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Recent Cases

  • Bankruptcy
  • Cons. Prot.
  • NY Court of Appeals

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Reversed. The panel held that the FDIC’s appeal was timely filed within 60 days of entry of the district court’s judgment because, even though acting solely as a receiver, the FDIC was a United States agency under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a)(1)(B)(ii). [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Vacated and remanded. Subject matter jurisdiction is determined when the federal court's jurisdiction is first invoked, so although subsequent changes eliminated the basis for jurisdiction the propriety at the time of filing supported the continuation of the case. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Affirmed in part and reversed in part. A company that was unaware of a debt discharge in bankruptcy was not liable for continuing to attempt to collect on its debt, but one company who was notified and proceeded in state court could be held liable for actions taken by counsel on its behalf. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Affirmed. The bankruptcy court's rejection of a Texas Port Authority's claims of sovereign immunity and fraud in their gambit to invalidate a bankruptcy sale that extinguished an easement they held was affirmed because there was no Eleventh Amendment violation or basis to claim fraud. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Reversed. A debtor's property cannot be excluded from the bankruptcy estate in cases involving contingent future interests. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Affirmed. A bankruptcy court's denial of a request to discharge a 60 year-old disabled former student's debt was affirmed. She failed to establish a showing of undue hardship. She had shown an inability to maintain a minimal standard of living because expenses exceeded income, but couldn't establish that her current condition would persist for a significant portion of the loan repayment period. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Reversed, vacated, and remanded. Holding that a creditor can establish that its expenses are attributable to the actions of the bankruptcy estate through evidence of either a direct request from the debtor-in-possession or other inducement via the knowing and voluntary post-petition acceptance of desired goods or services. [...]

(United States Second Circuit) - Affirmed. A district court decision affirming a Bankruptcy Court order to remit funds to the trustee of a bankruptcy estate was part of the proceeds of an unauthorized post-petition transfer. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Affirmed. A bankruptcy judge did not commit clear error in finding that a trustee’s distributions to a third party while the company was insolvent were gratuitous, and there was no reason to overturn the imposition of discovery sanctions against the trustee. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Affirmed. The Illinois Child Care Assistance Program could not collect overpayments made to debtors under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program who filed for bankruptcy. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Held that the City of Chicago violated the Bankruptcy Code's automatic stay when it continued to hold debtors' impounded vehicles until they paid their outstanding parking tickets. The city must return the vehicles to the debtors, the Seventh Circuit concluded in these four consolidated Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Held that bankruptcy debtors could not appeal the denial of their motion for sanctions, because they had not filed a petition for permission to appeal, as required under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 8006(g). Criticized two circuit precedents that appeared to recognize exceptions to this procedural requirement. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Held that an energy company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan did not entitle a class of lenders to $30 million in post-petition default interest. Affirmed the rulings below. [...]

(United States Supreme Court) - Clarified the circumstances in which a court may hold a creditor in civil contempt for attempting to collect a debt that a bankruptcy discharge order has immunized from collection. Held that there should be "no fair ground of doubt" that the order barred the creditor's conduct. Justice Breyer delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - In the bankruptcy proceeding of an investment business that had committed securities fraud, revived some of the bankruptcy trustee's claims against individuals and entities that referred potential investors in exchange for sales commissions. Reversed a dismissal in relevant part. [...]

(United States Supreme Court) - Held that a bankrupt company's rejection of a trademark licensing agreement did not deprive its licensee of the rights to use the trademark. The U.S. Supreme Court interpreted Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code, which enables a debtor to reject any executory contract, meaning a contract that neither party has finished performing. Justice Kagan delivered the opinion of the 8-1 Court. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Held that a Chapter 13 debtor's attorneys were not entitled to be reimbursed for advancing the costs of filing fees, credit counseling fees and credit report fees. Affirmed the bankruptcy court, in this case involving a federal judicial district's "no-look fee" standing order. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Reversed and remanded. Plaintiff received over-payment of Social Security disability payments and the SSA sought to recoup the over-payment. Plaintiff claimed that the SSA collected the over-payment before considering plaintiff's waiver request. Plaintiff also filed for bankruptcy and lodged an adversarial proceeding against the SSA which the bankruptcy court dismissed. The issue for the Fifth circuit was whether the bankruptcy court had jurisdiction to hear plaintiff's claims. The Fifth circuit ruled that the bankruptcy court had jurisdiction and remanded to the bankruptcy court. [...]

