By Jonathan H. Freiberger If you are too busy to play along after reading the title of today’s article, it is my pleasure to help you out. FIRST -- CPLR 304 , which explains how to commence an action or special proceeding, provides at subparagraph (a): An action is commenced by filing a summons and complaint or summons with notice in accordance with rule twenty-one hundred two of this chapter. A special proceeding is commenced by filing a petition in accordance with rule t

By: Jeffrey M. Haber In commercial and business litigation, it is common for plaintiffs to assert claims against a business entity for wrongs committed by the entity. Often, plaintiffs will try to “pierce the corporate veil,” or get behind the corporate form, to hold the entity’s officers or members liable for the alleged wrongdoing. Since a plaintiff must show that an officer or member used his/her control over the entity to commit a fraud or other wrong against the plaintif

By: Jeffrey M. Haber “The elements of a cause of action for fraud require a material misrepresentation of a fact, knowledge of its falsity, an intent to induce reliance, justifiable reliance by plaintiff and damages. A claim rooted in fraud must be pleaded with the requisite particularity under CPLR 3016(b).” 1 The failure to satisfy each element will result in dismissal of the claim. When a claim for fraud is predicated on a concealment or omission, “there must first be pr

By Jonathan H. Freiberger Mechanic’s liens are powerful tools that can be used by contractors, laborers and materialmen, among others, to assist in getting paid for work performed in improving real property. Indeed: The object and purpose of mechanics’ lien law was to protect a person who, with the consent of the of the owner of real property, enhanced its value by furnishing materials or performing labor in its improvement, by giving him an interest therein to the extent o

By: Jeffrey M. Haber We have noted previously that the “policy of to encourage arbitration.” 1 For this reason, “ ny doubts as to whether an issue is arbitrable will be resolved in favor of arbitration.” 2 When a party wishes to compel arbitration, that party must establish “the existence of a valid agreement to arbitrate”. 3 This means that, among other things, all parties to the agreement have the power and authority to enter into the agreement. In Wolf v. Hollis Operat

Freiberger Haber LLP (the “Firm”) is pleased to announce that, effective December 1, 2022, it has moved to larger space in the same building. Our new suite number is shown in the address below: 425 Broadhollow Road Suite 416 Melville, N.Y. 11747 The Firm’s telephone and fax numbers will remain the same. “We are excited to relocate to our new office,” commented Jeffrey M. Haber, co-founder of the Firm. “We believe that, as the Firm continues to grow, this move will better acc

By: Jeffrey M. Haber A partnership is an association of two or more persons to carry on as co-owners of a business for profit. 1 The formation of a partnership requires a shared purpose and knowing mutual assent by all parties to the partnership. Indeed, “ o person can become a member of a partnership without the consent of all the partners.” 2 When there is no written partnership agreement between the parties, as was the case in Velez v. Mitchell , 2022 N.Y. Slip Op. 06877

By Jonathan H. Freiberger This Blog has previously discussed the discovery process and its relationship to the spoliation of evidence. [ See, e.g., < here =">here</a>"> , < here =">here</a>"> , < here =">here</a>"> and < here =">here</a>"> .] Briefly stated, and as summarized from prior articles, in order for litigants to fully prosecute and defend lawsuits, the CPLR permits “full disclosure of all matter material and necessary in the prosecution or defense of an action, re

By: Jeffrey M. Haber One of the elements of a fraud claim that plaintiffs have difficulty satisfying is justifiable reliance. For this reason, the justifiable reliance element is most often cited by defendants to secure dismissal of the claim against them. Justifiable reliance is considered by the courts to be one of the more “nettlesome” elements of a fraud claim. 1 Whether a plaintiff justifiably relied on a misrepresentation or omission is a fact-intensive inquiry. 2 As

By: Jeffrey M. Haber It should go without saying that a plaintiff claiming breach of contract should demonstrate that the parties formed a contract that has been breached. In fact, as discussed below, contract formation is the first element of a breach of contract claim. Typically, when there is a written agreement, issues of contract formation do not arise. Instead, the issue often arises in the context of an oral agreement, the exchange of emails, letters of intent, and te

By: Jeffrey M. Haber “The attorney-client privilege shields from disclosure any confidential communications between an attorney and his or her client made for the purpose of obtaining or facilitating legal advice in the course of a professional relationship.” 1 The privilege “fosters the open dialogue between lawyer and client that is deemed essential to effective representation.” 2 “It exists to ensure that one seeking legal advice will be able to confide fully and freely

By: Jeffrey M. Haber As a general matter, a “broker” must register with the SEC in order to transact business on behalf of another person. It is, therefore, unlawful for any person to “effect any transactions in, or to induce or attempt to induce the purchase or sale of, any security” unless that person is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).1 Whether a person is acting as a “broker” is governed by Section 3(a)(4)(A) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. §

By Jonathan H. Freiberger Much has been written in this Blog about mortgage foreclosure actions. In this Blog’s prior article: “Second Department Addresses Issues Regarding Proof of Value of Foreclosed Property for the Purpose of Calculating Deficiency Judgment Under RPAPL 1371” , we discussed deficiency judgments. By way of brief background, loans are generally evidenced by a promissory note. The borrower’s repayment obligations are frequently secured by a mortgage on rea

By: Jeffrey M. Haber As a general matter, indemnity is defined to encompass a duty to make good on any loss, damage, or liability incurred by another. Therefore, when a person agrees to indemnify another, he or she agrees to hold the other person harmless for some loss or damage. Indemnification “may be based upon an express contract,” though it is “more commonly” implied “based upon the law’s notion of what is fair and proper as between the parties.” 1 Where the right to i

By Jonathan H. Freiberger This Blog, in “ The New York Court of Appeals Addresses the Issue of When a Mechanic’s Lien Can Be Placed on a Landlord’s Property By A Contractor Performing Work For A Tenant ,” quoting John P. Kane Co. v. Kinney , 12 Bedell 69 (1903), explained the purpose of a mechanic’s lien as follows: The object and purpose of mechanics’ lien law was to protect a person who, with the consent of the of the owner of real property, enhanced its value by furnishin

By Jonathan H. Freiberger As discussed in prior Blog articles, property owners sometimes require access to a neighbor’s property to make repairs to their own property. Neighbors can amicably (with legal counsel or not) arrange for the requested access, which, in many cases, will involve a formal written access agreement. Neighbors are not always neighborly, however, and refuse voluntary access. In such cases, the party requiring access can seek court ordered access pursuant

By: Jeffrey M. Haber It is well settled that the scope of judicial review of an arbitration proceeding is very limited. An arbitration award will be confirmed as long as the arbitrator “offer even a barely colorable justification for the outcome reached”. 1 If any plausible basis exists for the arbitrator’s decision, a court will confirm the award. 2 Because of the significant degree of deference afforded to arbitration awards, vacatur will not be obtained when the bases fo

By: Jeffrey M. Haber On October 27, 2022, the New York Court of Appeals decided 34-06 73, LLC v. Seneca Ins. Co. , 2022 N.Y. Slip Op. 06029 (2022) (here), a case in which the Court determined the contours of CPLR § 203(f). In a unanimous decision, written by Judge Rivera, the Court held that plaintiffs’ initial complaint, alleging that defendant breached the insurance agreement between the parties, did not give defendant notice of a subsequently alleged reformation claim base