SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION FIRST DEPARTMENT SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 THE COURT ANNOUNCES THE FOLLOWING DECISIONS:

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1 SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION FIRST DEPARTMENT SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 THE COURT ANNOUNCES THE FOLLOWING DECISIONS: Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ The People of the State of New York, Ind. 2496/08 Respondent, -against- Josefina Jimenez, Defendant-Appellant. Steven Banks, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Richard Joselson of counsel), for appellant. Robert T. Johnson, District Attorney, Bronx (Noah J. Chamoy of counsel), for respondent. Judgment, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Darcel Clark, J.), rendered May 18, 2010, convicting defendant, after a jury trial, of criminal possession of weapon in the second degree and criminal trespass in the first degree, and sentencing her to an aggregate term of 3½ years, unanimously affirmed. The matter is remitted to Supreme Court, Bronx County, for further proceedings pursuant to CPL (5). The police lawfully searched defendant s shoulder bag as incident to a lawful arrest (see People v Smith, 59 NY2d 454 [1983]; People v Wylie, 244 AD2d 247 [1997], lv denied 91 NY2d 946 [1998]). The bag was large enough to contain a weapon and

2 was within defendant s grabbable area at the time of her arrest for criminal trespass in connection with the police investigation of a burglary. Moreover, the police did not have exclusive control of the bag. The surrounding circumstances here support a reasonable belief in the existence of an exigency justifying a search of the bag, even though the officers did not explicitly testify at the suppression hearing that they feared for their safety (see People v Batista, 88 NY2d 650, 654 [1996]; People v Bowden, 87 AD3d 402, 405 [2001]). The court properly denied defendant s application to reopen the hearing based on trial testimony. The court correctly determined that the search would still have been lawful under the additional facts revealed at trial. The court properly exercised its discretion in denying defendant s challenges for cause to two prospective jurors. The colloquy between counsel, the court and each panelist, viewed as a whole, did not cast doubt on either panelist s ability to follow the court s instructions and render an impartial verdict (see People v Roberson, 249 AD2d 148, [1st Dept 1988], lv denied 92 NY2d 904 [1998]). The court conducted a thorough inquiry into allegations of 2

3 juror misconduct (see generally People v Buford, 69 NY2d 290, [1987]), and it properly exercised its discretion in determining that no further inquiry was required (see People v Rodriguez, 71 NY2d 214 [1988]). THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 3

4 Tom, J.P., Moskowitz, Richter, Abdus-Salaam, Román, JJ The People of the State of New York, Ind. 560/01 Appellant, -against- Carlos Flores, Defendant-Respondent. An appeal having been taken to this Court by the above-named appellant from an order of the Supreme Court, Bronx County (David Stadtmauer, J.), entered on or about June 18, 2010, And said appeal having been argued by counsel for the respective parties; and due deliberation having been had thereon, and upon the stipulation of the parties hereto dated August 17, 2012, It is unanimously ordered that said appeal be and the same is hereby withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the aforesaid stipulation. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 4

5 Sweeny, J.P., Catterson, Acosta, Freedman, Román, JJ Index /09 Holborn Corporation, Plaintiff-Respondent, -against- Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, Defendant-Appellant. An appeal having been taken to this Court by the above-named appellant from an order of the Supreme Court, New York County (Barbara R. Kapnick, J.), entered on or about October 20, 2011, And said appeal having been argued by counsel for the respective parties; and due deliberation having been had thereon, and upon the stipulation of the parties hereto dated July 20, 2012, It is unanimously ordered that said appeal be and the same is hereby withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the aforesaid stipulation. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 5

6 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ In re Joseph Z., A Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent, Appellant Presentment Agency. Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Selene D Alessio of counsel), for appellant. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Kathy H. Chang of counsel), for presentment agency. Order of disposition, Family Court, Bronx County (Allen G. Alpert, J.), entered on or about January 19, 2012, which adjudicated appellant a juvenile delinquent upon a fact-finding determination that he committed an act that, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crime of assault in the third degree, and placed him on probation for a period of 18 months, unanimously modified, on the law, to the extent of reducing the finding to attempted assault in the third degree, and otherwise affirmed, without costs. Except as indicated, the court s finding was based on legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, [2007]). There is no basis for disturbing the court s credibility determinations, including its resolution of inconsistencies in 6

7 testimony. The evidence supports the inference that appellant was one of two persons who took part in an attack on the victim, and that appellant intended to cause physical injury. However, the evidence does not establish that the victim sustained any impairment of his physical condition or substantial pain (see Penal Law 10.00[9]; People v Chiddick, 8 NY3d 445, 447 [2007]). Thus, the evidence supports a finding of attempted, but not completed, third-degree assault. To the extent appellant is arguing that the court s brief questioning of the victim deprived appellant of a fair factfinding hearing, that claim is unpreserved and we decline to review it in the interest of justice. As an alternative holding, we also reject it on the merits. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 7