(United States Second Circuit) - Held that judicial estoppel did not bar a Sarbanes-Oxley Act whistleblower retaliation claim. The issue centered on whether the plaintiff employee had attempted to conceal his whistleblower lawsuit from the court in his bankruptcy proceeding. Vacated a dismissal in relevant part. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Held that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy debtor was not entitled to a discharge of debt because of fraudulent omissions in financial disclosures. Affirmed a ruling after a bench trial. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Affirmed a real estate business's Chapter 11 reorganization plan. Held that the plan was lawfully proposed even though a lessee illegally grew marijuana. Rejected a challenge brought by the United States Trustee. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Held that a bankruptcy trustee could conduct a public auction of certain real estate owned by a Chapter 7 debtor, even though one of the tracts of land was already under contract. Affirmed the decisions below. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - In a lawsuit that a bankruptcy trustee brought against officers and directors of the debtor company and others who allegedly participated in a securities fraud scheme, affirmed a jury verdict in part and reversed it in part. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Held that a shareholder could not seek statutory damages from a creditor after helping a debtor company defend against an involuntary bankruptcy petition. Affirmed the decision below. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Held that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy debtor's ex-wives were not entitled to notice of his bankruptcy proceeding to assert claims for child support arrears, under the circumstances here. Affirmed the lower court rulings. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - In a lien contest among creditors of a bankrupt commercial farm, held that a bank's lien outranked the agricultural liens of nurseries that sold the farm trees and shrubs. Affirmed a summary judgment ruling. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Held that the City of Chicago, which sought to recoup thousands of dollars in parking and moving-violation fines incurred by seven bankruptcy debtors, was entitled to an order restoring their bankruptcy estates' assets to their personal ownership. Reversed the ruling below in these consolidated appeals. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - In the bankruptcy proceeding of a distributor of bulk petroleum products, held that a consignor's unperfected security interest in fuel and monetary proceeds was subordinate to the trustee's interest. Affirmed the judgment below. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Rejected a mootness argument in a dispute between an insolvent borrower and the holder of a mortgage note. Overruled In re River West Plaza-Chicago LLC, 664 F.3d 668 (7th Cir. 2011), holding that 11 U.S.C. section 363(m) does not make any dispute moot or prevent a bankruptcy court from deciding what shall be done with the proceeds of a sale or lease. [...]

(United States Second Circuit) - Held that a bankruptcy trustee may attempt to obtain property that Bernard Madoff's investment firm transferred to foreign entities that subsequently transferred it to other foreign entities. The transferees contended that the Bankruptcy Code's provisions did not extend extraterritorially in this manner. Disagreeing, the Second Circuit held that neither the presumption against extraterritoriality nor international comity principles barred the trustee from recovering in these consolidated actions. The panel vacated the bankruptcy court judgments and remanded. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Held that a contract to provide financial services was voidable because the company had failed to register as an investment adviser, as it was required to do under the Investment Advisers Act. Affirmed a ruling on this question in the company's bankruptcy proceeding. [...]

