Corporations.

Practice point: A partnership is an association of two or more persons to carry on as co-owners a business for profit, pursuant toPartnership Law § 10[1].

Students should note that if there is no written agreement between the parties, the court will decide whether there is a partnership based on the conduct, intention, and relationship between the parties.

Case: Czernicki v. Lawniczak, NY Slip Op 05503 (2d Dept. 2010)

Here is the opinion.

Tuesday's issue: Employment Law.

Labor Law.

Practice point: Section 200 codifies an owner or contractor's common-law duty to maintain a safe construction site.

Students should note that if plaintiff was injured as the result of an allegedly dangerous condition at the work site, liability may attach if defendant had control over the work site and either created or had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition.

Case: Bruno v. Board of Educ. of Cent. School Dist. #5, NY Slip Op 05498 (2d Dept. 2010)

Here is the opinion.

Tomorrow's issue: Corporations.

Labor Law.

Practice point: Section 200 codifies an owner or contractor's common-law duty to maintain a safe construction site.

Students should note that if plaintiff was injured as the result of an allegedly dangerous condition at the work site, liability may attach if defendant had control over the work site and either created or had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition.

Case: Bruno v. Board of Educ. of Cent. School Dist. #5, NY Slip Op 05498 (2d Dept. 2010)

Here is the opinion.

Tomorrow's issue: Corporations.

Labor Law.

Practice point: Section 200 codifies an owner or contractor's common-law duty to maintain a safe construction site.

Students should note that if plaintiff was injured as the result of an allegedly dangerous condition at the work site, liability may attach if defendant had control over the work site and either created or had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition.

Case: Bruno v. Board of Educ. of Cent. School Dist. #5, NY Slip Op 05948 (2d Dept. 2010)

Here is the opinion.

Tomorrow's issue: Corporations.

Legal malpractice.

Practice point: A claim for legal malpractice is viable, despite settlement of the underlying action, if it is alleged that settlement was effectively compelled by counsel's mistakes.

Students should note if plaintiff's claim of breach of fiduciary duty is essentially a claim of malpractice, it is governed by the malpractice standard, namely, that, but for counsel's action, plaintiff would have prevailed in the underlying action.

Case: Boone v. Bender, NY Slip Op 05497 (2d Dept. 2010)

Here is the opinion.

Tomorrow's issue: Labor Law.

Family Law.

Practice point: New York does not recognize common-law marriages contracted within the state, pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 11.

Students should note that a common-law marriage contracted in another state will be recognized as valid here if it is valid there.

Case: Baron v. Suissa, NY Slip Op 05495 (2d Dept. 2010)

Here is the opinion.

Tomorrow's issue: Legal malpractice.

Motion practice.

Practice point: To vacate a default, defendant must demonstrate a reasonable excuse and a potentially meritorious defense, pursuant to CPLR 5015[a][1].

Students should note that it is a reasonable excuse if defendant had a good faith belief that its interests were being protected by the insurer that had defended in a related matter.

Case: Gerdes v. Canales, NY Slip Op 05358 (2d Dept. 2010)

Here is the opinion.

Tomorrow's issue: Family Law.

Employment Law.

Practice point: Without a legitimate employer interest to protect, restrictive covenants are unenforceable.

Students should note that, in such a circumstance, the issue of partial enforcement does not arise.

Case: Allways Elec. Corp. v. Abrams, NY Slip Op 05346 (2d Dept. 2010)

Here is the opinion.

Monday's issue: Motion practice.

Motion practice.

Practice point: An order denying a motion to preclude testimony of plaintiff's expert witness or to direct that witness to submit to a Frye hearing is an evidentiary ruling and an advisory opinion.

Students should note that the order is not appealable, either as of right or by leave.

Case: Fontana v. LaRosa, NY Slip Op 05357 (2d Dept. 2010)

Here is the opinion.

Tomorrow's issue: Employment Law.

Torts.

Practice point: A company which agrees to maintain an elevator in safe operating condition may be liable for injuries resulting from a failure to correct a condition of which it knew or should have known.

Students should note that the property owner continues to owe a nondelegable duty to maintain its buildings' elevators in a reasonably safe manner.

Case: Dykes v. Starrett City, Inc., NY Slip Op 05356 (2d Dept. 2010)

Here is the opinion.

Tomorrow's issue: Motion practice.

Motion practice.

Practice point: Pursuant to CPLR 3001, the supreme court may render a declaratory judgment as to the rights of the parties to a justiciable controversy.

Students should note that a justiciable controversy requires a real dispute, involving substantial legal interests for which a declaration of rights will have some practical effect.

Case: Chanos v. Madac, LLC, NY Slip Op 05350 (2d Dept. 2010)

Here is the opinion.

Tomorrow's issue: Torts.