8 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ In re Peter Colletti, Index /08 Plaintiff-Appellant, -against- William Schiff, M.D., Defendant-Respondent. Leonard Zack & Associates, New York (Leonard Zack of counsel), for appellant. Martin Clearwater & Bell LLP, New York (Stewart G. Milch of counsel), for respondent. Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Joan B. Lobis, J.), entered August 29, 2011, which granted defendant s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, and bringing up for review, pursuant to CPLR 5517(b), an order, same court and Justice, entered January 10, 2012, which denied plaintiff s motion to renew, unanimously affirmed, without costs. The IAS court properly found that defendant, in this action for medical malpractice and lack of informed consent, established prima facie entitlement to summary judgment. Defendant demonstrated that he did not depart from good and accepted medical practice or that any such departure did not proximately cause plaintiff s alleged injuries (see Roques v Noble, 73 AD3d st 204 [1 Dept 2010]; Thurston v Interfaith Med. Ctr., 66 AD3d 999, 1001 [2d Dept 2009]). 8

9 Defendant submitted deposition testimony and medical records establishing that he informed plaintiff of the risks associated with the procedures, and plaintiff signed written consent forms indicating her understanding of those risks (see Public Health Law 2805 d[1]; Lynn G. v Hugo, 96 NY2d 306, 309 [2001]). In addition, defendant submitted an affirmed report from an expert who reviewed the medical records and deposition testimony and opined that defendant adequately informed plaintiff of all risks and alternatives (see Orphan v Pilnik, 15 NY3d 907 [2010]). The IAS court properly concluded that plaintiff failed to rebut defendant s prima facie showing with medical evidence attesting that defendant departed from accepted medical practice and that such departure was a proximate cause of the injuries alleged (see Alvarez v Prospect Hosp., 68 NY2d 320 [1986]). Plaintiff also did not challenge defendant s expert s showing on the lack of informed consent claim. On renewal, plaintiff failed to offer reasonable justification for the submission of his expert s new affidavit, which was apparently responsive to the portion of the motion court s prior order stating that defendant s medical evidence was unrefuted (see Jones v 170 E. 92nd St. Owners Corp., 69 AD3d 483 st [1 Dept 2010]). In any event, were we to accept plaintiff s new submission, we would find that that plaintiff s expert s 9

10 conclusions as to malpractice and lack of informed consent were not supported by record evidence (see Orphan, supra). In addition, plaintiff failed to tender expert testimony to prove the insufficiency of the information disclosed to the plaintiff (see CPLR 4401 a; Orphan, 15 NY3d at ). THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 10

11 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ In re Jaime Gongora, Index /09 Petitioner-Respondent, -against- The New York City Department of Education, Respondent-Appellant. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Mordecai Newman of counsel), for appellant. Wolf & Wolf LLP, Bronx (Edward H. Wolf of counsel), for respondent. Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Lucy Billings, J.), entered December 8, 2010, which in this proceeding pursuant to Education Law 3020-a(5) and CPLR 7511 to vacate an arbitration award finding petitioner guilty of sexual misconduct and imposing a penalty of termination, granted the petition to the extent of dismissing the charge of sexual misconduct, dismissing certain specifications, vacating the termination of petitioner s employment as a tenured New York City school teacher, and remanding the proceeding for a new hearing before a new arbitrator, for a determination of whether the surviving specifications constitute the remaining sustained charge of neglect of duty, and for a redetermination of the penalty, unanimously modified, on the law, to reinstate the determination of guilt on Specifications 1.2, 2.2, and 3.1, to reinstate the 11

12 finding of sexual misconduct, and to reinstate the penalty of termination, and otherwise affirmed, without costs. Petitioner, a tenured high school teacher, became the subject of an investigation based upon an incident involving a telephone call to an 18-year-old female student s home. Following an investigation, four specifications were preferred against petitioner alleging, inter alia, that he engaged in sexual misconduct. At the disciplinary hearing, petitioner admitted that he called the student s home and identified himself by his first name to the woman who answered the telephone, in violation of school protocol. Petitioner then told the student that she had passed a recent examination, asked her if she was happy about the results, and asked her to go out with him. In response to this request, the student and her mother, who was also on the line, confronted petitioner, and he hung up. The student s mother added that petitioner told her daughter not to tell her mother that he was her teacher, which claim was consistent with the student s verbal and written reports. The arbitrator found petitioner guilty of sexual misconduct and terminated his employment. Judicial review of this determination is limited to the grounds set forth in CPLR 7511 (see Education Law 3020-a[5]), i.e., misconduct, bias, excess of power or procedural defects 12

13 (Lackow v Department of Educ. [or Board ] of City of N.Y., 51 AD3d 563, 567 [1st Dept 2008] [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]; see CPLR 7511[b][1]). Where, as here, the arbitration is compulsory, the excess of power standard under CPLR 7511(b) includes review of whether the award is supported by evidence or other basis in reason, as may be appropriate, and appearing in the record (Mount St. Mary s Hosp. Of Niagara Falls v Catherwood (26 NY2d 493, 508 [1970]). Thus, the determination must be in accord with due process and supported by adequate evidence, and must also be rational and satisfy the arbitrary and capricious standards of CPLR article 78 (Lackow at 567, citing Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass n v State, 75 NY2d 175, 186 [1990]). Here, as found by Supreme Court, petitioner s conduct served as a basis for sustaining Specification 1.1(e), which alleged that petitioner told the student not to tell her mother that he was her teacher, and Specification 3.2, which alleged that petitioner asked the student to go out with him. The record also supports sustaining Specification 1.2, which charged that petitioner hung up when confronted by the mother, which conduct constitutes a separate nonfrivolous element to the charge of sexual misconduct. Moreover, the record supports Specification 3.1, which charged that petitioner asked the student whether she was happy with the news that she had passed the exam. In the 13