(California Court of Appeal) - In a case where a creditor sought to collect a judgment, held that California's Uniform Voidable Transactions Act may apply to a fraudulent agreement between spouses to prevent collection of the debt. The debtor's premarital agreement here said that each spouse's earnings and other property acquired during marriage would not become community property. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Affirmed the dismissal of an appeal in a matter concerning the bankruptcy of a shipbuilding company. The bankruptcy court's approval of the sale of certain key estate assets was the final word on the subject, when the objector did not obtain a stay of that ruling. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Held that bankruptcy trustees are entitled to qualified immunity for personal harms caused by actions that, while not pursuant to a court order, fall within the scope of their official duties. Affirmed the dismissal of an adversary proceeding against a bankruptcy trustee. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Held that the sole owner of an electrical contracting company could discharge a debt in bankruptcy. The National Labor Relations Board had ordered him to provide backpay to employees he had terminated after their attempt to unionize the company. Affirmed that the debt was dischargeable in his Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Held that energy companies emerging from bankruptcy did not have to pay certain creditors a contractual make-whole amount, even though the companies were now solvent due to a rise in commodity prices. Vacated and remanded. [...]

(United States Second Circuit) - Affirmed a judgment in a dispute between two creditors of an agricultural produce company that filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. One of the creditors was another produce company that did business with the debtor. Because the goods were perishable agricultural commodities, the case involved the federal Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. [...]

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Held that a fired chief executive officer could sue the company's secured creditor in state court. Affirmed that his tortious interference claim belonged in state court rather than in the company's bankruptcy proceeding. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Held that a bankruptcy debtor who sought damages for willful violation of the automatic stay was entitled to attorney fees on appeal. When an appeal is necessary to secure such damages, appellate attorney fees and costs should also be granted to a successful debtor, regardless of which party brings the appeal. Reversed the district court's order. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - In a case involving the City of Stockton's municipal bankruptcy, dismissed an appeal filed by a person who objected to confirmation of the city's Chapter 9 plan. Held that his appeal was equitably moot. Also held that his claims failed on the merits. [...]

(California Court of Appeal) - Affirmed. Plaintiff brought a qui tam action alleging that Defendant violated the False Claims Act in its billings to Medi-Cal. The trial court sustained a demurrer and entered a judgment of dismissal of the complaint. The appeals court held that Defendant did not violate any requirement under law as to its billings to Medi-Cal. [...]

(California Court of Appeal) - Dismissed. Plaintiff and Defendant were married and shared a dental practice. When they divorced they each opened competing dental practices. Plaintiff filed suit alleging misappropriated trade secrets, economic damage, and unfair competition. Defendant brought an anti-SLAPP motion on the grounds that advertising and notices to patients were protected activities. The trial court found that anti-SLAPP motion fell into the commercial speech exemption under CCP section 425.17. The appeals court agreed stating that the commercial speech exemption was not immediately appealable and therefore the appeals court had no jurisdiction to hear the appeal. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Restitution award vacated. The FTC sued Defendant for several violations of consumer protection statutes. The trial court found for the FTC, entered a permanent injunction against Defendant and ordered $5 million in restitution to the FTC. The appeals court affirmed the judgment as to the violations of consumer statutes and the injunction but held that restitution was not authorized by section 13(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Reversed. The court reversed the dismissal of a class action consumer fraud and deceptive business case involving cat food labeled prescription cat food that was not materially different from regular cat food. The fraud claim was sufficiently pled and the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act's safe harbor didn't apply. [...]

(California Court of Appeal) - Reversed order denying Defendant’s motion to compel arbitration. Plaintiff filed a complaint against his employer for unfair competition under the Business and Professions Code section 17200 and also brought wage and hour claims. The Defendant moved to compel arbitration. The trial court granted arbitration for all claims, but for the unfair competition claim. The appeals court held that the unfair competition claim could also be subject to arbitration. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Affirmed the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the defendant in an action under the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, which prohibits the use and disclosure of personal information derived from Department of Motor Vehicles records. [...]

(Supreme Court of California) - Reversed. The trial court and the court of appeals denied class action certification to Plaintiff who sought to bring an action against retailers who allegedly misled buyers about the size of an inflatable outdoor pool. The Supreme court concluded that the trial court erred in demanding evidence about the ascertainability requirement for class certification, holding that there is not an additional evidentiary burden that the courts below imposed. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Reversed district court’s dismissal of Plaintiff’s enforcement action against Defendant for alleged fraud in precious metal sales. Defendant maintained that there was an exception in the Commodity Exchange Act for retail commodity sales. Held that the burden was on the Defendant to prove that the exception applied and the exception could be satisfied if the commodity sat in a third-party depository. However, that was not the case in this suit. Plaintiff was not barred from bringing suit and the action should not have been dismissed. Remanded for further proceedings. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Affirmed Defendant’s summary judgment against Plaintiff, holding that the Fair Credit Reporting Act did not require Defendant to initiate a reinvestigation of incorrect credit report items because Plaintiff did not directly notify Defendant of disputed items. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Affirmed. An organization of wireless providers appealed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction in their challenge of a Berkeley ordinance requiring cell phone retailers to warn potential buyers that carrying a phone could cause them to exceed FCC guidelines for exposure to radio-frequency radiation. [...]

(United States DC Circuit) - Reversed and Remanded. The district court improperly dismissed a lawsuit in which a woman's credit card number and expiration date were printed on a receipt for lack of standing. The risk of identity theft was sufficient injury to support standing. [...]

(California Court of Appeal) - In a debt collection action, the court found that Defendant was liable for the debt, but found that the trial court erred by awarding Plaintiff attorney fees related to the defense of counterclaims. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Vacating a dismissal and remanding. A student loan borrower's complaints about a loan provider's statements that they needn't seek advice about their borrowing was not expressly preempted because she alleged affirmative misrepresentations, not failures to disclose. [...]

(United States Second Circuit) - Affirmed. Plaintiff brought class action suit against Defendant, Coca-Cola Company alleging misleading naming and marketing of “Diet Coke”. District court dismissed all claims under Federal Rule 12(b)(6). Appeals court that the adjective “diet” referred to caloric content and carries a relative meaning and not an absolute meaning. [...]

(California Court of Appeal) - In a car purchaser's successful lemon law suit, held that the trial court used an improper method to determine reasonable attorney fees. Remanded for a recalculation of the fee award. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - In an enforcement action brought by the Federal Trade Commission, affirmed a preliminary injunction freezing the assets of companies that allegedly had made deceptive representations regarding loan modification services. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - In an en-banc decision, affirmed the approval of a class action settlement in a multidistrict litigation brought against two automobile manufacturers, which had been accused of making misrepresentations about their vehicles' fuel economy. Also upheld attorney fee awards, rejecting objectors' challenges. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Held that a car purchaser did not raise a triable issue that a dealership failed to provide customers promised add-ons. Also addressed an issue under the Class Action Fairness Act relating to removal jurisdiction. Affirmed the decision below. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Held that a retail customer must arbitrate a dispute with a package delivery company because the online contract he electronically signed contained an enforceable arbitration clause. Denied a writ of mandamus, in this proposed class action lawsuit challenging pricing practices. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Revived a tenant's lawsuit against a company that screens prospective tenants. He brought the suit after being denied housing due to criminal history disclosures appearing in his tenant screening report. Reversed the dismissal of his claims under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and several California statutes. [...]

(United States Supreme Court) - Held that consumers could proceed with an antitrust lawsuit alleging that Apple Inc. used monopolistic power to overcharge for iPhone apps. Apple contended that the lawsuit was barred because the consumers were not "direct purchasers" within the meaning of the Illinois Brick case. However, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Apple's argument in a 5-4 decision, on review of a dismissal ruling. Justice Kavanaugh delivered the majority opinion, joined by the four liberal justices. [...]

