Where negligence or other misconduct causes a death, survivors of the deceased may have a claim for wrongful death against the responsible parties. Wrongful death lawsuits can result in significant monetary awards. For instance, several wrongful death verdicts in excess of $2 million were entered in New York during 2020. However, it is important to … 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
If a property owner dies with an outstanding mortgage that is in default, the lender will likely seek to foreclose on the property. However, it must take certain steps that vary depending on the type of mortgage, what relief is sought and whether the deceased had a will disposing of the property. The lender must … 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
If you are considering filing a lawsuit, you may wonder whether you can recover the fees you pay to your attorney if you win the case. Generally, the rule is that everyone pays their own fees, absent a contract provision to the contrary. This is known as the American Rule (in contrast to the English … Read more
Employers are responsible for protecting employees from sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace under federal, New York State and New York City laws. While the business itself may be liable for the unlawful actions of its employees, generally, individuals associated with the business’s ownership or management are not personally liable under the law. This … Read more
Most people would not want a former spouse to inherit their money or have the authority to act as a fiduciary, executor, trustee, guardian, or power of attorney for them. However, if they do not review their estate planning documents after divorce, it can have unintended consequences. As discussed in a previous post, New York … Read more
Generally, defamation law prohibits someone from making a false statement of fact about a person that harms his or her reputation. Usually, a plaintiff has to prove special damages (the loss of something having economic or pecuniary value) in order to prevail. However, in a claim for defamation per se, the false statements are deemed … Read more
An insurance application typically requires applicants to answer several questions which allow the insurance company to assess whether it will provide insurance and, if so, how much it will charge. Applicants must be careful about how they respond because if they lie or make a “material misrepresentation” they risk losing coverage. It is well-settled law … Read more
Where negligence or other misconduct causes a death, survivors of the deceased may have a claim for wrongful death against the responsible parties. Wrongful death lawsuits can result in significant monetary awards. For instance, several wrongful death verdicts in excess of $2 million were entered in New York during 2020. However, it is important to … 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
If a property owner dies with an outstanding mortgage that is in default, the lender will likely seek to foreclose on the property. However, it must take certain steps that vary depending on the type of mortgage, what relief is sought and whether the deceased had a will disposing of the property. The lender must … 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
If you are considering filing a lawsuit, you may wonder whether you can recover the fees you pay to your attorney if you win the case. Generally, the rule is that everyone pays their own fees, absent a contract provision to the contrary. This is known as the American Rule (in contrast to the English … Read more
Employers are responsible for protecting employees from sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace under federal, New York State and New York City laws. While the business itself may be liable for the unlawful actions of its employees, generally, individuals associated with the business’s ownership or management are not personally liable under the law. This … Read more
Most people would not want a former spouse to inherit their money or have the authority to act as a fiduciary, executor, trustee, guardian, or power of attorney for them. However, if they do not review their estate planning documents after divorce, it can have unintended consequences. As discussed in a previous post, New York … Read more
Generally, defamation law prohibits someone from making a false statement of fact about a person that harms his or her reputation. Usually, a plaintiff has to prove special damages (the loss of something having economic or pecuniary value) in order to prevail. However, in a claim for defamation per se, the false statements are deemed … Read more
An insurance application typically requires applicants to answer several questions which allow the insurance company to assess whether it will provide insurance and, if so, how much it will charge. Applicants must be careful about how they respond because if they lie or make a “material misrepresentation” they risk losing coverage. It is well-settled law … Read more