14 context of the night-time phone call to a student, the question, asked by petitioner before his proposition of a date, suggests misconduct. The court properly found that Specification 2.1, which charged that, the next day, petitioner told the student not to report the call, was supported by the record. The record also supports Specification 2.2, which further specified that petitioner warned the student not to tell the principal about the call, indicating an awareness of wrongdoing, and thus, the specification was not duplicative and should not have been dismissed by the court. The sustained charges rationally support and provide adequate evidence for the arbitrator s conclusion that petitioner committed sexual misconduct by performing an action that could reasonably be interpreted as soliciting a sexual relationship as provided in article 21 G[6] of the collective bargaining agreement. In finding to the contrary, Supreme Court impermissibly substituted its own judgment for that of the arbitrator, crediting petitioner s claim that he was joking when he asked the student to go out with him (see Matter of New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Assn. v State of New York, 94 NY2d 321, 326 [1999]). In light of the foregoing evidence, the penalty of 14

15 termination, notwithstanding petitioner s prior lack of disciplinary history, does not shock our sense of fairness. Petitioner s actions of calling a student at home, asking her if she was happy with the results of an examination, and then asking her out on a date, clearly constituted unacceptable behavior (see e.g Matter of Douglas v New York City Bd./Dept. of Educ., 87 AD3d 856, 857 [1st Dept 2011]). THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 15

16 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ Kamco Supply Corp., Ind /07 Plaintiff-Appellant, -against- JMT Brothers Realty, LLC, Defendant-Respondent, John Doe One, et al., Defendants. Eric Schneider, Kingston, for appellant. Welby, Brady & Greenblatt, LLP, White Plains (Gregory J. Spaun of counsel), for respondent. Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Ira Gammerman, J.H.O.), entered June 22, 2009, which, to the extent appealed from, granted defendant owner s motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff subcontractor s claim seeking foreclosure on its mechanic s lien for materials furnished for a home improvement project, unanimously affirmed, without costs. Defendant owner had the initial burden on summary judgment of establishing prima facie that at the time the lien was filed, it owed no payment to the general contractor (Penava Mech. Corp. st v Afgo Mech. Servs., Inc., 71 AD3d 493, 495 [1 Dept 2010]). It satisfied its burden by showing that by virtue of the general contractor s unlicensed status, the home improvement contract entered between the two was rendered unenforceable pursuant to 16

17 Administrative Code of City of NY , (see B&F Bldg. Corp. v Liebig, 76 NY2d 689, 692 [1990], citing Mortise v st 55 Liberty Owners Corp., 102 AD2d 719 [1 Dept 1984], affd 63 NY2d 743 [1984]). Where a home improvement contract has been rendered unenforceable, there can be no funds due and owing from the owner to the unlicensed general contractor to support a subcontractor s mechanic s lien claim (see e.g. Administrative Code [a]; Matros Automated Elec. Constr. Corp. v Libman, st 37 AD3d 313 [1 Dept 2007]; see also Blake Elec. Contr. Co. v st Paschall, 222 AD2d 264, 267 [1 Dept 1995]). Defendant owner further showed that it had no direct contractual relationship with plaintiff subcontractor; absent such relationship, the rights of a subcontractor [must be] derivative of the rights of the general contractor and a subcontractor s lien must be satisfied out of funds due and owing from the owner to the general contractor at the time the lien is filed (Penava, 71 17

18 AD3d at 495 [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]). The burden shifted to plaintiff, which failed to raise any triable issue of fact in opposition to defendant s motion. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 18

19 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ The People of the State of New York, Ind. 5453/07 Respondent, -against- Lee Coleman, Defendant-Appellant. Richard M. Greenberg, Office of the Appellate Defender, New York (Avi Springer of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (David E. A. Crowley of counsel), for respondent. An appeal having been taken to this Court by the above-named appellant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, New York County (Rena Uviller, J.), rendered on or about October 15, 2008, Said appeal having been argued by counsel for the respective parties, due deliberation having been had thereon, and finding the sentence not excessive, It is unanimously ordered that the judgment so appealed from be and the same is hereby affirmed. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK Counsel for appellant is referred to 606.5, Rules of the Appellate Division, First Department. 19

20 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ In re Matthew Ricardo M., etc., A Child under Eighteen Years of Age, etc., Melissa M., Respondent-Appellant. Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureau, et al., Petitioners-Respondents, Andrew J. Baer, New York, for appellant. Joseph T. Gatti, New York, for respondents. Mayer Brown LLP, New York (Allison Levine Stillman of counsel), attorney for the child. Order, Family Court, New York County (Jody Adams, J.), entered on or about April 11, 2011, which, upon a finding of permanent neglect, terminated respondent mother s parental rights to the subject child and committed custody and guardianship of the child to petitioner agency and the Commissioner of the Administration for Children s Services for the purpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs. The finding of permanent neglect was supported by clear and convincing evidence (see Social Services Law 384-b[7][a]). The record shows that, despite the agency s diligent efforts, the mother failed, during the statutorily relevant time period, to 20