(California Court of Appeal) - Upheld sanctions that the Department of Motor Vehicles imposed on a car dealer. The dealer should have returned buyers' down payments when it repossessed the cars after the buyers failed to obtain financing. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Seventh Circuit affirmed the judgment of the district court when it found defendant violated the Consumer Product Safety Act and entered a permanent injunction. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Held that the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's structure is constitutionally permissible. A law firm raised the argument in contending that it was not required to comply with the bureau's investigative demand to respond to interrogatories about its debt relief services and marketing. The Ninth Circuit rejected the law firm's position. [...]

(United States Second Circuit) - Held that recipients of unsolicited spam text messages had legal standing to bring a lawsuit against the company that sent them. Affirmed a ruling in a class action suit under the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act. [...]

(United States Second Circuit) - Held that tribal sovereign immunity did not bar borrowers from pursuing legal relief against an online lending business owned by an Indian tribe. The borrowers contended that the loans had unlawfully high interest rates. Affirmed the denial of a motion to dismiss on grounds of sovereign immunity. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Held that a consumer reporting agency lawfully disclosed the plaintiff's decades-old criminal record for battery to a landlord when she applied to rent an apartment. Affirmed summary judgment against her claim under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Revived businesses' claims that they were sent unsolicited fax advertisements in violation of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Reversed a dismissal, in a case raising issues of standing to sue. [...]

(California Court of Appeal) - Revived an automobile lessee's lawsuit against a car dealership. Held that the dealership did not make a timely and appropriate offer to correct the alleged issue, for purposes of California's Consumer Legal Remedies Act. Reversed a summary judgment ruling. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Revived a consumer's claim that a nonprofit corporation involved in student loans was vicariously liable for violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, because it had ratified student loan debt collectors' illegal calling practices. Reversed a summary judgment ruling. [...]

(California Court of Appeal) - Reversed most of a judgment against a mobile home park. The residents contended that the park breached their contracts and violated various laws, and a jury rendered a verdict in their favor. However, the California Court of Appeal held that the award of damages could not be sustained under any of the theories of liability presented to the jury. [...]

(California Court of Appeal) - Reversed most of a judgment against a mobile home park. The residents contended that the park breached their contracts and violated various laws, and a jury rendered a verdict in their favor. However, the California Court of Appeal held that the award of damages could not be sustained under any of the theories of liability presented to the jury. [...]

(United States Second Circuit) - Held that a consumer could not proceed with a claim that a debt collection letter unlawfully failed to inform him of certain information. Affirmed the dismissal of his proposed class action lawsuit against the debt collector under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. [...]

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Held that a debt collector did not violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by reporting to a credit bureau that a debtor had nine unpaid bills of $60, rather than simply indicating an aggregate debt of $540. Reversed the district court, in this case involving co-pays for physical therapy sessions. [...]

(United States Second Circuit) - Held that a consumer could not proceed with a proposed class action challenging electricity rates in the wake of market deregulation. Affirmed summary judgment against his breach of contract, unfair trade practice and other claims alleging that a retail electricity supplier charged unlawful rates. [...]

(United States Second Circuit) - Held that thirteen collection agencies violated federal law in collecting payday loan and other debts. Affirmed summary judgment in favor of the Federal Trade Commission in this civil enforcement action against the collection agencies and their co-owners. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Held that makers of vitamin E supplements did not violate California laws against false advertising. A consumer alleged that the product labels made untrue health claims. Affirmed summary judgment against a proposed class action. [...]

(United States Second Circuit) - Held that an arbitration clause in an online consumer contract was unenforceable because the consumer did not have reasonable notice of and manifest his assent to it. The consumer was suing a company that sells protection plans for consumer products. Affirmed the denial of the company's motion to compel arbitration. [...]

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Held that Fannie Mae is not a consumer reporting agency and thus could not be sued over a false credit report. Consumers alleged that the government-sponsored mortgage market entity had provided false information about their credit history via a software tool it provides for mortgage lenders to use. In a 2-1 decision, the Ninth Circuit concluded that Fannie Mae was entitled to summary judgment because it did not fall within the definition of a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. [...]

