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  • Robert Harris v. Intimo, