Nicholas v. Consolidated Edison Co.
In a wrongful death action, plaintiff Eugenie Nicholas and third-party defendant Erie Conduit Corporation appealed an order from the Supreme Court, Kings County, dated February 1, 1982, which denied their motion to vacate a prior judgment dated September 16, 1981. The appellate court found that the trial court's original judgment improperly structured the parties' rights and liabilities concerning a $365,000 settlement, diverging from the jury's verdict and the court's indemnification ruling. Specifically, it prejudiced the plaintiff's right to full recovery from main defendants and incorrectly authorized recovery against the decedent's employer. Treating the motion as one to vacate, the appellate court reversed the order, granted the motion, and vacated the final paragraph of the 1981 judgment, substituting provisions that properly reflect the parties' liabilities and indemnification obligations based on the jury verdict and the court's earlier ruling.