On February 26, 2019, the First Department issued a decision in Transasia Commodities Inv. Ltd. v. NewLead JMEG, LLC, 2019 NY Slip Op. 01361, affirming a discovery sanction, explaining: Defendants-appellants’ motion to vacate their default was properly denied. Defendants’s failure to timely pay a $15,000 court-ordered sanction may be deemed willful, as such recent conduct... Read more »
Blogs
Monthly Archives: February 2019
Party That Did Not Sign Contract Can Invoke Contract’s Forum Selection Clause Based on Close Relationship With Signatory
On February 8, 2019, Justice Borrok of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Miura Golf LP v. Irving Golf, Inc., 2019 NY Slip Op. 30298(U), holding that a party that did not sign a contract’s forum selection clause nonetheless could enforce it based on the party’s close relationship with a signatory, explaining:... Read more »
Employment Contract Term Waiving Claims for Workplace Injuries Unenforceable in New Jersey
On December 11, 2017, the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a decision in Vitale v. Schering-Plough Corporation, No. 078294, holding that a pre-accident agreement disclaiming liability was unenforceable, explaining: In section 39, the Legislature declared a public policy regarding certain agreements entered into in advance of a workplace accident: No agreement, composition, or release of... Read more »
Dissolved Corporation Can Bring Claim as Part of its Winding Up
On February 8, 2019, Justice Borrok of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in A&B Deli Inc. v. 251 Sixth Ave., LLC, 2019 NY Slip Op. 30289(U), holding that a dissolved corporation could bring a claim as part of its winding up, explaining: The Defendant argues that the action must be dismissed... Read more »
Additional Insured Endorsement Required That Subcontract Be Executed Prior to Date of Underlying Accident
On January 31, 2019, Justice of Engoron of the New York County Supreme Court issued a decision in Southwest Mar. & Gen. Ins. Co. v. Main St. Am. Assur. Co., 2019 NY Slip Op 30240(U), holding that a blanket additional insured endorsement to a subcontractor’s CGL policy required that the subcontract be executed prior to... Read more »
City of Philadelphia Files Anti-Trust Class Action Arising From Whistleblower Allegations That Banks Fixed VRDO Interest Rates
Last week, the City of Philadelphia filed a proposed antitrust class action in the Southern District of New York. The action alleges that a number of major banks–Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Citibank, Goldman Sachs etc.–conspired to artificially inflate the interest rates for a type of tax-free municipal bonds called Variable Rate Demand Obligations (VRDOs).... Read more »
Court Appoints Temporary Receiver Over Deadlocked Corporation
On January 31, 2019, Justice Platkin of the Albany County Commercial Division issued a decision in Matter of Papakonstadinou (Gozzer Corp.), 2019 NY Slip Op. 50164(U), appointing a temporary receiver over a deadlocked corporation, explaining: The Court finds that petitioner has demonstrated that the appointment of a temporary receiver is warranted to protect and preserve the... Read more »
Lack of Consideration Defense Even to Unconditional Guaranty
On February 19, 2019, the First Department issued a decision in Moon 170 Mercer, Inc. v. Vella, 2019 NY Slip Op. 01187, holding that lack of consideration is a defense even to an unconditional guaranty, explaining: Based on the reinstatement of the wrongful eviction claim asserted by the nonparty tenant against respondent landlord Moon 170 Mercer, Inc.... Read more »
Employer Failed to Justify Injunction Enforcing Restrictive Covenant With Former Employee
On February 7, 2019, the First Department issued a decision in Harris v. Patients Med., P.C., 2019 NY Slip Op. 00974, holding that an employer had failed to justify an injunction enforcing a restrictive covenant with a former employee, explaining: A preliminary injunction is an extraordinary provisional remedy which will only issue where the proponent demonstrates... Read more »
RMBS Trustee’s Failure to Give With Notice to Cure Within Limitations Period Does Not Bar Trustee from Curing Failure and Refiling Suit
On February 19, 2019, the Court of Appeals issued a decision in U.S. Bank Natl. Assn. v. DLJ Mtge. Capital, Inc., 2019 NY Slip Op. 01169, holding that an RMBS “[t]rustee’s failure to comply with the notice and cure or repurchase condition precedent within the applicable statute of limitations does not foreclose refiling of its... Read more »