New York Case Commentaries

Future Pain-and-Suffering Damages Do Not Require a “Permanent Injury” Finding; Unsafe Backing Under VTL § 1211(a) Is Negligence Per Se — A Second Department Benchmark on Remittitur for Post-Spinal-Surgery Claims

Date: Sep 2, 2025

Future Pain-and-Suffering Damages Do Not Require a “Permanent Injury” Finding; Unsafe Backing Under VTL § 1211(a) Is Negligence Per Se — A Second Department Benchmark on Remittitur for...

Escrow Is Not an Operating Account: First Department Clarifies Rule 1.15 and Rejects Preclusive Effect of Vacated Admonition (Matter of Edelman, 2025)

Date: Aug 22, 2025

Escrow Is Not an Operating Account: First Department Clarifies Rule 1.15 and Rejects Preclusive Effect of Vacated Admonition Introduction This commentary examines the Appellate Division, First...

No Stayed Probationary Suspensions and Narrow Nunc Pro Tunc Relief in Reciprocal Discipline: Commentary on Matter of Barocas (2025 NY Slip Op 04750)

Date: Aug 22, 2025

No Stayed Probationary Suspensions and Narrow Nunc Pro Tunc Relief in Reciprocal Discipline: Matter of Barocas (2025 NY Slip Op 04750) Introduction In Matter of Barocas (2025 NY Slip Op 04750), the...

The Excessive Fines Clause Meets Executive Law § 63(12): Appellate Division Vacates Disgorgement, Affirms Injunctive Remedies in People v. Trump

Date: Aug 22, 2025

The Excessive Fines Clause Meets Executive Law § 63(12): Appellate Division Vacates Disgorgement, Affirms Injunctive Remedies in People v. Trump Introduction People v. Trump, 2025 NY Slip Op 04756...

Self-Created Stress Is Not Mitigation for Escrow Misappropriation: Second Department Reaffirms Strict Fiduciary Standards in Matter of Bachu

Date: Aug 21, 2025

Self-Created Stress Is Not Mitigation for Escrow Misappropriation: Second Department Reaffirms Strict Fiduciary Standards in Matter of Bachu Introduction In Matter of Bachu (2025 NY Slip Op 04721),...

No Reset by Discontinuance or “Deceleration”: Second Department Applies FAPA Retroactively to Time‑Bar Mortgage Foreclosure (Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Salko)

Date: Aug 21, 2025

No Reset by Discontinuance or “Deceleration”: Second Department Applies FAPA Retroactively to Time‑Bar Mortgage Foreclosure Introduction In Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Salko (2025 NY Slip Op 04743),...

Totality-of-Circumstances Standard and Respondent’s Burden at 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(3)(iii) Hearings: Six-Month Suspension for Repeated DWI Convictions, Probation Violations, and Failure to Report (Matter of Thwaites)

Date: Aug 21, 2025

Totality-of-Circumstances Standard and Respondent’s Burden at 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(3)(iii) Hearings: Six-Month Suspension for Repeated DWI Convictions, Probation Violations, and Failure to Report...

Second Department Extends ABC Law § 55‑c “Good Cause” Protections to Oral and Implied Beer Distribution Agreements

Date: Aug 21, 2025

Second Department Extends ABC Law § 55‑c “Good Cause” Protections to Oral and Implied Beer Distribution Agreements Case: Oak Beverages, Inc. v. D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. (2025 NYSlipOp 04730) —...

DHCR Legal Rent as the Measure of Use-and-Occupancy and Strict Rent‑Stabilization Notice Compliance for Ejectment: Commentary on Esposito v. Larig (2025 NY Slip Op 04704)

Date: Aug 21, 2025

DHCR Legal Rent as the Measure of Use-and-Occupancy and Strict Rent‑Stabilization Notice Compliance for Ejectment: Commentary on Esposito v. Larig (2025 NY Slip Op 04704) Introduction Esposito v....

Pleading Religious-Discrimination Claims in NYC Vaccine-Mandate Cases: Conclusory Allegations Are Insufficient; Post-Rescission Claims Are Moot

Date: Aug 21, 2025

Pleading Religious-Discrimination Claims in NYC Vaccine-Mandate Cases: Conclusory Allegations Are Insufficient; Post-Rescission Claims Are Moot Introduction Currid v. City of New York, 2025 NY Slip...

