March 13, 2019

Indemnification.

The principle of common-law, or implied, indemnification permits one who has been compelled to pay for the wrong of another to recover from the wrongdoer the damages it paid to the injured party. The party seeking indemnification must have delegated exclusive responsibility for the duties giving rise to the loss to the party from whom indemnification is sought, and must not have committed any actual wrongdoing itself. Common-law indemnification is warranted where a defendant's role in causing the plaintiff's injury is solely passive, and thus its liability is purely vicarious. Since the predicate of common-law indemnity is vicarious liability, a party who has itself actually participated to some degree in the wrongdoing cannot invoke the doctrine.

Board of Mgrs. of Olive Park Condominium v. Maspeth Props., LLC, NY Slip Op 01554 (2d Dep't March 6, 2019)

Here is the decision.

March 12, 2019

Vacating a default.

Where a defendant seeking to vacate a default judgment raises a jurisdictional objection pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(4), and seeks a discretionary vacatur pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1), the court must resolve the jurisdictional question before determining whether it is appropriate to grant a discretionary vacatur.

Bedessee Imports, Inc. v. Najjar, NY Slip Op 01552 (2d Dep't March 6, 2019)

Here is the decision.

March 11, 2019

CPLR 5515[1].

The Appellate Division cannot consider an issue that is not specified in the notice of appeal.

McCabe v. Consulate Gen. of Can., NY Slip Op 01651 (1st Dep't March 7, 2019)

Here is the decision.

March 10, 2019

CPLR 2014.

Unless the settlement agreement is made in open court, it is binding only if it is in a writing subscribed by an attorney or reduced to the form of an order and entered.

Amerally v. Liberty King Produce, Inc., NY Slip Op 01550 (2d Dep't March 6, 2019)

Here is the decision.

March 9, 2019

Proximate cause and intervening acts.

The issue is whether the intervening act is a normal or foreseeable consequence of the situation created by the defendant's negligence. The mere fact that other persons share some responsibility for the plaintiff's harm does not absolve the defendant from liability because there may be more than one proximate cause of an injury.

Demetro v. Dormitory Auth. of the State of N.Y., NY Slip Op 01642 (1st Dep't March 7, 2019)

Here is the decision.

March 8, 2019

CPLR 3025(b).

In the complaint, the plaintiff inadvertently alleged that the accident involved a slip and fall in the parking lot instead of on the sidewalk in front of the premises. When the defendant moved to dismiss on the basis of the error, the plaintiff sought leave to amend. Leave was granted absent any prejudice to the defendant resulting from the pleading mistake. The motion papers included the proposed pleading and sufficiently specified the changes to be made, and the proposed amendment was clearly not patently insufficient or devoid of merit.

Yu Tian Li v. Louie & Chan Rest., NY Slip Op 01529 (1st Dep't March 5, 2019)

Here is the decision.

March 7, 2019

Waiver of a claim in equity.

Where a contract specifies that any claims shall be based on the contract and the contract price, a claim for unjust enrichment is waived and will be dismissed.

Federated Fire Protection Sys. Corp. v. 56 Leonard St., LLC, NY Slip Op 01538 (1st Dep't March 5, 2019)

Here is the decision.

March 6, 2019

CPLR 4518[a].

The movant must provide a sufficient foundation for the motion court to consider the documents submitted as business records.

A&W Egg Co., Inc. v. Tufo's Wholesale Dairy, Inc., NY Slip Op 01498 (1st Dep't February 28, 2019)

Here is the decision.

March 5, 2019

Labor Law §§ 240(1) and 241(6).

The owners of one-family and two-family dwellings who contract for but do not direct or control the work are specifically exempted from statutory liability.

Hannan v. Freeman, NY Slip Op 01396 (2d Dep't February 27, 2019)

Here is the decision.

March 4, 2019

CPLR 4518[a].

An uncertified police accident report submitted in opposition to a summary judgment motion is not admissible.

Han Ho Huang v. John Doe, NY Slip Op 01395 (2d Dep't February 27, 2019)

Here is the decision.

March 3, 2019

Defaults.

Where the allegations in a complaint or affidavit of facts fail to establish a prima facie case, the applicant is not entitled to relief, even on a default.

Wynkoop v. 662A President St. Owners Corp., NY Slip 01450 (2d Dep't February 27, 2019)

Here is the decision.