Right-of-way, negligence, and summary judgment.

 Practice point:  A driver traveling with the right-of-way may be found to have contributed to the happening of the accident if he or she did not use reasonable care to avoid the accident. However, a driver with the right-of-way who has only seconds to react to a vehicle that has failed to yield is not comparatively negligent for failing to avoid the collision.

Student note:  Even where there is evidence that another driver involved in the accident was negligent as a matter of law due to a violation of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, the proponent of a summary judgment motion has the burden of establishing, as a matter of law, freedom from comparative negligence.

Case:  Desio v. Cerebral Palsy Transp., Inc., NY Slip Op 07322 (2d Dept. 2014)

Here is the decision.

 Tomorrow's issue: An injured firefighter's right of action.

Motion to vacate based on newly-discovered evidence.

Practice point:  The Appellate Division affirmed the denial of the motion to vacate on the ground of newly-discovered evidence, pursuant to CPLR 5015[a][2]. The alleged transfer of the subject mortgage, which purportedly occurred after the entry of the judgment of foreclosure and sale, is not newly-discovered evidence within the meaning of the statute.

Student note:  The court properly denied defendant's motion to renew, as he failed to offer a reasonable justification for not presenting the alleged new facts on his prior motions, pursuant to CPLR 2221[e][3].

Case:  Tribeca Lending Corp. v. Bartlett, NY Slip Op 07429 (1st Dept. 2014)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue: Right-of-way, negligence, and summary judgment..

Court holiday.

The courts are closed for Election Day.

Tomorrow's issue:  Motion to vacate based on newly-discovered evidence.

Evidentiary materials submitted on a motion to dismiss, and dismissal on the merits.

Practice point: Where evidentiary material is submitted and considered on a 3211(a)(7) motion, and the motion is not converted into one for summary judgment, the question is whether the plaintiff has a cause of action, not whether the plaintiff has stated one. The motion will be denied unless it is demonstrated that what the plaintiff claims is a fact is not a fact at all, and unless there is no significant dispute regarding it.

In deciding the motion, the court must accept the facts alleged in the complaint as true, accord the plaintiff the benefit of every possible favorable inference, and determine only whether the facts as alleged fit within any cognizable legal theory.

Student note:  A dismissal for lack of standing is not a dismissal on the merits for res judicata purposes, and neither is the striking of a complaint for noncomplance with a discovery order.

Case:  Caliguri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., NY Slip Op 073129 (2d Dept. 2014)

Here is the decision.

Wednesday's issue: Motion to vacate based on newly-discovered evidence.

Employer's liability for an alleged assault by a security guard.

Practice point: Plaintiff seeks recovery for personal injuries allegedly sustained when, after being caught shoplifting, he was assaulted by a security guard. Plaintiff claimed that defendant's employees were directly negligent in failing to protect him from the security guard, who was armed with a baseball bat, and that defendant is vicariously liable for its employees' negligence.

The Appellate affirmed the motion court's dismissal of the complaint, as there is no indication that the alleged assault by the security guard, who had no history of violence, was foreseeable. Therefore, the employer's duty to protect was not triggered.

Student note:  Absent a duty and an opportunity to protect, there can be no liability for negligence.

Case:  Randolph v. Rite Aid of N.Y., Inc., NY Slip Op 07307 (1st Dept. 2014)

Monday's issue:  Evidentiary materials submitted on a motion to dismiss, and dismissal on the merits.

Vacating a default in a matrimonial action.

Practice point:  The Appellate Division determined that the motion court improvidently exercised its discretion in denying defendant's motion to vacate his default in appearing at an inquest and, in effect, to restore the action to the trial calendar, pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1). Although a party seeking to vacate a default must establish a reasonable excuse for the default and a potentially meritorious cause of action or defense, New York courts have adopted a liberal policy toward vacating defaults in matrimonial actions.

Student note:  In matrimonial actions, New York's interest in the marital res and allied issues, such as child support and custody, favors dispositions on the merits.

Case:  Anekwe v. Okoroafor, NY Slip Op 07114 (2d Dept. 2014)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue:  Employer's liability for an alleged assault by a security guard.

Submissions outside the pleadings on a 3211(a)(7) motion.