“Watchful Waiting” as a Material Alternative in Informed Consent for YAG Vitreolysis; No Duty to Supervise a Referred Specialist — Clinkscales v. Tostanoski (2025)

Date: Aug 21, 2025

“Watchful Waiting” as a Material Alternative in Informed Consent for YAG Vitreolysis; No Duty to Supervise a Referred Specialist — Clinkscales v. Tostanoski (2025) Introduction In Clinkscales v....

Nominal Damages for Technical Trespass Are Discretionary Absent Prescriptive-Rights Risk; Landowner’s Retention of Trespasser’s Materials Constitutes Conversion — Commentary on Fairchild Corp. v. LIRR (2025 NY Slip Op 04705)

Date: Aug 21, 2025

Nominal Damages for Technical Trespass Are Discretionary Absent Prescriptive-Rights Risk; Landowner’s Retention of Trespasser’s Materials Constitutes Conversion — Commentary on Fairchild Corp. v....

RPAPL 1304 Compliance When Using Third‑Party Mailing Vendors: Tracking Numbers and RPAPL 1306 Filings Are Insufficient — Nationstar Mortgage, LLC v. Ricks

Date: Aug 21, 2025

RPAPL 1304 Compliance When Using Third‑Party Mailing Vendors: Tracking Numbers and RPAPL 1306 Filings Are Insufficient Commentary on Nationstar Mortgage, LLC v. Ricks (2025 NY Slip Op 04728,...

Gomez v. Tilden Estates, LLC: Dust on Permanent Stairs as a Potential 12 NYCRR 23-1.7(d) “Slipping Hazard,” Limits on Untimely Cross-Motions, and No Automatic §240(1) Liability for Stairway Slips

Date: Aug 21, 2025

Gomez v. Tilden Estates, LLC: Dust on Permanent Stairs as a Potential 12 NYCRR 23-1.7(d) “Slipping Hazard,” Limits on Untimely Cross-Motions, and No Automatic §240(1) Liability for Stairway Slips...

Extended-Block Visitation and IDEA “Comparable Services” Under Tropea: First Department Affirms Out‑of‑State Relocation Without Requiring Economic Necessity (Matter of Jasmine M. v. Albert M., 2025)

Date: Aug 15, 2025

Extended-Block Visitation and IDEA “Comparable Services” Under Tropea: First Department Affirms Out‑of‑State Relocation Without Requiring Economic Necessity Introduction This commentary examines the...

Prevailing “In Whole” Without Judicial Imprimatur: Third Department Adopts a Text‑Driven Catalyst Rule Under New York’s EAJA and Overrules Clarke v. Annucci

Date: Aug 15, 2025

Prevailing “In Whole” Without Judicial Imprimatur: Third Department Adopts a Text‑Driven Catalyst Rule Under New York’s EAJA and Overrules Clarke v. Annucci Case: Matter of Markey v. Tietz, 2025 NY...

Approval-as-Injury: New York Recognizes Organizational Standing to Preemptively Challenge Certified Voting Machines and Permits Recasting of Article 78 Relief

Date: Aug 15, 2025

Approval-as-Injury: New York Recognizes Organizational Standing to Preemptively Challenge Certified Voting Machines and Permits Recasting of Article 78 Relief Introduction In Matter of Common Cause...

The Three-Day Filing Rule Is Jurisdictional: First Department Vacates Neglect Finding and Declares Prolonged Removal Unlawful in Matter of Kaius A. v. Abigail H.

Date: Aug 15, 2025

The Three-Day Filing Rule Is Jurisdictional: First Department Vacates Neglect Finding and Declares Prolonged Removal Unlawful in Matter of Kaius A. v. Abigail H. Introduction This commentary examines...

Second Department Clarifies “Reasonable Time” for Substitution Under CPLR 1021 Amid Insurer Liquidation Stays: Dagastino v. Crown Container, Inc. (2025 NY Slip Op 04627)

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Second Department Clarifies “Reasonable Time” for Substitution Under CPLR 1021 Amid Insurer Liquidation Stays Dagastino v. Crown Container, Inc. (2025 NY Slip Op 04627) Introduction In Dagastino v....

Negligent Escrow Misappropriation and Failure to Reconcile Warrant Suspension Despite Remedial Steps: Commentary on Matter of Stutman (2025 NY Slip Op 04655)

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Negligent Escrow Misappropriation and Failure to Reconcile Warrant Suspension Despite Remedial Steps: Matter of Stutman Introduction Matter of Stutman (2025 NY Slip Op 04655) is a per curiam...