News & Insights

  • Malpractice

    CAN A PROFESSIONAL BE LIABLE FOR MALPRACTICE WITHOUT A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP?

    Malpractice arises when a professional (doctor, lawyer, etc.) with a duty of care to a party acts in a negligent manner that causes harm to that party. Typically, the duty of care arises because there is a direct contractual relationship between the parties – that is, the plaintiff hired the defendant. However, in a recent … Read more

  • internal affairs

    Choice of Law in Lawsuits Involving the Internal Affairs of a Foreign Corporation

    When a party brings an action against a foreign corporation (i.e., a corporation organized in another country or state), there will be a choice of law issue for the court. Any time a lawsuit implicates the substantive laws of more than one jurisdiction, a court must determine which jurisdiction’s law is most appropriate to resolve … Read more

  • Nuisance

    When Can You Sue for a Public or Private Nuisance?

    When someone else’s conduct negatively impacts the use and enjoyment of your property, you may have a claim for nuisance. There are two types of nuisance actions: public nuisance and private nuisance. Each has its own requirements to establish a valid claim which varies significantly. A private nuisance action is a suit by an individual … Read more

  • New York City

    NEW YORK CITY PROTECTS PERSONAL GUARANTORS OF COMMERCIAL LEASES IN COVID-19 DEFAULTS

    On May 26, 2020, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio signed a new law addressing the liability of personal guarantors for the debts of commercial tenants that defaulted due to COVID-19. Governor Andrew Cuomo had previously issued Executive Orders which prohibited the imposition of late charges and temporarily halted evictions of commercial tenants. As a … Read more

  • COVID-19

    COVID-19 Legal Changes in New York: A Review of Executive Orders

    In New York, COVID-19 has resulted in a number of temporary changes in the law. Since Governor Cuomo declared a state of emergency and enacted the New York PAUSE Act, he has issued a long list of executive orders which in part, have modified and stayed various legal provisions. Some of the executive orders have … Read more

  • New York

    Common Pitfalls When Making a New York FOIL Request for Government Records

    Freedom of information laws gives the public the right to request access to government records. The New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) is based on the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The goal of both laws is to allow for more transparency in government by requiring disclosure of requested documentation and records … Read more

  • NEIGHBORING PROPERTY

    CAN YOU SUE A NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNER TO STOP THEIR CONSTRUCTION?

    Before a party can sue in court for anything, he or she must have the standing to bring the lawsuit. To establish standing, a party must demonstrate a sufficient personal connection to and harm from the law or action challenged to support that party’s participation in the case. Essentially, courts want to know that a … Read more

  • Liability

    Apportioning Liability to a Party Who Is Judgment Proof

    When multiple parties may be responsible for an injury to a plaintiff, a common issue is apportioning liability among the parties. Typically, the evidence is presented to establish each party’s relative percentage of responsibility for causing the injury. However, this can be complicated when one of the responsible parties is judgment proof. A party may … Read more

  • debtor

    DEBTOR AVOIDS PAYING MORTGAGE BECAUSE OF LENDER’S DELAY IN PURSUING FORECLOSURE

    When a debtor defaults on a mortgage, the lender must commence an action for foreclosure within the statute of limitations. In New York, the statute of limitations is six years and it starts running upon the acceleration of the debt following a default in payment. Essentially, when a debtor defaults, the lender “accelerates” the mortgage … Read more

  • disabled

    ADA Does Not Protect Employees from Stress Caused by the Employer or Supervisor

    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects individuals who are disabled (or considered to be disabled) from discrimination in a variety of contexts. In the employment arena, it applies to employers who have 15 or more employees. While it encompasses a wide range of physical or mental impairments, there are limitations in who is considered … Read more

CAN A PROFESSIONAL BE LIABLE FOR MALPRACTICE WITHOUT A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP?

Malpractice

Malpractice arises when a professional (doctor, lawyer, etc.) with a duty of care to a party acts in a negligent manner that causes harm to that party. Typically, the duty of care arises because there is a direct contractual relationship between the parties – that is, the plaintiff hired the defendant. However, in a recent … Read more

Choice of Law in Lawsuits Involving the Internal Affairs of a Foreign Corporation

internal affairs

When a party brings an action against a foreign corporation (i.e., a corporation organized in another country or state), there will be a choice of law issue for the court. Any time a lawsuit implicates the substantive laws of more than one jurisdiction, a court must determine which jurisdiction’s law is most appropriate to resolve … Read more

When Can You Sue for a Public or Private Nuisance?

Nuisance

When someone else’s conduct negatively impacts the use and enjoyment of your property, you may have a claim for nuisance. There are two types of nuisance actions: public nuisance and private nuisance. Each has its own requirements to establish a valid claim which varies significantly. A private nuisance action is a suit by an individual … Read more

NEW YORK CITY PROTECTS PERSONAL GUARANTORS OF COMMERCIAL LEASES IN COVID-19 DEFAULTS

New York City

On May 26, 2020, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio signed a new law addressing the liability of personal guarantors for the debts of commercial tenants that defaulted due to COVID-19. Governor Andrew Cuomo had previously issued Executive Orders which prohibited the imposition of late charges and temporarily halted evictions of commercial tenants. As a … Read more

Common Pitfalls When Making a New York FOIL Request for Government Records

New York

Freedom of information laws gives the public the right to request access to government records. The New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) is based on the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The goal of both laws is to allow for more transparency in government by requiring disclosure of requested documentation and records … Read more

CAN YOU SUE A NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNER TO STOP THEIR CONSTRUCTION?

NEIGHBORING PROPERTY

Before a party can sue in court for anything, he or she must have the standing to bring the lawsuit. To establish standing, a party must demonstrate a sufficient personal connection to and harm from the law or action challenged to support that party’s participation in the case. Essentially, courts want to know that a … Read more

Apportioning Liability to a Party Who Is Judgment Proof

Liability

When multiple parties may be responsible for an injury to a plaintiff, a common issue is apportioning liability among the parties. Typically, the evidence is presented to establish each party’s relative percentage of responsibility for causing the injury. However, this can be complicated when one of the responsible parties is judgment proof. A party may … Read more

DEBTOR AVOIDS PAYING MORTGAGE BECAUSE OF LENDER’S DELAY IN PURSUING FORECLOSURE

debtor

When a debtor defaults on a mortgage, the lender must commence an action for foreclosure within the statute of limitations. In New York, the statute of limitations is six years and it starts running upon the acceleration of the debt following a default in payment. Essentially, when a debtor defaults, the lender “accelerates” the mortgage … Read more

ADA Does Not Protect Employees from Stress Caused by the Employer or Supervisor

disabled

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects individuals who are disabled (or considered to be disabled) from discrimination in a variety of contexts. In the employment arena, it applies to employers who have 15 or more employees. While it encompasses a wide range of physical or mental impairments, there are limitations in who is considered … Read more