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Long before COVID, New York law protected homeowners from foreclosure by requiring that lenders take certain steps prior to commencing legal action. One of these steps involves giving advance written right to notice to the homeowner. In a recent decision, a New York appellate court clarified the rules regarding notice and confirmed that lenders must … Read more
In order for a will to be valid, a person must have “testamentary capacity.” This means they must be considered competent under the law and have the requisite mental ability to understand and execute a will. In most wills, this is not an issue because the decedent had no health issues when signing and the … Read more
The New York State Child Victims Act created a one-year window for victims of sexual abuse to bring a lawsuit against any responsible parties even though the statute of limitations had already expired. As a result of the law, a large number of cases have been filed, including many against religious institutions based on their … Read more
The statute of limitations is a defense that a defendant can use if he or she believes that the plaintiff waited too long to sue. The law gives an injured party a deadline to bring an action. However, determining when the statute of limitations expires may be more complicated than it seems. You first have … Read more
It is not uncommon for an employee to leave one company to go to work for a competitor. Often, the former employee has relationships with customers and attempts to bring them along with him which can result in damages to the former employer. If the customer is large or if those damages are severe enough, … Read more
In most jurisdictions, including New York, a party is only entitled to litigate a claim once, provided the claim was decided on the merits. One exception to this rule was (believed to be) § 1808 of the New York City Civil Court Act, which seemed to allow a party to sue in small claims court and … Read more
A fiduciary is a person who acts on behalf of another and is legally required to act in that person’s best interest. The administrator of a trust or estate is a fiduciary and owes an obligation to the beneficiaries of the trust or estate as well as the estate’s creditors. Where a fiduciary has engaged … Read more
A certificate of insurance summarizes the terms of coverage under an insurance policy. Typically, it is issued by the insurance company or a broker. While it is generally used to confirm insurance coverage to a third party, a certificate of insurance does not guarantee coverage by itself. The terms of the insurance contract govern the … Read more
New York State Public Health Law § 2164 requires that children from the ages of two months to 18 years, must be immunized from certain diseases, including measles, if they wish to attend school or a child-care facility. The law permitted two exemptions, one for medical reasons and the other, a religious exemption which only required … Read more
An easement gives a party the right to use someone else’s property usually for a specific purpose. Examples include allowing utilities to run sewer lines under the property or permitting a neighbor to cross the property line in order to access a road. These rights are granted in a legal document such as a deed, … Read more