Municipalities Law.

Practice point: As a general rule, a municipal defendant is immune from liability for conduct involving the exercise of discretion and reasoned judgment.

Practitioners should note that the judgment error rule does not immunize municipal defendants when an innocent bystander is injured by a police officer’s action in an altercation involving a violation of department guidelines governing the use of deadly force.

Case: Johnson v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 06225 (1st Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Property.

Labor Law.

Practice point: For summary judgment in a § 240(1) action, a plaintiff must establish that there was a violation of the statute, and that the violation was the proximate cause of the injuries.

Practitioners should note that there is no liability if adequate safety devices are provided and the worker either chooses not to use them or misuses them.

Case: Cherry v. Time Warner, Inc., NY Slip Op 06226 (1st Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Municipalities Law.

Municipalities Law.

Practice point: Generally, a plaintiff who has failed to comply with a demand for a hearing pursuant to General Municipal Law 50-h(2) is precluded from commencing an action against a municipality.

Practitioners should note that the complaint should not be dismissed where the hearing has been postponed indefinitely beyond the statutory 90-day period, and the municipality has not rescheduled the hearing.

Case: Vargas v. City of Yonkers, NY Slip Op 06176 (2d Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Monday’s issue: Labor Law.

Trusts and Estates.

Practice point: To make a valid inter vivos gift, there must be
the intent to transfer; there must be delivery, either actual or constructive; and there must be acceptance by the donee.

Practitioners should note that the law will presume an acceptance when the gift is of value.

Case: Shybunko v. Geodesic Homes, Inc., NY Slip Op 06174 (2d Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Municipalities Law.

Motion practice.

Practice point: Where evidentiary material is submitted and considered on a motion to dismiss, pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7), the court must determine whether plaintiff has a cause of action, not whether plaintiff has stated one.

Practitioners should note that the motion should be denied unless it has been shown that a material fact as claimed by plaintiff is not a fact at all, and unless it can be said that there is no significant dispute regarding it.

Case: Shapiro v. Jackel, NY Slip Op 06171 (2d Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Trusts and Estates.

Attorney-client relationships.

Practice point: A lawyer may withdraw from representation if the client's conduct makes it unreasonably difficult for the lawyer to be effective, pursuant to Code of Professional Responsibility DR 2-110[c][1][iv]; 22 NYCRR 1200.15(c)(1)(iv).

Practitioners should note that a lawyer may withdraw if the client deliberately disregards an agreement or obligation as to expenses or fees, pursuant to Code of Professional Responsibility DR 2-110[C][1][f]; 22 NYCRR 1200.15(c)(1)(vi).

Case: Misek-Falkoff v. Metropolitan Tr. Auth., NY Slip Op 06168 (2d Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Motion practice.

Evidence.

Practice point: The Frye rule is that expert testimony based on a scientific principle or procedure is admissible if the principle or procedure has gained general acceptance in its specific field.

Practitioners should note Frye is not concerned with the reliability of an expert's conclusions, but only with whether the expert's deductions are based on principles or procedures that are sufficiently established to have gained general acceptance as reliable.

Case: Lipschitz v. Stein, NY Slip Op 06167 (2d Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Attorney-client relationships.

Appellate practice.

Practice point: It is appellant’s responsibility to assemble the necessary and proper record.

Practitioners should note that the record must contain all relevant papers that were before the Supreme Court.

Case: Keita v. United Parcel Service, NY Slip Op 06165 (2d Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Monday’s issue: Evidence

Motion practice.

Practice point: On a motion for summary judgment in a medical malpractice action, defendant must establish the absence of any departure from good and accepted medical practice, or that plaintiff was not injured thereby.

Practitioners should note that, in opposition, plaintiff must submit a physician's affidavit attesting to defendant's departure from accepted practice, and that the departure was a competent producing cause of the injury. Conclusory allegations which are unsupported by competent evidence are insufficient to defeat summary judgment.

Case: Flanagan v. Catskill Regional Medical Center, NY Slip Op 06161 (2d Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Appellate practice.

Motion practice.

Practice point: Pursuant to CPLR 3212(f), a trial court has the discretion to deny a motion for summary judgment or to order a continuance if facts essential to an opposition may exist, but cannot then be stated.

Practitioners should note that there must be a likelihood of discovery leading to such evidence, and the party opposing the motion must allege the existence of proof in admissible form which presents a triable issue of fact or an acceptable excuse for the absence of first-hand knowledge.

Case: Desena v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 06160 (2d Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Motion practice.

Trusts and Estates.

Practice point: Pursuant to Estates, Powers and Trusts Law 11-3.2(b), a personal representative of the decedent may bring an action for injury to decedent’s person or property.

Practitioners should note that 13-3.5(a)(1) provides that a foreign decedent’s representative bringing an action in New York must, within 10 days of commencing the action, file a copy of the representative’s letters, authenticated as required by CPLR 4542.

Case: Schoeps v. Andrew Lloyd Webber Art Foundation, NY Slip Op 06155 (1st Dept. 2009)

The opinion is here.

Tomorrow’s issue: Motion practice.