(California Court of Appeal) - Held that the trial court improperly reduced the amount of attorney fees to which vehicle purchasers were entitled after prevailing in a lemon law suit. Reversed and remanded with instructions to award the plaintiffs reasonable attorney fees. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for second-degree burglary and robbery is affirmed where the trial court did not err in admitting into evidence subscriber information in prepaid cell phone records as nonhearsay evidence within a business record, because the information was not introduced for the truth of the matters asserted. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for criminal possession of a weapon is affirmed where: 1) defendant failed to preserve his argument that the trial court erred by re-imposing the original sentence after reversal on appeal; and 2) defense counsel's failure to challenge the resentencing was not ineffective assistance of counsel. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In a civil action, arising from an auto accident allegedly caused by defendant school district's sign distracting and obstructing passing drivers on a roadway, the trial court's conclusion that plaintiff should not be permitted to serve late notice of a claim is reversed where the trial court abused its discretion in determining that defendant would be substantially prejudiced without any record evidence to support that determination. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In a negligence action, the Appellate Division's grant of defendant's motion for summary judgment is reversed where there is a material question as to whether the escape of defendant's calf onto the road was a proximate cause of decedent's death in car accident while she was trying to assist. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In an injury and tort action, brought against defendant city after twelve-year old plaintiff was seriously injured in a collision involving a speeding driver on a Brooklyn roadway, the trial court's entry of judgment for plaintiff is affirmed. The Court held that: 1) plaintiff did not have to prove the existence of a special duty because the city's acts or omissions regarding the road were made in a proprietary capacity; 2) the evidence was legally sufficient to uphold the jury's finding that the city's negligence was a proximate cause of the accident; and 3) the doctrine of qualified immunity did not apply. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for manslaughter is reversed where the trial court abused its discretion by prohibiting defense counsel from questioning prospective jurors about their views on involuntary confessions. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for first-degree robbery is reversed and a new trial ordered where: 1) skin color is a cognizable classification upon which a challenge to a prosecutor's peremptory strikes can be made under Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986); and 2) defendant made a prima facie showing of discrimination and the prosecutor failed to give a non-discriminatory reason for the juror exclusion at issue. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for coercion in the first-degree relating to defendant's harassment of his ex-girlfriend, both while still living at her apartment and from jail, is affirmed where: 1) defendant failed to preserve his argument that the court committed Apprendi error; and 2) defendant's sought jury instruction for second-degree coercion as a lesser-included offense was not warranted. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for multiple robberies is reversed and remanded. The Court held that a lineup's suggestiveness should not turn solely on whether a defendant's distinctive feature, here dreadlocks, figured prominently in a witness's prior description to police but can be considered as one factor when a court determines the suggestiveness of a lineup. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for second-degree murder is affirmed where defendant's trial counsel did not commit ineffective assistance of counsel in pursuing a misidentification defense while not advancing an inconsistent justification defense, after defendant decided on the strategy and denied that he was the person depicted shooting the victim on a surveillance video recording. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Answering a certified question from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the Court held that New York common law does not recognize a right of public performance for creators of sound recordings and answered the Second Circuit's question in the negative. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for manslaughter and possession of a weapon is affirmed where the trial court's supplemental instruction to the jury to continue deliberating, following the jury's return of a verdict which polling determined not to be unanimous, did not deprive defendant of a fair trial. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In consolidated criminal actions concerning the People's change of their readiness status after having previously filed off-calendar statements of readiness, the Court held that there is a rebuttable presumption that such statements were truthful when made and that defendants can rebut the presumption with a demonstration that the People were not, in fact, ready at the time the statement was filed. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In a contracts action arising from a dispute over the auction sale of a syndicated loan, the Appellate Division's grant of defendant's motion for summary judgment is reversed where the lack of a written sales agreement and plaintiffs' failure to submit a timely cash deposit were not conditions precedent to the formation of the parties' contract and do not render their agreement unenforceable. