January 13, 2020

CPLR Article 78.

Prohibition and mandamus are extraordinary remedies. Prohibition is available only where there is a clear legal right, and only in cases where judicial authority is at issue, and the court acts, or threatens to act, either without jurisdiction or in excess of its powers.  Mandamus will lie only to compel the performance of a ministerial act, and only where there is a clear legal right to the relief sought.

Matter of Taffet v. Cozzens, NY Slip Op 00149 (2d Dep't January 8, 2020)

Here is the decision.

January 12, 2020

CPLR 3212[f].

While a motion for summary judgment may be denied on the ground that discovery is not complete, vague allegations of discoverable material are insufficient.

Ull v. Royal Car Park LLC, NY Slip Op 00224 (1st Dep't January 9, 2020)

Here is the decision.

January 11, 2020

Summary judgment in a medical malpractice action.

The motion will be granted as to the defendant-resident who was acting under the supervision of the defendant-physician, and who did not trigger individual liability by exercising independent medical judgment or otherwise acting outside the realm of ordinary prudence.

Murphy v. Drosinos, NY Slip Op 00214 (1st Dep't January 9, 2020)

Here is the decision.

January 10, 2020

Appellate practice.

The Appellate Division may decline to consider an argument that is raised only in a reply brief.

Woodward v. Levine, NY Slip Op 00068 (1st Dep't January 7, 2020)

Here is the decision.

January 9, 2020

Workers' Compensation Law.

 The special employee doctrine cannot be used to deem the plaintiff an "employee" of defendant for purposes of the Workers' Compensation Law.

White v. Metropolitan Opera Assn., Inc., NY Slip Op 00076 (1st Dep't January 7, 2020)

Here is the decision.

January 8, 2020

Appellate practice.

The appeal from the judgment brings up for review the order that denied defendant's motion to reargue and renew, which the court, in effect, granted by addressing its merits.

JW 70th St. LLC v. Simon, NY Slip Op 00090 (1st Dep't January, 2020)

Here is the decision.

January 7, 2020

Personal jurisdiction.

 Pursuant to CPLR 320(b), a defendant's appearance is equivalent to personal service of the summons, unless the defendant objects by motion or in the answer.  An attorney's appearance constitutes an appearance by the party for purposes of conferring jurisdiction.

Residential Credit Solutions, Inc. v. Guzman, NY Slip Op 09313 (2d Dep't December 24, 2019)

Here is the decision.

January 6, 2020

A motion to compel discovery.

Where the plaintiff's job performance is not at issue, the demand for production of her entire employment file for three-years prior to the accident is overly broad and neither material nor necessary to her claim of a traumatic brain injury. The disclosure of records regarding her two knee replacements is appropriate, however, as the records are sufficiently related to her claim that, as a result of the accident, she had impaired instability and balance.

Wilson v. Simpson W. Realty, LLC, NY Slip Op 00053 (1st Dep't January 2, 2020)

Here is the decision.

January 5, 2020

CPLR 2221[e][2], [3].

The motion to renew is denied because it is not based on new facts, and the movant does not offer a reasonable justification for the failure to present those facts on the previous motion. The claimed ignorance of a confidentiality order entered in a related case raising identical issues does not constitute reasonable justification.

Arena v. Shaw, NY Slip Op 00050 (1st Dep't January 2, 2020)

Here is the decision.

January 4, 2020

Business Corporation Law § 306[b][1].

Service of process is complete when plaintiff serves the Secretary of State, irrespective of whether the process subsequently reaches the corporate defendant.

Fisher v. Lewis Constr. NYC Inc., NY Slip Op 00041 (1st Dep't January 2, 2020)

January 3, 2020

The defense of lack of personal jurisdiction.

Defendant waived the defense by failing to raise it until after he had filed a notice of appearance, attended numerous court conferences, consented to a damages inquest, and cross-examined a witness at the inquest, following the grant of plaintiffs' motion for a default judgment.

Good Gateway, LLC v. Thakkar, NY Slip Op 09369 (1st Dep't December 26, 2019)

Here is the decision.