In a business divorce case alleging the fraudulent acquisition of shares, once the defendant established the existence of a release, plaintiff must prove it is invalid. A claim of a fiduciary relationship does not relieve plaintiff of proving that he did not release a claim that he was the victim…
In a dispute among general partners, a single verbal threat against spouse of one of the partners does not create a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, J.P. SYLVIA O. HINDS-RADIX COLLEEN D. DUFFY ANGELA G. IANNACCI, JJ. In August 2007, the plaintiff and the defendant…
An ordinary contract, even between close friends, does not create a fiduciary relationship from which a court will find an equity interest. Dominic Thomas Karipaparambil, Plaintiff-Appellant, v Robert Michael Polus et al., Defendants-Respondents. Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Jennifer G. Schecter, J.), entered March 10, 2021, dismissing…
An agreement prohibiting a former associate of a law firm from competing with his former employer within 90 miles of New York City was void and unenforceable. Solicitation of the clients of a law firm by a former associate may be actionable, even if a potential restriction on practice, in…
A former employee will violate the computer fraud and abuse act only by having unauthorized access to data, not by using data for an unauthorized purpose. Former owners or employees that access computer systems after termination may be liable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. A federal claim based…
A charging lien protects the interest of a lawyer in fee that is to be paid from a contingent-fee recovery. A statutory lien may be enforced through a petition filed in an underlying action. The amount of a charging lien, and the lawyer’s compensation, is determined using principles of quantum…
Independent Contractor, or Not … Divining the difference between the traditional employee and an independent contractor has an inherent level of uncertainty, particularly in this era of gig workers and home offices brought about by the Covid pandemic. Shortly before the end of the Trump administation, the Department of Labor…
In most lawsuits, there is a presumption that the matter will, in most circumstances, go to trial. A party involved in a dissolution action involving a closely held New York corporation needs to request a hearing, however, or risk having the matter resolved in a summary fashion. That is the…
Key employees of a company may be bound by restrictive covenants that are included in an agreement to sell the entity, but do not reference them individually. A court should consider whether the restrictive covenant of a key employee was a significant element of the transaction and necessary to protect…
A restrictive covenant that is in force during a vesting period for securities granted as part of an employee incentive program may present an issue for enforcement, if not tied to to the protection of an employer’s legitimate interest. A court considering a preliminary injunction request blue-penciled the duration of…