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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Fireman's Fund Insurance v. Farrell

This case involves an appeal and cross-appeal in a legal malpractice action. Defendant James P. Farrell, Jr., a lawyer, represented Six G’s Contracting Corp. in a personal injury action. Farrell failed to timely notify the State Insurance Fund (SIF) of a third-party action against Six G’s, leading SIF to disclaim coverage. Six G’s assigned its malpractice claim to Joseph Gazza and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, the plaintiffs. The Supreme Court denied Farrell’s motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a cause of action and denied the plaintiffs’ cross-motion for summary judgment. The appellate court affirmed the Supreme Court’s order, concluding that the complaint sufficiently stated elements of legal malpractice and that the issue of SIF's waiver of disclaimer was a question of fact, not determinable as a matter of law.

Legal MalpracticeProfessional NegligenceInsurance DisclaimerSummary JudgmentMotion to DismissAssignment of ClaimWorkers' CompensationIndemnificationAppellate ReviewCausation
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Mirkin & Gordon, P. C. v. Suffolk County-Local 852 Civil Service Employees Ass'n Legal Services Fund

This case involves an appeal by the Legal Services Fund (defendant) from an order denying its motion to dismiss a breach of contract complaint filed by a law firm (plaintiff). The plaintiff law firm sued the Legal Services Fund for breach of retainer agreements and non-payment for services. The defendant sought dismissal based on res judicata, arguing that a prior federal lawsuit, which was dismissed on the merits, barred the state action. The federal action, filed by the plaintiff law firm against county legislators and welfare fund trustees, alleged a conspiracy to violate constitutional rights under 42 USC § 1983 by terminating their retainer. The Supreme Court, Nassau County, denied the dismissal motion. This appellate decision affirms that denial, concluding that res judicata does not apply because the parties and claims in the federal and state actions were not identical, and the federal court lacked jurisdiction over the contract claims against the Legal Services Fund.

Breach of ContractRes JudicataClaim PreclusionFederal Court JurisdictionState Court ActionDismissalAppellate ReviewCivil Rights (42 USC § 1983)Legal ServicesLaw Firm Retainer
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 08, 2006

Nazario v. Fortunato & Fortunato, PLLC

The plaintiff initiated a legal malpractice action against a law firm and its members, alleging their failure to timely commence a personal injury action for injuries sustained in a workplace accident in August 2000. Plaintiff claimed a falling pipe caused a right rotator cuff tear and herniated discs, although the defendants successfully handled the workers' compensation claim. The defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing a lack of causal relationship between the 2000 accident and the claimed injuries, revealing plaintiff's extensive history of similar injuries from prior and subsequent automobile accidents, which he failed to disclose to treating physicians. The Supreme Court initially denied the motion, but the Appellate Division reversed, granting summary judgment to the defendants. The court found that the plaintiff failed to counter the defendants' evidence and raise a triable issue of fact regarding the causation of his injuries from the August 2000 incident.

Legal MalpracticeSummary JudgmentCausationPrior AccidentsUndisclosed Medical HistoryWorkers' Compensation ClaimPersonal InjuryRotator CuffHerniated DiscsAppellate Division
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Legal Aid Society v. Association of Legal Aid Attorneys

The Legal Aid Society sought a preliminary injunction against the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys and its officers to prevent the disciplining of striking union members who crossed picket lines. The plaintiff also claimed tortious interference and a civil rights conspiracy under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) on behalf of itself, non-striking attorneys, and indigent clients. The District Court denied the injunction, finding several impediments to success on the merits. These included the NLRB's primary jurisdiction, the Norris-LaGuardia Act's prohibitions, and the plaintiff's lack of standing for third-party claims. Furthermore, the court determined that the conspiracy allegations under Section 1985(3) were conclusory and lacked substantial merit.

Labor DisputePreliminary InjunctionUnion DisciplinePicket LinesNational Labor Relations Act (NLRA)Norris-LaGuardia ActStanding (Law)Conspiracy (Law)Civil Rights (42 U.S.C. § 1985(3))Tortious Interference
References
32
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Weiss v. Legal Aid Society

Plaintiff, an attorney formerly employed by The Legal Aid Society, initiated this action seeking wage step increases. The case was initially removed to federal court under Section 301 of the National Labor Relations Act, based on an alleged breach of a collective bargaining agreement. However, through subsequent proceedings and clarifications by plaintiff's counsel, it became evident that the claim was predicated solely on an alleged independent oral promise made by the Society to individual attorneys, rather than a contract between an employer and a labor organization. The court concluded that Section 301 jurisdiction only applies to violations of agreements between an employer and a labor organization, and thus, it lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the individual oral contract claim. Consequently, the action was dismissed.

