On December 17, 2013, the First Department issued a decision in Gural v. Drasner, 2013 NY Slip Op. 08391, overruling earlier cases recognizing a part performance exception to the Statute of Frauds for contracts that are incapable of being performed within a year. Plaintiff and defendant allegedly orally agreed that if plaintiff cleared defendant’s land, he could... Read more »
Blogs
Commercial Division Blog
Posts Categorized: Commercial
Late Motion for Summary Judgment Rejected, Even When Styled as a Cross-Motion to a Timely-Made Motion
On December 24, 2013, the First Department issued a decision in Kershaw v. Hospital for Special Surgery, 2013 NY Slip Op. 08548, clarifying that the CPLR-mandated deadline for filing a motion for summary judgment cannot be extended simply by styling the motion as a cross-motion to a timely made motion. Kershaw involved an appeal from a... Read more »
Attorneys’ Fees Award Limited Because Plaintiff Did Not Prevail on All Arguments
On December 24, 2013, the First Department issued a decision in RSB Bedford Assoc. LLC v. Ricky’s Williamsburg, Inc., 2013 NY Slip Op. 08526, showing how a prevailing party’s right to recover its litigation expenses can be limited by the degree to which it prevails. In RSB Bedford Assoc., the First Department affirmed a damages award for breach... Read more »
Auctioneer Exception to Statute of Frauds Satisfied by Multiple Writings
On December 17, 2013, the Court of Appeals issued a decision in William J. Jenack Estate Appraisers and Auctioneers, Inc., v. Albert Rabizadeh, Docket No. 229, addressing the Statute of Frauds’ requirements for sales at auction. William J. Jenack Estate Appraisers and Auctioneers involved an auction buyer who sought to avoid a $400,000 auction purchase on the ground that the... Read more »
Action Dismissed Due to Failure to Give Contractually-Required Notice and Opportunity to Cure Before Expiration of Limitations Period
On December 19, 2013, the First Department issued a decision in ACE Sec. Corp. v. DB Structured Prods., Inc., 2013 NY Slip Op. 08517, dismissing a mortgage-backed securities lawsuit as barred by the failure both to give the contractually-required notice and an opportunity to cure and to bring suit before the end of the limitations period. In... Read more »
Inability to Read or Write English Does Not Excuse Failure to Answer
On November 11, 2013, Justice Whelan of the Suffolk County Commercial Division issued a decision in OneWest Bank, FSB v. Navarro, 2013 NY Slip Op. 52053(U), denying a motion for leave to serve a late answer despite the defendant’s claim that she did not read or write English. In OneWest Bank, the defendant claimed that... Read more »
Attempt To Certify Class Action by Tenants Injured By Hurricane Sandy Summarily Dismissed
On December 11, 2013, Justice Kornreich of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Adler v. Ogden Cap Props., LLC, 2013 NY Slip Op. 23428, denying class certification to a plaintiff class purporting to represent all renters in the State of New York against a proposed defendant class of all landlords in the... Read more »
Legal Malpractice Claim Survives Despite No Allegation of Attorney-Client Relationship
On December 18, 2013, the Second Department issued a decision in Mr. San, LLC v. Zucker & Kwestel, LLP, 2013 NY Slip Op. 08416, holding that, in exceptional circumstances, a legal malpractice claim can survive a motion to dismiss despite the lack of an attorney-client relationship. The Second Department’s opinion was brief: While the complaint... Read more »
Post-Judgment Interest Constitutes Covered Damages Under Excess Liability Policy
On December 17, 2013, the Court of Appeals issued a decision in Herzl Ragins, et al. v. Hospitals Insurance Company, Inc., Docket No. 234, holding that an excess liability carrier was required to pay post-judgment interest that exceeded the limit on the insured’s primary liability insurance. In Ragins, the excess policy covered “all sums” that... Read more »
Settlement by Related Party In Earlier Action Does Not Bind Plaintiffs in New Action
On December 17, 2013, the First Department issued a decision in BDCM Opportunity Fund II, LP v. Yucaipa Am. Alliance Fund I, LP, 2013 NY Slip Op. 08387, addressing whether plaintiffs were bound by a settlement agreement entered into by a related party in another action. The First Department agreed with the trial court that... Read more »