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In a consolidated family law appeal, the court overruled its decision in Alison D. v. Virginia M., 77 N.Y.2d 651 (1991), and held that an unmarried partner who lacks a biological or adoptive connection to subject children has standing to seek visitation and custody under Domestic Relations Law section 70 by showing, clearly and convincingly, that the parties agreed to conceive a child and raise the child together. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In an election law action, concerning whether Steven Glickman, a candidate for the state senate, is eligible to run for that office, the Appellate Division's judgment that he was eligible is reversed where Glickman's 2014 registration to vote in Washington, D.C. precludes him as a matter of law from establishing the five years of continuous residency in New York required by the state constitution. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for first-degree murder and other crimes is affirmed. The Court held that New York's standard for admitting evidence of third-party culpability, articulated in People v. Primo, 96 N.Y.2d 351 (2001), is consistent with Holmes v. South Carolina, 547 U.S. 319 (2006) and does not infringe on a defendant's constitutional right to present a complete defense. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for multiple counts of robbery and larceny is affirmed where the People's use of defendant's non-privileged telephone conversations, made while in custody at Rikers Island, did not violate defendant's Sixth Amendment right to counsel and the dissemination of recordings of conversations at the District Attorney's request does not violate state law. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In an employment action, arising after a tenured teacher resigned his position to teach at another school and was subsequently terminated there, the Appellate Division's order is affirmed where New York City Board of Education Chancellor's Regulation C-205 paragraph 29 requires a written request to withdraw a prior resignation and petitioner did not strictly comply with its terms. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for assaults and related offenses is affirmed where a parent or guardian can vicariously consent on behalf of a child to create an audio or video recording of a conversation to which the child is a party, pursuant to Penal Code section 250.00 (2), provided that the parent or guardian has a good faith, objectively reasonable basis to believe that it is necessary in order to serve the best interests of his or her minor child. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for second-degree murder and fist degree assault is affirmed where the trial court did not err in refusing to remove three spectators, silently wearing t-shirts bearing a photograph of one of the victims, from the courtroom during summation at defense counsel's request. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In a personal injury action, arising after plaintiff, a minor child, was exposed to lead at her grandmother's apartment where she was cared for during the day, the Supreme Court's dismissal of the complaint is affirmed where plaintiff child' did not 'reside' at her grandmother's apartment for the purposes of section 27-2013[h][1] of the Administrative Code of the City of NY, which requires landlords to remove lead-based paint in any dwelling in which a child six year of age and under resides. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for criminal sale of a controlled substance is affirmed where defendant was given a reasonable opportunity to object to the legality of his guilty plea and didn't do so, thus failing to preserve his claim challenging the validity of his plea. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In a health action challenging the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPHRP)'s regulation prohibiting smoking in certain outdoor locations, the Appellate Division's order is affirmed where the OPRHP acted within the confines of legislation in enacting the regulation at issue. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In an environmental action, challenging a Town Board's positive declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and requiring a draft environmental impact statement, the trial court's dismissal of the petition is affirmed where the positive declaration is not justiciable and the case not ripe for judicial review. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In an injury and tort action, brought against defendants ABC News, a hospital, and attending physician for the nonconsensual filming and subsequent broadcast of decedent's treatment and death at the hospital, the Appellative Division's order is modified and affirmed where: 1) the broadcasting of the footage as part of a documentary series about medical trauma was not so extreme and outrageous as to support an intentional infliction of emotional distress claim; but 2) plaintiffs have stated a cause of action against the hospital and treating physician for breach of physician-patient confidentiality. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for second-degree intentional murder is affirmed where defendant's attorney did not render ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to move to reopen the suppression hearing following a detective's trial testimony about his interview with defendant. