Premature summary judgment motions.

Practice point: To establish that the plaintiff's motion was premature, the defendant must demonstrate that additional discovery might lead to relevant evidence, or that facts essential to justify opposition to the motion are exclusively within the plaintiff’s knowledge and control.

Student note: The mere hope or speculation that evidence sufficient to defeat the motion may be uncovered during the discovery process is insufficient.

Case: Arazashvilli v. Executive Mgt. Corp., NY Slip Op 09074 (2d Dept. 2011).

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow’s issue: Breach of fiduciary duty.

Leave to amend.

Practice point: The determination of whether to grant leave to amend a pleading is within the court's discretion, and the exercise of that discretion will not be lightly disturbed. 

Student note: Leave to amend an answer to assert an affirmative defense should generally be granted where the proposed amendment is neither palpably insufficient nor patently devoid of merit, and there is no evidence that it would prejudice or surprise the opposing party.

Case: Giuffre v. DiLeo, NY Slip Op 08903 (2d Dept. 2011). 

Here is the decision. 

Tomorrow’s issue: Premature summary judgment motions.

Court holiday.

The courts are closed today to mark the Christmas holiday.

Tomorrow's issue is leave to amend.

Reckless disregard.

Practice point: The manner in which a police officer operates his or her vehicle in an emergency situation may not form the basis for civil liability to an injured third party unless the officer acted in reckless disregard for the safety of others.

Student note: The reckless disregard' standard requires proof that the officer intentionally committed an act of an unreasonable character in disregard of a known or obvious risk that was so great as to make it highly probable that harm would follow.

Case: Elnakib v. County of Suffolk, NY Slip Op 08898 (2d Dept. 2011).

Here is the decision. 

Tuesday’s issue: Leave to amend.

Elevator company liability.

Practice point: An elevator company which agrees to maintain an elevator in safe operating condition may be liable to a passenger for failure to correct conditions of which it has knowledge, or failure to use reasonable care to discover and correct a condition which it should have found.

Student note: Additionally, a plaintiff may raise a triable issue of fact as to liability under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur by submitting proof that the rapid descent, shaking, and abrupt, misaligned stop of the elevator was an occurrence that would not ordinarily occur in the absence of negligence; that the maintenance and service of the elevator was in the exclusive control of the elevator company; and that no act or negligence on the part of the plaintiff contributed to the happening of the accident.

Case: DeVito v. Centennial El. Indus., Inc., NY Slip Op 08897 (2d Dept. 2011).

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow’s issue: Reckless disregard.

Service on Health and Hospitals Corporation.

Practice point: The City of New York and HHC are separate entities for purposes of a notice of claim.

Student note:Therefore, service upon the Comptroller of the City of New York is insufficient to constitute service upon HHC, the proper party to be served.

Case: Barnaman v. NYC Health & Hosps. Corp., NY Slip Op 08891 (2d Dept. 2011).

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow’s issue: Elevator company liability.

Escrow agency.

Practice point: An escrow agent not only has a contractual duty to follow the escrow agreement, but additionally becomes a trustee of anyone with a beneficial interest in the trust.

Student note: Therefore, an escrow agent can be held liable for both breach of the escrow agreement and breach of fiduciary duty as escrowee.

Case: Baquerizo v. Monasterio, NY Slip Op 08890 (2d Dept. 2011).

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow’s issue: Service on Health and Hospitals Corporation.

Summations.

Practice point: Trial counsel is afforded wide latitude in presenting arguments to a jury in summation.

Student note: Where defense counsel remains within the broad bounds of rhetorical comment in pointing out the insufficiency and contradictory nature of a plaintiff's proof, such remarks do not deprive the plaintiff of a fair trial.

Case: Chapotin v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 08793 (2d Dept. 2011).

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow’s issue Escrow agency.

Medical records.

Practice point: A party seeking to inspect a plaintiff's medical records must first demonstrate that the plaintiff's physical or mental condition is in controversy, within the meaning of CPLR 3121(a).

Student note: Even where this preliminary burden has been satisfied, discovery may still be precluded where the information requested is privileged and, thus, exempted from disclosure, pursuant to CPLR 3101(b).

Case: Paliouras v. Donohue, NY Slip Op 08736 (2d Dept. 2011).

Here is the decision. 

Monday’s issue: Summations.

The emergency doctrine.

Practice point: The doctrine holds that those faced with a sudden and unexpected circumstance, not of their own making, that leaves them with little or no time for reflection or reasonably causes them to be so disturbed that they are compelled to make a quick decision without weighing alternative courses of conduct, may not be negligent if their actions are reasonable and prudent in the context of the emergency.

Student note: The existence of an emergency and the reasonableness of the response to it generally present issues of fact.

Case: Mitchell v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 08734 (2d Dept. 2011).

Here is the decision. 

Tomorrow’s issue: Medical records.

Depositions.

Practice point: A defendant-corporation has the right to designate, in the first instance, which of its employees will appear for a deposition.

Student note: The plaintiff has the burden of demonstrating that the defendant's employee who was already deposed had insufficient knowledge or was otherwise inadequate, and that there is a substantial likelihood that the additional employees sought for depositions possess information that is material and necessary to the prosecution of the action.

Case: Gelda v. Costco Wholesale Corp., NY Slip Op 08722 (2d Dept. 2011).

Here is the decision. 

Tomorrow’s issue: The emergency doctrine.