Although contracts are to be construed in accordance with the parties’ intent, in New York, it is firmly established that the best evidence of what parties intend is what they say in writing. This rule is applied with special force when the agreement is negotiated at arm’s length or by sophisticated business people. Sometimes, parties
We’ve previously written about how judges in the Westchester Commercial Division will dismiss cases in which the contract at issue contains a forum selection clause requiring the parties to resolve their dispute elsewhere. On September 10, 2019, Justice Linda Jamieson issued another decision doing just that.
Satin v. 1-800 NY Bulbs Limited, Index No.
![broken-agreement[1]](https://westchestercomdivboutique.lexblogplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/638/2019/10/broken-agreement1-550x348.jpg)
Sometimes, companies want employees to think like owners, and for good reason. With a vested interest in their work and the team’s success, employees are more motivated to perform at the highest level. They also focus on what’s best for the business rather than just themselves. But firing an employee with “skin in the game”
In real estate agency relationships, an agent owes its client, a buyer or seller of property, fiduciary duties, including duties of undivided loyalty, reasonable care, and confidentiality. Due to the increasing number of large brokerage firms, “dual agency” deals have become commonplace. A dual agency occurs when an agent represents the buyer and the seller
New York’s Commercial Division is an attractive forum for parties to litigate disputes over financial transactions. And, because so many transactions flow through New York institutions, aggrieved plaintiffs often believe that the flow of money through the state gives them a hook to sue defendants in New York courts. Often, that is true. But there
On June 14, 2019, the New York State Bar Association hosted a breakfast at the Westchester County Courthouse with Justices Linda Jamieson and Gretchen Walsh. This was a great opportunity to hear from Westchester’s Commercial Division judges on various topics, including their expectations of attorneys who appear before them. Here are a handful of important
An easement, or right-of-way, grants someone the right to cross or use another’s property for a specific purpose. But if the holder of the right-of-way exceeds the scope of the easement, he or she may be liable for damages for trespass. That was the case in Julia Properties, LLC v. Levy.
In July 2009,
For many, purchasing real estate is a stressful endeavor. It’s further complicated when one attempts to buy distressed property through a short sale, when an owner sells property for less than the mortgage balance. Lenders typically allow short sales to recoup a portion of the loan balance quickly and avoid a lengthy and expensive foreclosure
CPLR 3213 enables litigants to efficiently and quickly enforce instruments for the payment of money only or a previously rendered judgment. The rule is a powerful tool for resolving business disputes. But as one Westchester County litigant recently learned (the hard way), it is limited in scope.
In Newman v. Poekler, Index
A recent decision from Westchester Commercial Division Justice Linda Jamieson addressed two issues that arise in commercial landlord-tenant relationships: (i) whether a landlord can pierce the corporate veil to hold a tenant’s corporate representative liable under leases; and (ii) the timeliness of claims for past due rent.
Piercing the Corporate Veil
In Hoffman Investors Corp.,