In Art Works Inc. v. Al-Hadid, Index No. 651267/2021 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. County, May 10 2022), the New York Supreme Court held that a consignment agreement did not give an art gallery an ownership interest in an artist’s consigned work. The court also held that a party’s insistence on agreement to terms for a mediation did not constitute anticipatory breach of the contract’s mediation provision… Read more
Travis Mock
Online Reviews that Lowered Business’s Star Rating Were “Devious” But Not “Disparaging”
In SA Luxury Expeditions, LLC v. Schleien, 22-CV-3825 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 29, 2022), the court held that fake Trust Pilot reviews that reduced plaintiff’s overall star rating but were not explicitly negative did not constitute “disparaging” remarks as defined by a prior settlement agreement between the parties… Read more
Delaware Chancery Shifts $75 Million Contingent Attorneys’ Fee to Losing Party in Litigation over Busted Merger
In The Williams Companies, Inc. v. Energy Transfer LP, C.A. No. 12168 & 12337, 2022 WL 3650176 (Del. Ch. Aug. 25, 2022), the court held that the fee shifting provision in the parties’ merger agreement permitted plaintiff’s counsel to add its contingent fee to its client’s liquidated damages award in litigation over a busted merger… Read more
Defendant’s Failure to Answer Plaintiff’s Notice to Admit Results in Adverse Summary Judgment
In Spin Capital v. Texas Medical Center Supply, LLC, Index. No. 130439-2021, 2022 N.Y. Slip Op. 32914 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., Monroe Cnty. Aug. 29, 2022), the court granted plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment after defendant failed to engage the discovery process… Read more
Pleading In the Alternative Does Not Justify Duplicative Claim for Unjust Enrichment
In Harvey Public Adjuster, LLC v. Viet Media Agency, Index No. 522665/2022, 2022 NY Slip Op 32033(U) (Sup. Ct. Kings County Aug. 25, 2022), the court dismissed plaintiff’s cause of action for unjust enrichment as duplicative of its claim for breach of contract… Read more
New York Not Proper Forum for Action Against Foreign Defendant for Conduct Abroad
In Kingstown Capital Mgmt. v. Vitek, 0:20-cv-03406 (2d Cir. Sep. 1, 2022), the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a RICO suit filed in the Southern District of New York by a Delaware investment firm against foreign defendants for conduct that occurred outside the United States and was already the subject of a foreign proceeding under foreign law… Read more
Court of Appeals Venue Decision Calls into Question the Controlling Evidence of a Corporation’s Principal Place of Business
In Lividini v. Goldstein, 37 NY3d 1047 [2021], the Court of Appeals held that defendant doctor had submitted evidence sufficient to establish that his “principal office” under CPLR 403(d) was in Westchester County, even though the doctor’s medical license registration listed a Bronx address. Id. at 1048-50… Read more
No Leave to Amend Following Appellate Division Dismissal and Remand for Entry of Judgment
As illustrated in Favourite Ltd. v. Cico, 171 NYS3d 67 (1st Dept 2022), New York trial courts lack discretion to grant leave to amend a complaint that has been dismissed by the Appellate Division without leave to replead… Read more