An order of attachment is a provisional remedy that prevents a defendant from disposing of assets during the pendency of an action. In cases in which a defendant disposes of property with intent to defraud creditors or frustrate the enforcement of a judgment, Article 62 of the CPLR provides a mechanism to preserve those assets.
Jamieson
Second Department Affirms Westchester Commercial Division’s Dismissal of Tort Claims as Duplicative of Contract Claim
Business litigation often involves both contract and tort claims. A fraud or negligence claim that is deemed “duplicative” of a breach of contract claim, however, will be dismissed. When is that the case? The Westchester Commercial Division and the Appellate Division, Second Department recently answered this question in Oceanview Associates, LLC v. HLS Builders Corp., …
Virtual Town Hall with the Justices of the Westchester Commercial Division
On Monday, June 8, I co-moderated a Virtual Town Hall discussion with Hon. Linda S. Jamieson and Hon. Gretchen Walsh about litigating in the Westchester Commercial Division during COVID-19 and beyond, the Court’s operations, and the methods the justices are using to move cases forward. The justices have worked very hard throughout the pandemic, and…
Court Refuses to Apply Discovery Rule to Save Plaintiff’s Fraud Claim
It is not uncommon for litigants to sit on their rights and, after years have passed, argue that they are entitled to delayed accrual of their claims under the discovery rule. This was the key issue in a recent decision by Westchester Commercial Division Justice Linda S. Jamieson in Gelaj v. Gelaj, et al., Index …
Litigating in the Westchester Commercial Division During COVID-19: A Virtual Town Hall Discussion
Join us on Monday, June 8, as Lachtman Cohen P.C. partner Brian Cohen co-moderates a Virtual Town Hall discussion with Hon. Linda S. Jamieson and Hon. Gretchen Walsh about litigating in the Westchester Commercial Division during COVID-19 and beyond.
See the invite for details: WCBA June 2020 Event Flyer
Register with the Westchester County Bar
Only “So Ordered” Portions of Settlement Agreement Enforceable by Contempt
In civil litigation, contempt is the most severe sanction available because it can subject the offender to fine or imprisonment. A motion for civil contempt was the subject of a recent decision by Westchester Commercial Division Justice Linda S. Jamieson in Matter of Prisco v. L’Aquila Realty LLC, Index No. 58654/2018, a case…
The Westchester Commercial Division is Back in Business … Sort Of.
In light of the COVID-19 emergency in New York State and nationwide, on March 22, 2020, Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks directed that no papers shall be accepted for filing by a court except in “essential matters” (for example, criminal, family and domestic violence, mental hygiene, and emergency landlord-tenant).
Effective April 13, 2020, Judge…
Defendants Strike Out on a Motion to Strike a Jury Demand
Sometimes, based on the nature of an action, plaintiffs wish to present their case to a jury and file a demand for one with the court. If the defendants oppose, they can move to strike the demand pursuant to CPLR 4101. This was the subject of a recent decision by Westchester Commercial Division Justice Linda…
Second Department Affirms Westchester Commercial Division’s Dismissal of Breach of Contract Claim
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…
“Dual Agency” Disclosure Lawsuit Against Houlihan Lawrence Proceeds
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…