconsistency, the decision controls. An inconsistency may be corrected either by way of a motion for resettlement or on appeal, pursuant to CPLR 2221 and 5019[a].

American Tr. Ins. Co. v. Hackensack Surgery Ctr., LLC, NY Slip Op 05787 (2d Dep't October 22, 2025)

Here is the decision.

October 24, 2025

Preclusion.

A conditional order of preclusion requires a party to provide discovery by a date certain, or face the sanctions specified in the order. The court will not inquire as to whether the failure to cooperate had been willful. Failure to comply with the order makes it absolute.

Alston v. New York City Tr. Auth., NY Slip Op 05786 (2d Dep't October 22, 2025)

Here is the decision.

October 23, 2025

Appellate Practice.

An appellate court's resolution of an issue on a prior appeal constitutes the law of the case and is binding on the Supreme Court, as well as on the appellate court.

Congregation Erech Shai Bais Yosef, Inc. v. Werzberger, NY Slip Op 05666 (2d Dep't October 15, 2025)

Here is the decision.

October 22, 2025

Summary Judgment.

A party may raise an unpleaded issue on summary judgment if the other party is not taken by surprise and does not suffer prejudice. Here, there was no surprise because the issue was discussed at the depositions of at least two defendants.

White v. Turitz, NY Slip Op 05758 (1st Dep't October 16, 2025)

Here is the decision.

October 21, 2025

Disqualification of an Attorney.

The disqualification of an attorney rests within the sound discretion of the court. Although a party's entitlement to be represented in ongoing litigation by counsel of its own choosing is a valued right, that right will not supersede a clear showing that disqualification is warranted. On a motion to disqualify an attorney, the moving party bears the burden of showing that disqualification is warranted.

Congregation Erech Shai Bais Yosef, Inc. v. Werzberger, NY Slip Op 05665 (2d Dep't October 15, 2025)

Here is the decision.