Summary judgment motions.

A plaintiff may use its reply affidavit to clarify an issue that was raised for the first time in opposition to its motion, but it may not use the reply to correct a defect in its prima facie case.

5AIF Sycamore 2, LLC v 201 EB Dev. III, NY Slip Op 00257 (1st Dep't January 23, 2024)

Here is the decision.

Rear-end collisions.

A defendant moving for summary judgment in a negligence action has the burden of establishing, prima facie, that he was not at fault in the happening of the accident. Not every rear-end collision is the exclusive fault of the trailing driver. The driver in front also has the duty not to stop suddenly or slow down without proper signaling so as to avoid a collision.

Gomez v. Pechman, NY Slip Op 00182 (2d Dep't January 17, 2024)

Here is the decision.

Summary judgment motions.

Plaintiff failed to demonstrate that, pursuant to CPLR 3212 [f], the motion should be denied as premature because of facts within defendants' exclusive knowledge and control. The motion is granted.

Tour Cent. Park Inc. v. Thor 38 Park Row LLC, NY Slip Op 00252 (1st Dep't January 18, 2024)

Here is the decision.

The limitations period for breach of fiduciary duty and conversion.

The six-year statute of limitations under CPLR 213(8) applies to causes of action to recover damages for breach of fiduciary duty and conversion, since allegations of fraud are essential to, and not merely incidental to, the cause of action.

Gam v. Dvir, NY Slip Op 00181 (2d Dep't January 17, 2024)

Here is the decision.

Motions to intervene.

Pursuant to CPLR 1012(a)(3), "[u]pon timely motion, any person shall be permitted to intervene in any action . . . when the action involves the disposition or distribution of, or the title or a claim for damages for injury to, property and the person may be affected adversely by the judgment."  In considering the timeliness of the motion, courts do not engage in mere mechanical measurements of time, but consider whether the delay in seeking intervention would cause a delay in resolution of the action or otherwise prejudice a party.

Countrywide Bank, FSB v. Snipes, NY Slip Op 00179 (2d Dep't January 17, 2024)

Here is the decision.

Motions to dismiss.

Further discovery is necessary in order to resolve factual questions, most notably the precise location at which the accident occurred and the party responsible for repair and maintenance. Therefore, the CPLR 3211 motion to dismiss is denied as premature.

Wright v, City of New York, NY Slip Op 00253 (1st Dep't January 18, 2024)

Here is the decision.

Legal malpractice.

In order to state a valid cause of action alleging legal malpractice, the plaintiff must plead sufficient facts to show that an attorney failed to exercise the ordinary reasonable skill and knowledge commonly possessed by a member of the legal profession.  In order to establish causation, the plaintiff must show that, but for the attorney's negligence, he would have prevailed in the underlying action or would not have incurred any damages. A defendant moving for summary judgment dismissing the cause of action has the burden of establishing prima facie that he did not fail to exercise such skill and knowledge, or that the allege departure did not proximately cause the plaintiff to sustain damages.

Amid v. Del Col, NY Slip Op 00178 (2d Dep't January 17, 2024)

Here is the decision.

Res judicata.

A claim arising subsequent to a prior action is not barred by res judicata even if the new claim is premised on facts representing a continuance of the same course of conduct.

3rd & 60th Assoc. Sub LLC v. Zavolunov, NY Slip Op 00160 (1st Dep't January 16, 2024)

Here is the decision.

Landlords' liability.

An out-of-possession landlord is not liable for injuries caused by dangerous conditions on leased premises in the absence of a statute imposing liability, a contractual provision placing the duty to repair on the landlord, or a course of the landlord's conduct giving rise to a duty. When an out-of-possession landlord retains some control and has a contractual duty to make repairs to the leased premises, the question of liability will turn on whether the injury-producing condition fell within the landlord's contractual responsibilities.

N.G. v. DRF Mgt. Corp., NY Slip Op 00065 (2d Dep't January 10, 2024)

Here is the decision.

Motions to dismiss.

While a claim of alter ego liability is fact-laden, the claim may be dismissed on a CPLR 3211 motion.

S.M. v Madura, NY Slip Op 00155 (1st Dep't January 11, 2024)

Here is the decision.

Leave to reargue.

A motion for leave to reargue must be based upon matters of fact or law allegedly overlooked or misapprehended by the court in determining the prior motion, but may not include any matters of fact not offered on the prior motion, pursuant to CPLR 2221[d][2]. The determination to grant leave lies within the sound discretion of the motion court. The motion for leave to reargue is not designed to provide an unsuccessful party with successive opportunities to reargue issues previously decided, or to present arguments different from those originally presented.

Emigrant Bank v. Kaufman, NY Slip Op 00064 (2d Dep't January 10, 2024)

Here is the decision.