CPLR 3215(c).

"If the plaintiff fails to take proceedings for the entry of judgment within one year after [a] default, the court shall not enter judgment but shall dismiss the complaint as abandoned, without costs, upon its own initiative or on motion, unless sufficient cause is shown why the complaint should not be dismissed."  In order to establish sufficient cause within the meaning of the statute, the party opposing dismissal must demonstrate that it had a reasonable excuse for the delay in taking proceedings for entry of a default judgment and that it has a potentially meritorious action.

Bank of N.Y. Mellon Trust Co. v. Kyung Soon Lee, NY Slip Op 00996 (2d Dep't February 16, 2022)

Here is the decision.

Service of process.

Because the defendant failed to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of his change of address, as required by Vehicle and Traffic Law § 505(5), he is estopped from challenging service at his former address.

Perlbinder Holdings LLC v. Patel, NY Slip Op 01106 (1st Dep't February 17, 2022)

Here is the decision.

The doctrine of governmental function immunity.

The State's providing security measures at the Bronx Psychiatric Campus (BPC) involves a governmental function and the discretionary allocation of resources. In the absence of facts establishing a special relationship between the State and the claimant and the performance of ministerial acts by the State, neither of which is present here, the BPC is immune from liability for the alleged sexual assault of claimant at the BPC.

T.R. v. State of New York, NY Slip Op 01110 (1st Dep't February 17, 2022)

Here is the decision.

Court holiday.

An Article 75 petition to vacate or modify a mediator's award.

The parties unequivocally agreed, in writing, to submit their contract dispute to the mediator, and that they would be "bound by" the mediator's decision. They further agreed to "waive any right to review or appeal from such decision." The plain language of the parties' agreements precludes judicial review.

Matter of Trebuchet Capital Mgt., LP v. Prelude Opportunity Fund, LP, NY Slip Op 00991 (1st Dep't February 15, 2022)

Here is the decision.

The doctrine of judicial estoppel.

A party is judicially estopped from arguing a particular position only if it is truly inconsistent with the party's prior position.

White Rock Ins. Co. PCC Ltd. v. Lloyd's Syndicate 4242, NY Slip Op 00993 (1st Dep't February 15, 2022)

Here is the decision.

CPLR 3217.

A plaintiff may voluntarily discontinue an action by serving and filing a notice of discontinuance, by filing a written stipulation that is signed by the parties' attorneys of record, or by obtaining a court order discontinuing the action.

Bank of Am., N.A. v. Ali, NY Slip Op 00838 (2d Dep't February 9, 2022)

Here is the decision.

CPLR 7504.

The court has authority to designate an arbitral forum, since the defendant, even after arguing on a prior motion that the parties were required to arbitrate their dispute, refused to submit the dispute to binding arbitration before any forum.

Meckler v. Molner, NY Slip Op 00943 (1st Dep't February 10, 2022)

Here is the decision.

A Labor Law § 240(1) cause of action.

Where the plaintiff is the sole witness to the accident and his credibility is placed in issue, the granting of summary judgment on the issue of liability is inappropriate.

Alvarez v. 2455 8 Avenue, LLC, NY Slip Op 00837 (2d Dep't February 9, 2022)

Here is the decision.

CPLR 2221[e].

Defendant's motion for leave to renew based on new evidence is denied because the documentary evidence submitted does not conclusively establish, as a matter of law, a defense to the asserted claims, and would not change the prior determination.

Sotheby's, Inc. v. Chowaiki, NY Slip Op 00955 (1st Dep't February 10, 2022)

Here is the decision.

An arbitrator's award of attorneys' fees.

The arbitrator's authority extends only to those issues that are expressly presented by the parties, and, therefore, the award of fees must be demanded. A prayer for such other relief as is just and proper is not a demand for fees. 

Matter of 544 Bloomrest, LLC v. Harding, NY Slip Op 00936 (1st Dep't February 10, 2022)

Here is the decision.