February 4, 2019

Legal malpractice.

Practice point:  An attorney cannot be found liable for failing to act outside the scope of the retainer agreement.

Attallah v. Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, LLP,  NY Slip Op 00583 (2d Dep't January 30, 2019)

Here is the decision.

February 3, 2019

Conversion.

Practice point:  The conversion of intangible property is not actionable.

Austin v. Gold, NY Slip Op 00677 (1st Dep't January 31, 2019)

Here is the decision.

February 2, 2019

CPLR 5015(a)(3).

The court may vacate a judgment or order on the ground of an adverse party's fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct.

U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Robinson, NY Slip Op 00633 (2d Dep't January 30, 2019)

Here is the decision.

February 1, 2019

CPLR 7511(b).

The statute does not extend to vacatur or modification of the arbitration award on the sole ground that the arbitrators exceeded their authority by granting relief that was not specifically demanded in defendant's statement of claim.

Practice point:  The language of arbitration demands is not subject to the strict standards of construction applicable to formal court pleadings.

Chef Chloe, LLC v. Wasser, NY Slip Op 00571 (1st Dep't January 29, 2019)

Here is the decision.

January 31, 2019

CPLR 4404(a).

A trial court has the discretion to set aside a jury verdict and order a new trial where the verdict is clearly the product of substantial confusion among the jurors.

Wright v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 00495 (2d Dep't January 23, 2019)

Here is the decision.

January 30, 2019

Waiver of an objection to discovery.

A plaintiff waives any objection to the adequacy and timeliness of the defendants' disclosure of certain evidence by filing a note of issue and certificate of readiness stating that disclosure was complete and that there are no outstanding requests for disclosure.

Mordekai v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 00431 (2d Dep't January 23, 2019)

Here is the decision.

January 29, 2019

CPLR 3215(c).

If the plaintiff does not have the judgment entered within one year after a default, the court shall dismiss the complaint as abandoned, absent a showing of reasonable excuse for the delay in entering the judgment and a potentially meritorious action.

HSBC Bank USA, N.A. v. Myers, NY Slip Op 00424 (2d Dep't January 23, 2019)

Here is the decision.

January 28, 2019

A dismissed claim for malicious prosecution.

Practice point:  A showing of probable cause for the arrest defeats the claim.

Sanchez v. City of New York, NY Slip Op 00538 (1st Dep't January 24, 2019)

Here is the decision.

January 27, 2019

Service of an order to show cause.

Practice point:  The service requirements specified in the order are jurisdictional in nature, and, on that ground, the defendant may challenge the entry of the order.

Boucan NYC Café, LLC v. 467 Rogers, LLC, NY Slip Op 00416 (2d Dep't January 23, 2019)

Here is the decision.

January 26, 2019

Disclosure of social media.

Private social media information is discoverable to the extent that it contradicts or conflicts with the plaintiff's claims, with appropriate limits as to time.

Vasquez-Santos v. Mathew, NY Slip Op 00541 (1st Dep't January 24, 2019)

Here is the decision.

January 25, 2019

An alleged breach of a coop board member's fiduciary duty.

Where the plaintiff does not allege individual wrongdoing by defendant board members separate and apart from the board's collective action taken on behalf of the cooperative, a breach of fiduciary duty claim does not lie against the individual defendants.

Graham v. 420 E. 72nd Tenant Corp., NY Slip Op 00409 (1st Dep't January 22, 2019)

Here is the decision.