Labour LawSubject Matter JurisdictionCollective Bargaining AgreementOral ContractWage DisputesDistrict CourtEmployment LawNational Labor Relations ActFederal Rules of Civil ProcedureMotion to Dismiss
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Smith v. City of New York

Charles Smith, acting pro se, filed a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985, and 1986 against the City of New York and several of its departments (city defendants), and the Legal Aid Society of New York. Smith alleges constitutional violations related to his arrest, incarceration, and trial for his wife's murder, including false arrest, battery, and unconstitutional searches. He also asserts pendent state claims such as legal malpractice against Legal Aid. Legal Aid moved to dismiss all claims or for summary judgment, arguing it is not a state actor for Section 1983 purposes and that conspiracy claims were not sufficiently pled. The city defendants moved to consolidate this action with two prior cases in the Southern District of New York. The court granted in part and denied in part Legal Aid's motion, dismissing federal claims but denying dismissal of the state law legal malpractice claim. The court denied consolidation with cases in another district but, sua sponte, ordered the transfer of the entire action, including the remaining malpractice claim, to the Southern District of New York for consolidation with the related cases, finding it would serve the convenience of parties and witnesses and promote judicial efficiency.

Civil Rights ViolationSection 1983Section 1985Section 1986Legal MalpracticeMotion to DismissSummary JudgmentTransfer of VenueConsolidationState Actor Doctrine
References
54
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 24, 2001

Marcano v. Litman & Litman, P.C.

This case concerns an action for legal malpractice brought by a laborer who suffered a construction site injury. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant-appellant law firm, specializing in workers' compensation, committed malpractice by failing to advise him about potential third-party personal injury claims or to verify if such claims were being handled by the defendant-respondent personal injury law firm. The defendant-appellant moved for summary judgment, arguing it owed no such duty since the plaintiff had already consulted with a personal injury lawyer. However, the Supreme Court, New York County, denied this motion, a decision later unanimously affirmed by the appellate court. The appellate court found a material issue of fact, emphasizing the appellant's affirmative duty to ensure the plaintiff understood the limits of its representation and its alleged repeated assurances that his personal injury claims were "being taken care of."

legal malpracticeworkers' compensationpersonal injuryduty of caresummary judgmentlaw firmattorney-client relationshipprofessional responsibilitythird-party claimsappellate decision
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Halfond v. Legal Aid Soc. of City of New York

Plaintiffs Lawrence Halfond, Michael Richstone, and Peter Zullo, all supervisors at Legal Aid, were fired or demoted in January 1995 and subsequently filed an age discrimination lawsuit under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Legal Aid sought summary judgment, asserting that the employment actions were necessitated by budget cuts. The court denied Legal Aid's motion, finding that the plaintiffs successfully established a prima facie case of age discrimination. This was supported by statistical evidence showing a significant disparity in the treatment of older versus younger supervisors, management comments suggesting a preference for younger employees, and a notable lack of clear, specific, and documented non-discriminatory reasons for the adverse actions from Legal Aid's committees.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)Summary Judgment MotionPrima Facie CaseDisparate TreatmentReduction in ForceStatistical EvidencePretextEmployer's BurdenExplanations for TerminationDocumentary Evidence
References
22
Case No. Action No. 1
Regular Panel Decision

Felicciardi v. Town of Brookhaven

Maureen Felicciardi was injured after slipping and falling on a negligently waxed floor in a federal building. She commenced two actions for damages, Action No. 1 in Suffolk County and Action No. 2 in New York County, naming Nelson Maintenance Services, Inc. as a defendant. Nelson moved for summary judgment in Action No. 1 due to the plaintiffs' failure to comply with a conditional order of preclusion. The Supreme Court denied Nelson's motion and excused the plaintiffs' default. On appeal, the order denying summary judgment was reversed. The appellate court found that the Supreme Court improvidently exercised its discretion in excusing the plaintiffs' lengthy and inadequately explained delay in complying with the discovery order, especially given the potential prejudice to Nelson in proving negligence years after the incident. Consequently, the complaint in Action No. 1 was dismissed against Nelson.

Personal InjurySlip and FallSummary JudgmentDiscovery SanctionsOrder of PreclusionExcusable DefaultLaw Office FailureAppellate ReviewSuffolk CountyNegligence
References
5
Case No. 01 Civ. 6600(RLC)
Regular Panel Decision

Internet Law Library, Inc. v. Southridge Capital Management, LLC

Internet Law Library, Inc. and Hunter M.A. Carr (Internet Law) moved to consolidate two separate legal actions and sought designation as the plaintiff in the combined litigation. Cootes Drive LLC and other entities (Cootes Drive) opposed Internet Law's plaintiff designation but did not object to consolidation itself. The first action, initiated by Internet Law in Texas, alleged securities law violations and fraud by Cootes Drive regarding a Stock Purchase Agreement. The second action, filed by Cootes Drive in New York, accused Internet Law of breaching the same agreement and committing fraud. The Texas court subsequently transferred Internet Law's action to New York for potential consolidation. The court, finding common legal and factual questions and minimal risks of confusion or prejudice, granted the consolidation. Additionally, the court designated Internet Law as the plaintiff and *sua sponte* consolidated a third related case, *Brewer, et al. v. Southridge Capital Management LLC, et al.*

Consolidation of actionsRule 42(a) F.R. Civ. P.Realignment of partiesCompulsory counterclaimForum shoppingFirst-to-file ruleStock Purchase AgreementSecurities fraudBreach of contractJudicial economy
References
27
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