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
A power of attorney is an essential document in estate planning. Every adult should have one to ensure that someone they trust will handle their financial and legal matters if they are incapacitated or otherwise unable to take care of such issues themselves. While the person holding the power of attorney typically has broad authority, … 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
Most people would prefer to file a lawsuit in a court that is convenient to them. That might be fine if the defendant is also local. However, if the defendant is located out of state, specific rules apply regarding where they can be sued. A recent New York appellate case clarified these laws with respect … 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
The general rule in New York is that each party to a lawsuit is responsible for his or her own legal fees. One exception to this is where the parties to a contract include a provision for attorney’s fees in their agreement. This clause typically states that in the event of a dispute, the losing … 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
Negotiating agreements via email is a common practice. However, many people do not realize that those communications may inadvertently create an enforceable contract. While New York law allows electronic signatures in certain instances, it was not clear until recently whether a party must type their signature into the email or if an automatic email signature … 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
Winning a lawsuit is not enough if you cannot collect the money you were awarded because the defendant got rid of their assets before being found liable. As a result, it is important to consider the risks of this happening as part of your pre-litigation strategy. Where the danger is high, you may be able … Read more