Summary judgment.

Practice point: A court may set the time within which a party may move for summary judgment, pursuant to CPLR 3212(a), through a so-ordered stipulation.

Case: Ford v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 06579 (1st Dept. 2008)

The opinion is here.

Hearsay.

Practice point: Even if unrelated to diagnosis or treatment, a hearsay entry in a hospital record may be admissible at trial if the entry is inconsistent with a party’s position.

Case: Coker v. Bakkal Foods, Inc., NY Slip Op 05876 (2d Dept. 2008)

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Labor Law.

Practice point: A plaintiff’s failure to identify, in the Complaint or Bill of Particulars, an alleged Code violation is not necessarily fatal to a Labor Law § 241(6) cause of action.

Case: Galarraga v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 06545 (2d Dept. 2008)

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Employment Law.

Practice point: In stating a claim of vicarious liability, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the employer had knowledge of, and acquiesced in or condoned, the discriminatory conduct. An employer’s failure to act is the same as affirmative conduct.

Case: Bianco v. Flushing Hospital Med. Ctr., NY Slip Op 06542 (2d Dept. 2008)

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Fee disputes.

Practice point: The Fee Dispute Resolution Program does not apply when the amount in dispute exceeds $50,000, pursuant to 22 NYCRR 137.1[b][2].

Case: Goldman & Greenbaum, P.C. v. Filippatos, NY Slip Op 05749 (1st Dept. 2008)

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Filing retainer statements.

Practice point: An attorney’s belated filing of a retainer statement, pursuant to 22 NYCRR § 603.7(a)(3), is insufficient to preserve the right to recover legal fees.

Case: Fishkin v. Taras, NY Slip Op 06505 (1st Dept. 2008)

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Untimely pleadings.

Practice point: The City's excuse for its late answer, namely, that it receives thousands of summonses each month, is insufficient to compel plaintiff to accept the pleading, pursuant to CPLR 3012(d).

Case: Holloman v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 05480 (2d Dept. 2008)

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Privileged statements.

Practice point: Statements made by parties, attorneys and witnesses will be absolutely privileged only if they are made in the course of a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding and are material and pertinent to the issue in dispute.

Case: Ingber v. Mallilo, NY Slip Op 05481 (2d Dept. 2008)

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Legal malpractice.

Practice point: An action alleging legal malpractice is deemed to accrue on the date the malpractice was committed, not when it was discovered.

Case: Hasty Hills Stables, Inc. v. Dorfman, Lynch, Knoebel & Conway, LLP, NY Slip Op 05479 (2d Dept. 2008)

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Rear-end collisions.

Practice point: A rear-end collision with a stopped or stopping vehicle creates a prima facie case of negligence, and the moving vehicle's operator is required to offer an adequate non-negligent explanation for the accident.

Case: Arias v. Rosario, NY Slip Op 05467 (2d Dept. 2008)

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Tortious interference.

Practice point: An agreement terminable at will may be tortiously interfered with through malicious or wrongful conduct.

Case: Smith v. Meridian Tech., Inc., NY Slip Op 05677 (2d Dept. 2008)

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