On September 12, 2018, the Second Department issued a decision in Miller v. Brunner, 2018 NY Slip Op. 06008, holding that claims were barred by a release, explaining: A release is a contract, and its construction is governed by contract law. A release that is complete, clear, and unambiguous on its face must be enforced according to… Read more »
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Commercial Division Blog
Posts Categorized: Commercial
Court Declines to Dismiss Double-Derivative Action
On September 4, 2018, Justice Scarpulla of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Simon v. French-American Surgery Ctr., Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op. 32184(U), refusing to dismiss a double-derivative action, explaining: Under New York law, double derivative actions may be brought by a minority shareholder of a parent company for harm to… Read more »
Court Grants Adverse Inference on Summary Judgment for Assertion of Fifth Amendment Rights
On September 5, 2018, Justice Bransten of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Knox, LLC v. Lakian, 2018 NY Slip Op. 32191(U), granting an adverse inference against a party that asserted its Fifth Amendment rights, explaining: Plaintiffs also ask this Court to draw a negative inference against Mr, Lakian. During Mr. Lakian’s deposition… Read more »
No New York Personal Jurisdiction Over Student Loan Trust Trustee That Engaged New York Counsel
On September 4, 2018, Justice Scarpulla of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in National Coll. Master Student Loan Trust I v. Wilmington Trust Co., 2018 NY Slip Op. 32194(U), holding that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over a the trustee of a student loan trust that engaged New York counsel, explaining: Under CPLR 302(a)(l),… Read more »
Shareholder Need Not Hold Share Certificates to Have Right to Assert Derivative Claims
On September 5, 2018, Justice Bransten of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Lentini v. 219 W. 20th Str. Corp., 2018 NY Slip Op. 32181(U), holding that a plaintiff need not hold share certificates to have the right to assert derivative claims, explaining: The mere fact that the corporation did not issue any… Read more »
Motion for Reargument Denied for Failure to Attach Prior Order and Papers
On August 30, 2018, Justice Masley of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Mayor Gallery Ltd v. Agnes Martin Catalogue Raisonne LLC, 2018 NY Slip Op. 32161(U), denying a motion for reargument because, among other reasons, the movant did not attach a copy of the prior papers to the motion, explaining: As an initial… Read more »
Common Interest Privilege Covers Later Exchange of Privileged Documents Created Before the Privilege Existed
On August 30, 2018, Justice Schecter of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision on PMC Aviation 2012-1 LLC v. Jet Midwest Group LLC, 2018 NY Slip Op. 32142(U), holding that the common interest privilege covers the later of exchange of privileged documents created before the common interest existed, explaining: The Court of Appeals recently… Read more »
Plaintiff Allowed to Amend Complaint in Anticipation of Trial
On August 31, 2018, Justice Schecter of the New York Country Commercial Division issued a decision on Gottwald v. Sebert, 2018 NY Slip Op. 32141(U), allowing a plaintiff to amend his complaint in anticipation of trial, explaining: Kesha moves to strike the Amended BOP, urging that plaintiffs are improperly seeking to enormously expand the case years… Read more »
Failure to Pay Wages Cannot Be Basis of Labor Law Sec. 193 Claim for Improper Withholding of Wages
On August 22, 2018, Justice Friedman of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Stec v. Passport Brands, Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op. 32052(U), holding that a failure to pay wages cannot be the basis for a Labor Law Section 193 claim for improperly withholding wages, explaining: [T]he Labor Law does not… Read more »
Unjust Enrichment Claim Survives Dismissal Because of Questions of Fact Regarding Whether Contract Covers Claims
On August 21, 2018, Justice Sherwood of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Georgetown Co., LLC v. IAC/Interactive Corp., 2018 NY Slip Op. 32078(U), declining to dismiss an unjust enrichment claim because of questions of fact regarding whether there was a contract covering the plaintiff’s claims, explaining: The elements of a cause… Read more »