Contracts.

Practice point: If there is an enforceable contract, plaintiff has no claim sounding in quantum meruit.

Practitioners should note that the receipt of a benefit, standing alone, is insufficient to show unjust enrichment.

Case: Empire State Fuel Corp. v. Warbasse-Cogeneration Tech. Partnership, L.P., NY Slip 00303 (1st Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Attorneys’ fees.

Tortious interference.

Practice point: Plaintiff's claim of tortious interference with prospective economic advantage is insufficient as a matter of law when the complaint fails to establish that defendant acted solely to harm plaintiff by unlawful means beyond mere self-interest or other economic considerations.

Practitioners should note that there is no tortious interference when plaintiff had a fee dispute with defendant, and defendant told a third party not to conduct business with plaintiff until the fee dispute was resolved.

Case: Phillips v. Carter, NY Slip Op 00261 (1st Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Contracts.

Res judicata.

Practice point: A valid final judgment bars future actions between the same parties on the same cause of action.

Practitioners should note that once a claim is brought to a conclusion, all other claims arising out of the same transaction or series of transactions are barred, even if based on different theories or if seeking a different remedy.

Case: Lazides v. P & G Enters., NY Slip Op 00194 (2d Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Tortious interference.

Foreclosures.

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

Practitioners should note that, absent such conduct, the inadequacy of a price is an insufficient reason to set aside the sale unless the price is unconscionably low.

Case: Astoria Fed. Sav. & Loan Assoc. v. Hartridge, NY Slip Op 00181 (2d Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Res judicata.

Corporations.

Practice point: An action seeking an accounting of a partnership on the basis that a former partner withdrew excess profits will be dismissed if the partnership’s tax returns indicate that the former partner had a positive capital account balance.

Practitioners should note that representations made in the partnership’s tax returns are binding.

Case: Peterson v. Neville, NY Slip Op 00124 (1st Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Monday’s issue: Foreclosures.

Disbarment.

Practice point: A federal felony conviction triggers automatic disbarment if the offense is essentially similar to a felony under New York law, pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90[4][e].

Practitioners should note that a conviction for bankruptcy fraud under 18 USC § 157, for knowingly and intentionally filing bankruptcy petitions in which an attorney fraudulently misrepresented and omitted material and substantial assets, is essentially similar to the New York felonies of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree and perjury in the first degree, and, therefore, results in automatic disbarment.

Case: Matter of Yagman, NY Slip Op 00138 (1st Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Corporations.

Civil contempt.

Practice point: There is a civil contempt when an individual's rights have been harmed by a party's failure to obey a court order.

Practitioners should note that it must be established that a lawful court order was in effect, clearly expressing an unequivocal mandate. It must also appear with reasonable certainty that the alleged contemnor knew of the court’s mandate and, in fact, disobeyed it.

Case: Gryphon Dom. VI, LLC v. APP Intl. Fin. Co., NY Slip Op 00135 (1st Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Disbarment.

Employment Law.

Practice point: Defendant’s motion to compel arbitration will be denied when defendant failed to raise it as an affirmative defense, asserted counterclaims, made a dispositive motion and otherwise actively participated in litigation, including extensive disclosure and the filing of a note of issue.

Practitioners should note that, on these facts, it does not avail defendant that plaintiff did not timely respond to defendant's untimely arbitration demand.

Case: Ryan v. Kellogg Partners Institutional Servs., NY Slip Op 00113 (1st Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Civil contempt.

Pleadings.

Practice point: While leave to amend a pleading will be liberally granted, pursuant to CPLR 3025[b]), leave will be denied when the proposed amendment is plainly insufficient as a matter of law or is totally devoid of merit.

Practitioners should note that, for pleading purposes, a demand for punitive damages does not constitute a separate cause of action.

Case: Rosenblum v. Frankl, NY Slip Op 10599 (2d Dept. 2008)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Employment Law.

Duty of care.

Practice point: A property owner has a duty to take reasonable measures to control the foreseeable conduct of third parties on the property, and to prevent them from harming or creating an unreasonable risk of harm to others.

Practitioners should note that this duty arises when the owner has the ability and opportunity to control such conduct, and is aware of the need to do so.

Case: Hillen v. Queens Long Is. Med. Group, P.C., NY Slip Op 10586 (2d Dept. 2008)

The opinion is here.

Monday’s issue: Pleadings.

Construction Law.

Practice point: A contractor is justified in relying on the plans and specifications which it has contracted to follow.

Practitioners should note that the contractor who performs the work in accordance with the contract plans may not be held liable unless those plans are so patently defective as to put a contractor of ordinary prudence on notice that the project, if completed according to the plans, is potentially dangerous.

Case: Hartofil v. McCourt & Trudden Funeral Home, Inc., NY Slip Op 10585 (2d Dept. 2008)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Duty of care.