21 comply with the agency s service plan. Indeed, the mother did not visit the child regularly between October 2009 and February 2010, failed to maintain sobriety or attend drug testing for several months, suspended mental health therapy, and failed to demonstrate a stable source of income (see Matter of Angel P., 44 AD3d 448, 449 [1st Dept 2007]; Matter of Carol Anne Marie L. [Melissa L.], 74 AD3d 643, 644 [1st Dept 2010]). A preponderance of the evidence shows that it was in the child s best interests to terminate the mother s parental rights to free him for adoption by the foster parents, who have provided the special needs child with good care since shortly after birth (see Matter of Paul Michael G., 36 AD3d 541, 542 [1st Dept 2007]). A suspended judgment was not warranted, especially where the mother had failed to comply with court orders prohibiting unsupervised visits with the child (id.). THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 21

22 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ Christina Laourdakis, et al., Index /08 Plaintiffs-Appellants, -against- Roberto Torres, Defendant-Respondent, Feliciano Mendez, et al., Defendants. Koulikourdis and Associates, Bronx (Peter J. Koulikourdis of counsel), for appellants. Law Offices of Michael A. Barnett, Garden City (Jay M. Weinstein of counsel), for respondent. Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (John A. Barone, J.), entered June 8, 2011, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, denied plaintiffs motion to renew defendant Torres motion to dismiss the complaint as against him as abandoned, unanimously modified, on the law, to grant plaintiff Christina Laourdakis motion to renew and, upon renewal, to deny the motion to dismiss her claims, and otherwise affirmed, without costs. Although plaintiffs motion to renew was based on information that could have been presented earlier, courts have discretion to consider such evidence in the interest of justice (see Joseph v Board of Educ. of the City of N.Y., 91 AD3d 528, 22

23 529 [1st Dept 2012]; Cruz v Bronx Lebanon Hosp. Ctr., 73 AD3d 597, 598 [1st Dept 2010]). Here, the affidavit of merit submitted on renewal, together with counsel s affirmation explaining the delay in seeking a default, warrants a grant of renewal and denial of the motion to dismiss as to Christina (see Smith v Arce, 78 AD3d 612 [1st Dept 2010]; LaValle v Astoria Constr. & Paving Corp., 266 AD2d 28 [1st Dept 1999]). The evidence that plaintiffs attorney had continuing oral and written communications with defendant s insurer concerning this serious injury action, while not the equivalent of ongoing negotiations, sufficiently indicates that plaintiffs did not intend to abandon the action, and provided a reasonable excuse under the circumstances (Hinds v 2461 Realty Corp., 169 AD2d 629, 632 [1st Dept 1991]; see Corbin v Wood Pro Installers, 184 AD2d 234 [1st Dept 1992]). Moreover, there has been no showing of prejudice to defendant (see LaValle, 266 AD2d at 28). However, plaintiffs did not provide an affidavit of merit or 23

24 other evidence sufficient to warrant reinstatement of plaintiff Margarita s serious injury claims (see Utak v Commerce Bank Inc., 88 AD3d 522, [1st Dept 2011]). THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 24

25 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ th 261 East 78 Realty Corp., Index / Plaintiff-Appellant, -against- William N. Bernstein, Architects, PLLC, et al., Defendants-Respondents. Georgoulis & Associates, PLLC, New York (Michael McDermott of counsel), for appellant. Milber Makris Plousadis & Seiden, LLP, White Plains (Mark Seiden of counsel), for respondents. Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Melvin L. Schweitzer, J.), entered July 21, 2011, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, granted defendants motion to dismiss the complaint as against the individual defendant, William N. Bernstein, unanimously affirmed, without costs. Appeal from order, same court and Justice, entered December 20, 2011, which, to the extent appealed from, upon reargument, adhered to the determination on the original motion, unanimously dismissed, without costs, as academic. Although the individual defendant signed an agreement to provide architectural services on behalf of a nonexistent corporate entity and failed to disclose that the nonexistent entity was, in fact, a trade name for an otherwise undisclosed 25

26 principal, we note that defendant has willingly allowed its proper corporate name to be substituted. Furthermore, the complaint against the individual defendant was correctly dismissed since the parties agreement expressly absolved the defendant of any personal liability in connection with architectural services performed under the agreement (see generally Clinton Invs. Co., II v Watkins, 146 AD2d 861, [3d Dept 1989]; Universal Indus. Corp. v Lindstrom, 92 AD2d 150, 151 [4th Dept 1983]; cf. Geron v Amritraj, 82 AD3d 404, 405 [1st Dept 2011]). Parties to arm s-length transactions may agree to waive claims based on personal liability (see Lawrence v Kennedy, 95 AD3d 956, 959 [2d Dept 2012]). Moreover, contractual provisions that absolve a party of its own negligence are enforceable, absent evidence of gross negligence (see Colnaghi, U.S.A. v Jewelers Protection Servs., 81 NY2d 821, 823 [1993]). Here, the complaint alleges breach of contract and professional negligence, but not gross negligence. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, CLERK