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In a trusts and estates action, the Appellate Divisions' order is affirmed where defendant, the wife of decedent, founder of the Benihana restaurant chain, failed to raise a triable issue of fact that two irrevocable releases signed by decedent were signed as a result of fraud or other wrongful conduct. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In an insurance action, brought by plaintiff insurance companies seeking declaratory relief, the Appellate Division's order is affirmed where Insurance Law section 5102 does not require no-fault insurance carriers to pay a facility fee to reimburse New York State-accredited office-based surgery centers for the use of their facilities and related support services. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for first-degree burglary and assault is affirmed where: 1) defendant's right to a trial by jury was not impaired by the trial court's failure to adhere to the statutory procedural protection for excusing potential jurors for hardship; 2) the trial court did not abuse its discretion by excluding defendant's third-party culpability evidence as not probative and speculative; and 3) the prosecutor's reference to defendant's gender in summation was inexcusable and irrelevant, but defense counsel's failure to object was not ineffective assistance of counsel. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for gang assault and weapons possession is reversed where the admission of a nontestifying codefendant's redacted statement to police violated defendant's rights under the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment, and such error was not harmless. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for murder in the second degree and related offenses are affirmed where the trial court: 1) properly permitted the People to call a government witness who invoked his Fifth Amendment rights before receiving immunity; 2) properly permitted the government to use a redacted statement for the limited purpose of impeaching its own witness; and 3) did not abuse its discretion by precluding defendant's expert from testifying with regard to the effects of event stress on eyewitness identification. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for robbery in the second degree is reversed where the admission of a non-testifying codefendant's out-of-court statements to establish an element of the crime violated defendant's Sixth Amendment right of confrontation under Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123 (1968). [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for murder in the second degree and related offenses are affirmed where the trial court: 1) properly permitted the People to call a government witness who invoked his Fifth Amendment rights before receiving immunity; 2) properly permitted the government to use a redacted statement for the limited purpose of impeaching its own witness; and 3) did not abuse its discretion by precluding defendant's expert from testifying with regard to the effects of event stress on eyewitness identification. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for felony murder and rape is reversed where the trial court abused its discretion by precluding the defendant from introducing evidence of third-party culpability and such error was not harmless under the circumstances. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In a real estate and property action, arising after the Manhattan Department of Buildings revoked plaintiff's erroneously-issued permit for a large outdoor advertising sign, the order of the Appellate Division is reversed where: 1) plaintiff did not acquire a vested right to maintain the sign on its property through its reliance on the erroneously issued permit; and 2) the issue of plaintiff's good-faith reliance on the erroneously-issued permit is properly raised in an application for a zoning variance. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees is vacated and the case remanded where the police’s seizure of defendant’s clothing from a clear hospital bag without a warrant or defendant’s consent violated his Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - In a false arrest case contending that police invented a false confession to aid in the prosecution of plaintiff, in violation of 42 U.S.C. section 1983 and New York common law, the trial court’s grant of summary judgment to defendants is: 1) reversed where plaintiff has pleaded sufficient facts to constitute violations of New York's false arrest and malicious prosecution claims and 42 U.S.C. section 1983 claims against individually-named plaintiffs; and 2) affirmed as to the City of New York and New York City Police Department in accordance with Monell v. N.Y.C. Dept. of Soc. Services, 436 U.S. 658 (1978). [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Sentence for robbery in the first degree based on a prior conviction for assault in the first degree is vacated and remanded for resentencing. The Court held that the revocation of probation under Penal Code section 60.01 is not the analogue of an annulment of a sentence and concluded that the original sentencing date controls for the purpose of determining the eligible look-back period in Penal Law section 70.04 for prior conviction sentencing. [...]

(Court of Appeals of New York) - Conviction for course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child are affirmed where defense counsel did not render ineffective assistance by: 1) not calling an expert witness to testify that the absence of physical evidence on the victim three years after the last alleged incident could indicate the victim was never anally raped by defendant; and 2) failing to object to testimony of various prosecution witnesses recalling the victim’s statements that she was being sexually abused. [...]