Practice point:  The Appellate Division determined that the motion court improperly considered affidavits and deposition testimony submitted by defendant in deciding its CPLR 3211(a)(7) motion to dismiss the complaint.  The Appellate Division noted that defendant's submissions regarding "special employment" did not negate the elements of plaintiff's complaint, which asserts common law negligence. In fact, in their opposition, plaintiffs argued that since they had not yet had discovery, a motion for summary judgment was premature, and they asked the motion court decline to treat defendant's motion as a motion for summary judgment.

Student note:  CPLR 3211(a)(7) limits the court to an examination of the pleadings to determine whether they state a cause of action.

Case:  Lee v. Dow Jones & Co., Inc., NY Slip Op 07247 (1st Dept. 2014)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue: Vacating a default in a matrimonial action.

Denial of summary judgment in an action resulting from a motor vehicle accident.

Practice point:  The Appellate Division reversed the motion court and denied the motion for summary judgment as to defendant's liability in the underlying motor vehicle accident. As plaintiff, in support of the motion, submitted and relied on the certified police accident report containing the eyewitness's statement, he cannot now complain that defendants' reliance on favorable aspects of the statement to defeat summary judgment is improper.

Student note:  Any inconsistencies between the statements made to the police after the accident and the affidavits submitted in support of plaintiff's motion raise issues of fact as to whether defendant driver violated Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1141, and whether plaintiff's excessive speed or other negligence contributed to the accident, thereby precluding an award of summary judgment.

Case:  Espinal v. Volunteers of America-Greater N.Y., Inc., NY Slip Op 07260 (1st Dept. 2014)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue:  Submissions outside the pleadings on a 3211(a)(7) motion.

Dismissal of a Labor Law 241(6) claim.

Practice point:  The Appellate Division determined that the motion court should have granted those branches of defendants' cross motion which were for summary judgment dismissing, insofar as asserted against them, the cause of action pursuant to Labor Law § 241(6) to the extent that it was predicated on alleged violations of 12 NYCRR 23-2.1(a)(1) and (b). As the accident did not involve the obstruction of a "passageway, walkway, stairway or other thoroughfare" by a material pile, 12 NYCRR 23-2.1(a)(1) was not applicable.

Student note:  The general duty imposed by 12 NYCRR 23-2.1(b) does not set forth a directive sufficiently specific to support a 241(6) cause of action.

Case:  Ginter v. Flushing Terrace, LLC, NY Slip Op 06941 (2d Dept. 2014)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue: Denial of summary judgment in an action resulting from a motor vehicle accident.

Denial of a motio to dismiss for inconvenient forum.

Practice point:  The Appellate Division determined that the motion court properly exercised its discretion in finding that New York was a proper forum and that defendant failed to meet his burden to dismiss the action on inconvenient forum grounds.  The Appellate Division found that the motion court considered the appropriate factors, namely, that the dispute concerns real property in New York and the actions and transactions that gave rise to the claim occurred in New York; the mortgage payments on the properties and rent collected from the properties go to a New York bank; there is no alternative forum in which to litigate this claim because South Korea does not recognize constructive trusts; and defendant has demonstrated his availability to this forum by prior business activities here.

Student note:  As this is not a matrimonial action, it is not barred by the parties' matrimonial action in South Korea.

Case: Kang v. Kim, NY Slip Op 07074 (1st Dept. 2014)

Here is the decision.

Monday's issue:  Dismissal of a Labor Law 241(6) claim.

Summary judgment for medical residents acting under the direction of the attending physicians.

Practice point:  In their motion for summary judgment, the defendants made a prima facie showing of their entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by submitting deposition testimony, hospital records, and the affirmation of their medical expert establishing that at all times they acted under the direction and supervision of the attending physicians, and that they lacked the authority to independently order tests and medication. Their physically examining plaintiff and participating in her diagnosis and discharge from care did not demonstrate the exercise of independent medical judgment. In addition, the defendants demonstrated that the diagnosis and treatment plan implemented and continued under the supervision of the attending physicians did not include orders so clearly contraindicated by normal practice that ordinary prudence required inquiry into the correctness of those orders.

Student note:  The Appellate Division determined that the motion court properly rejected the redacted and unsigned affirmation of the plaintiff's medical expert where the plaintiff offered no explanation for the failure to identify the expert by name or the failure to offer an unredacted affirmation for in camera review. Therefore, that affidavit was insufficient to raise a triable issue of fact as to the defendants' alleged malpractice.

Case:  France v. Packy, NY Slip Op 06939 (2d Dept. 2014)

Here is the decision.

Tomorrow's issue:  Denial of a motion to dismiss for inconvenient forum.