27 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ The People of the State of New York, Ind. 408/03 Respondent, -against- Michael Martinez, also known as Michael Cono, Defendant-Appellant. Steven Banks, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Adrienne M. Gantt of counsel), for appellant. Robert T. Johnson, District Attorney, Bronx (Ravi Kantha of counsel), for respondent. An appeal having been taken to this Court by the above-named appellant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Bronx County (Efrain Alvarado, J., at plea; John P. Collins, J. at sentencing), rendered on or about May 14, 2010, Said appeal having been argued by counsel for the respective parties, due deliberation having been had thereon, and finding the sentence not excessive, It is unanimously ordered that the judgment so appealed from be and the same is hereby affirmed. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK Counsel for appellant is referred to 606.5, Rules of the Appellate Division, First Department. 27

28 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ Public Adjustment Bureau, Inc., Index /05 Plaintiff-Appellant, -against- Greater New York Mutual Insurance Company, Defendant. Seward Park Housing Corp., Defendant-Respondent, Weg and Myers, P.C., New York (Joshua L. Mallin of counsel), for appellant. Anderson & Ochs, LLP, New York (Mitchel H. Ochs of counsel), for respondent. Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Louis B. York, J.), entered August 22, 2011, which granted defendant Seward Park Housing Corp. s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, and denied plaintiff s cross motion for summary judgment on its breach of contract claim, unanimously modified, on the law, to deny defendant s motion, and otherwise affirmed, without costs. Defendant Seward Park retained plaintiff, a public adjuster, to assist and advise it in the preparation, submission and adjustment of a property damage claim against its insurance carrier, defendant Greater New York Mutual Insurance Company. Pursuant to the written retainer agreement, Seward Park agreed to 28

29 pay plaintiff 7% of the amount of loss when adjusted or otherwise recovered. The claim was not adjusted; following extensive litigation, Seward Park settled with Greater New York. We reject Seward Park s argument that plaintiff is not due any fee under the contract because it neither adjusted the claim nor provided valuable services that resulted in the adjustment of the claim (see 11 NYCRR 25.10). In light of the otherwise recovered language in the retainer agreement, we find that adjustment of the claim is not a condition precedent to plaintiff s recovery of a fee (see GS Adj. Co., Inc. v Roth & Roth, L.L.P., 85 AD3d 467 [1st Dept 2011]; see also Goldstein Affiliates v Affiliated FM Ins. Co., 178 AD2d 301 [1st Dept 1991]). However, the record presents an issue of fact whether plaintiff performed valuable services. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 29

30 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ In re Emmanuel J., A Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent, Appellant Presentment Agency. Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Patricia Colella of counsel), for appellant. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Elizabeth S. Natrella of counsel), for presentment agency. Order of disposition, Family Court, Bronx County (Allen G. Alpert, J.), entered on or about January 4, 2012, which adjudicated appellant a juvenile delinquent upon his admission that he committed an act that, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crime of petit larceny, and placed him on probation for a period of 12 months, unanimously affirmed, without costs. The court properly exercised its discretion in adjudicating appellant a juvenile delinquent and placing him on probation rather than granting him an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal. Probation was the least restrictive dispositional alternative consistent with appellant s needs and the community s need for protection (see Matter of Katherine W., 62 NY2d 947 [1984]). A longer period of supervision than an ACD would have 30

31 provided was justified by appellant s chronic truancy and poor academic performance, which continued after he was placed in intensive case management, along with his unsatisfactory performance when offered an opportunity for adjustment of his case. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 31

32 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ The People of the State of New York, Ind. 9343/98 Respondent, -against- Jerome Henderson, Defendant-Appellant. Steven Banks, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Kristina Schwarz of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Alan Gadlin of counsel), for respondent. Judgment of resentence, Supreme Court, New York County (Renee A. White, J.), rendered November 16, 2010, resentencing defendant to concurrent determinate terms of 15 and 10 years, with 5 years postrelease supervision, unanimously affirmed. The resentencing proceeding imposing a term of postrelease supervision was neither barred by double jeopardy nor otherwise unlawful (see People v Lingle, 16 NY3d 621 [2011]). We have no 32

33 authority to revisit defendant s prison sentence on this appeal (see id. at 635). THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 33

34 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ Marc Bogatin, Index /11 Plaintiff-Respondent, -against- Windermere Owners LLC et al., Defendants-Appellants. Cullen & Troia, P.C., New York (Wayne L. Desimone of counsel), for appellants. Marc Bogatin, respondent pro se. Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Eileen A. Rakower, J.), entered September 8, 2011, which denied defendants preanswer motion to dismiss the complaint, unanimously affirmed, with costs. The court properly looked beyond the four-year period prior to the filing of the rent overcharge complaint (see CPLR 213 a; Rent Stabilization Law of 1969 [Administrative Code of City of NY] [a][2]) since, in opposition to defendants motion to dismiss the complaint, plaintiff presented sufficient evidence that defendants had engaged in a fraudulent scheme to remove the subject apartment from rent regulation (see Matter of Grimm v State of N.Y. Div. of Hous. & Community Renewal Off. of Rent Admin., 15 NY3d 358 [2010]). Plaintiff s allegations that defendants falsely claimed to have undertaken substantial 34

35 improvements prior to his tenancy were supported by, among other things, plaintiff s affidavit and a contractor s estimate. At this stage of the proceeding, the court properly denied defendants motion, affording plaintiff the opportunity to engage in discovery on the issue of the alleged fraudulent deregulation. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 35

36 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ Meusette Gonzalez, Index /07 Plaintiff-Appellant, -against- DCFS Trust et al., Defendants, Helen Tinelli, et al., Defendants-Respondents. Dansker & Aspromonte Associates, New York (Dara L. Warren of counsel), for appellant. Law Offices of Curtis, Vasile P.C., Merrick (Michael J. Dorry of counsel), for respondents. Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Carol E. Huff, J.), entered July 11, 2011, which, in an action to recover damages for personal injuries sustained by plaintiff in a one-vehicle accident, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, denied plaintiff passenger s posttrial motion to set aside the jury verdict on the issue of proximate cause and direct a judgment in her favor on the issue as against defendant driver Espinal, or for a new trial on the issue of liability, unanimously affirmed, without costs. Given Espinal s testimony that she observed a problem with the brakes a week before the accident while in the car with defendant Vega, the car s owner, and her testimony describing how 36

37 the brakes performed and what she did with the brakes immediately before the accident, there was sufficient evidence to support the court s jury charge on the adequacy of the brakes. The jury s finding that Espinal was negligent, but that such negligence was not a substantial factor in causing plaintiff s injury, was supported by a fair interpretation of the evidence (see McDermott v Coffee Beanery, Ltd., 9 AD3d 195, 206 [1st Dept 2004]; Nicastro v Park, 113 AD2d 129, [2d Dept 1985]). While Espinal testified that she was driving at about 40 to 45 mph in a 30-mph zone up Broadway, she also testified that she had slowed down and was traveling at less than 10 mph when she hit the concrete median. She further testified that she steadily applied the brakes, but that the brakes became unresponsive and began pumping, causing her to lose control. The jury could have reasonably concluded that although Espinal was negligently speeding up Broadway, it was the brake failure that proximately caused the injuries. The jury could have reasonably concluded that the pumping was a malfunctioning of the brake, especially given Espinal s testimony that she noticed a brake problem a week before the accident. In view of the court s instructions permitting the jury to draw the strongest inference that the opposing evidence permits against Vega, and Espinal s testimony that she had told Vega about the brake problem before the 37

38 accident, the jury could have reasonably concluded that Vega s failure to maintain the brakes was the sole proximate cause of plaintiff s injuries. Accordingly, we do not find the verdict to be irreconcilably inconsistent (see Rubin v Pecoraro, 141 AD2d 525 [2d Dept 1988]). We have considered plaintiff s remaining contentions regarding proximate cause and find them unavailing. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 38

39 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ The People of the State of New York, Ind. 3167/01 Respondent, -against- Mohd Majid, Defendant-Appellant. Steven Banks, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Nancy E. Little of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (David C. Bornstein of counsel), for respondent. Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Arlene D. Goldberg, J.), entered on or about November 12, 2009, which adjudicated defendant a level three sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (Correction Law art 6-C), unanimously affirmed, without costs. The record supports the court s discretionary upward departure to level three. The court properly determined that although defendant received points relating to his use of violence in the commission of the underlying sex crime, the risk assessment instrument did not adequately take into account the 39

40 extreme brutality of the crime, which led to convictions of attempted murder in the second degree, sodomy in the first degree, and robbery in the first degree (see e.g. People v Guasp, 95 AD3d 608 [1st Dept 2012]). These aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors cited by defendant. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 40

41 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ The People of the State of New York, Ind. 3459/10 Respondent, -against- Steven Smalls, Defendant-Appellant. Robert S. Dean, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Robert Nichinsky of counsel), for appellant. Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Carol Berkman, J.), rendered on or about February 16, 2011, unanimously affirmed. Application by appellant's counsel to withdraw as counsel is granted (see Anders v California, 386 US 738 [1967]; People v Saunders, 52 AD2d 833 [1976]). We have reviewed this record and agree with appellant's assigned counsel that there are no non-frivolous points which could be raised on this appeal. Pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law , defendant may apply for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals by making application to the Chief Judge of that Court and by submitting such application to the Clerk of that Court or to a Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of this Department on reasonable notice to the respondent within thirty (30) days after service of a copy of this order. 41

42 Denial of the application for permission to appeal by the judge or justice first applied to is final and no new application may thereafter be made to any other judge or justice. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 42

43 Andrias, J.P., Sweeny, Moskowitz, Freedman, Richter, JJ. 8097N Robert Jaffe, Index /10 Plaintiff-Respondent, -against- Lee Lee Brown-Jaffe, Defendant, Bronstein Van Veen LLC, Nonparty Appellant. Bronstein Van Veen LLC, New York (Peter E. Bronstein of counsel), for appellant. Howard Benjamin, New York, for respondent. Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Saralee Evans, J.), entered December 12, 2011, which denied nonparty law firm s motion for a judgment in its favor in the amount of the outstanding legal fees allegedly owed by plaintiff, its former client, and referred the issue of the law firm s legal fees to a special referee for a hearing, unanimously modified, on the law and the facts, to vacate the reference and fix a charging lien in the amount of $75,789, and otherwise affirmed, without costs. The record establishes that the law firm has stated an account in the principal amount of $75,789 (i.e., the billed amount minus the partial payment made on the account by plaintiff). The law firm demonstrated that it had entered into a retainer agreement with plaintiff and sent him regular invoices 43

44 pursuant to the agreement, to which he did not object (see Bartning v Bartning, 16 AD3d 249, 250 [1st Dept 2005]). In addition, the partial payment plaintiff made on the bills established an account stated, as either retention of bills without objection or partial payment may give rise to an account stated (Morrison Cohen Singer & Weinstein, LLP v Waters, 13 AD3d 51, 52 [1st Dept 2004]). Under these circumstances, the court should not have referred the matter to a special referee to determine the reasonable value of the legal services rendered. Instead, it should have fixed a charging lien based upon the account stated (see Tunick v Shaw, 45 AD3d 145, 149 [1st Dept 2007]); Bartning v Bartning, 16 AD3d at 250). The law firm was not entitled to entry of a money judgment. Although the amount of a charging lien may be determined and fixed before the outcome of the case, the charging lien does not provide for an immediately enforceable judgment against all assets of the former clients (Butler, Fitzgerald & Potter v Gelmin, 235 AD2d 218, 219 [1997]). Rather, the lien is security against a single asset of the client - a judgment or settlement reached in favor of the former client in the underlying matter (id.). Since the record here does not show that there has been a final judgment in this action, the law firm s request for a money 44

45 judgment was properly denied (see Squitieri v Squitieri, 77 AD3d 428, 428 [2010]). Should the law firm wish to obtain a judgment enforceable against plaintiff s other assets, it can bring a separate plenary action (see Butler, 235 AD2d at ). THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 45

46 Corrected Order - September 25, 2012 Friedman, J.P., Acosta, Renwick, Richter, Abdus-Salaam, JJ The People of the State of New York, Ind. 1503/10 Respondent, -against- Edward Fletcher, Defendant-Appellant. Richard M. Greenberg, Office of Appellate Defender, New York (Rahul Sharma of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Malancha Chanda of counsel), for respondent. Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Gregory Carro, J.), rendered June 30, 2010, convicting defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of assault in the second degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony offender, to a term of three years, unanimously modified, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, to the extent of vacating the second felony offender adjudication and remanding for resentencing in accordance with the decision herein, and otherwise affirmed. Defendant s challenge to his second felony offender adjudication, made on the ground of lack of equivalency between his out-of-state predicate conviction and a New York felony, requires preservation (see People v Samms, 95 NY2d 52, 57 [2000]; People v Smith, 73 NY2d 961 [1989]), and we reject defendant s arguments to the contrary. 46

47 The People do not dispute that defendant s Florida burglary conviction, which served as the predicate in this matter, cannot serve as the basis for adjudicating defendant a second felony offender (see People v Fermin, 231 AD2d 436, [1st Dept 1996]). Because defendant s predicate sentence was based on a mistake of law, we exercise our interest of justice jurisdiction to the extent of remanding for resentencing (see People v Marino, 81 AD3d 426, 427 [1st Dept 2011], lv denied 16 NY3d 897 [2011]). On remand, the People may allege a different prior felony conviction, if there is one, as the basis for predicate felony adjudication (id.). THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. ENTERED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 CLERK 47

48 Mazzarelli, J.P., Andrias, Catterson, Abdus-Salaam, Manzanet-Daniels, JJ Mashreqbank PSC, / Plaintiff-Respondent, /09 -against- Ahmed Hamad Al Gosaibi & Brothers Company, Defendant- Appellant, Ahmed Hamad Al Gosaibi & Brothers Company, Third-Party-Plaintiff-Appellant, Maan Abdul Waheed Al Sanea, Third-Party-Defendant-Respondent, Awal Bank BSC, Third-Party-Defendant. Lewis Baach PLLC, New York (Bruce R. Grace of counsel), for appellant. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, New York (Carmine D. Boccuzzi of counsel), for Mashreqbank PSC, respondent. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York (Robert F. Serio of counsel), for Maan Abdul Waheed Al Sanea, respondent. Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Richard B. Lowe, III, J.), entered August 11, 2010, reversed, on the law, with costs, the judgment vacated and the complaints reinstated. Appeal from the order, same court and Justice, entered July 29, 2010, dismissed, without costs, as subsumed in the appeal from the judgment. Opinion by Catterson, J. All concur except Mazzarelli, J.P., and Andrias, J., who dissent in an Opinion by Andrias, J. Order filed. 48

49 SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, Angela M. Mazzarelli, Richard T. Andrias James M. Catterson Shelia Abdus-Salaam Sallie Manzanet-Daniels, J.P. JJ Index / /09 x Mashreqbank PSC, Plaintiff-Respondent, Ahmed Hamad Al Gosaibi & Brothers Company, Defendant-Appellant Ahmed Hamad Al Gosaibi & Brothers Company, Third Party Plaintiff-Appellant, -against- -against- Maan Abdul Waheed Al Sanea, Third Party Defendant-Respondent, Awal Bank BSC, Third Party Defendant. x Defendant/third party plaintiff appeals from the judgment of the Supreme Court, New York County (Richard B. Lowe, III, J.), entered August 11, 2010, dismissing the action and the third-party

50 action and from the order of the same court and Justice, entered July 29, 2010, which granted third-party defendant Maan Abdul Waheed Al Sanea s motion to dismiss. Lewis Baach PLLC, New York (Bruce R. Grace and Eric L. Lewis of counsel), for appellant. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, New York (Carmine D. Boccuzzi, David E. Brodsky, Lisa M. Gouldy and Liana Roza Vitale of counsel), for Mashreqbank PSC, respondent. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York (Robert F. Serio and Gabriel Herrmann of counsel), for Maan Abdul Waheed Al Sanea, respondent. 2

51 CATTERSON, J. In these dual actions arising from an alleged Ponzi scheme of global proportions, precedent mandates reversal of the motion court s sua sponte dismissal of the main action on a forum non conveniens ground. Moreover, we find that dismissal of the related third-party action, on notice of motion, on a forum non conveniens ground, was an improvident exercise of the court s discretion. New York has a compelling interest in adjudicating controversies that implicate its preeminent position in the international banking system, and in any event, the third-party defendant failed to demonstrate that New York is an inconvenient forum. Plaintiff Mashreqbank PSC (hereinafter referred to as Mashreqbank ) is a United Arab Emirates (hereinafter referred to as UAE ) bank with its principal place of business located in New York. Mashreqbank filed the instant action against defendant Ahmad Hamad Al Gosaibi & Brothers Company (hereinafter referred to as AHAB ) seeking to recover $150 million in connection with a series of financial transactions executed in New York. AHAB is a Saudi Arabian general partnership with a principal place of business in Saudi Arabia. Mashreqbank alleges that it wired the $150 million to an account at the Bank of America in New York as part of a currency 3

52 exchange transaction with AHAB. Mashreqbank further alleges that AHAB failed to transfer the Saudi riyals contemplated by the currency exchange. Instead, the funds in the Bank of America account were transferred to an HSBC account located in New York and controlled by third-party defendant Maan Abdul Waheed Al Sanea (hereinafter referred to as Al Sanea ). The HSBC account was in the name of Awal Bank BSC (hereinafter referred to as Awal ). Awal is a bank established by Al Sanea in Bahrain. Mashreqbank filed the instant action seeking damages for breach of contract for the currency exchanges that took place in New York through Mashreqbank s bank in New York to AHAB s bank in New York. Additionally, Mashreqbank filed an order of attachment against AHAB s property in New York including the funds contained in the Al Sanea Bank of America account. At the time of the attachment, Al Sanea had already transferred all of the money in question through the HSBC account in New York to institutions outside of the United States. AHAB filed its answer and a third-party action against Al Sanea and Awal alleging that both third-party defendants engaged in an international Ponzi scheme using AHAB s accounts without AHAB s knowledge and/or consent. Thus, AHAB claimed that any liability that AHAB might have to Mashreqbank was solely due to Al Senea s theft of the money through the currency exchange 4

53 transactions that took place in New York. AHAB later counterclaimed against Mashreqbank asserting that Mashreqbank aided and abetted Al Sanea in the perpetration of Al Sanea s Ponzi scheme. Al Sanea moved to dismiss the third-party complaint on the ground of forum non conveniens and lack of personal 1 jurisdiction. In support of his motion, insofar as relevant, Al Sanea averred as follows: that he is a Saudi citizen and resident; that he holds a 47% interest in defendant Awal Bank, which he also controls; that AHAB is a Saudi partnership; and that the transaction would be governed by Saudi law. He further averred that at least one of the underlying transactional documents selected a UAE forum; that all of AHAB s witnesses, 1 The portion of the order denying Al Sanea s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction is not on appeal. However, were we to consider the issue, we would agree with the motion court that there is personal jurisdiction based on Al Sanea s transaction of business in New York (see e.g. Deutsche Bank Sec., Inc. v. Montana Bd. of Invs., 7 N.Y.3d 65, 71, 818 N.Y.S.2d 164, 167, 850 N.E.2d 1140, 1143 (2006), cert. denied 549 U.S. 1095, 127 S.Ct. 832, 166 L.Ed.2d 665 (2006) (the court may exercise long-arm jurisdiction over persons who, from out of state, use electronic and telephonic means to project themselves into New York to conduct business transactions), and/or his commission of a tort in New York (see e.g. Banco Nacional Ultramarino v. Chan, 169 Misc.2d 182, 188, 641 N.Y.S.2d 1006, 1009 (Sup. Ct., N.Y. County 1996), aff d 240 A.D.2d 253, 659 N.Y.S.2d 734 (1st Dept. 1997)) (where jurisdiction is based on committing a tort in New York, under CPLR 302(a)(2), the defendant need not be physically present in order to be subject to personal jurisdiction)). 5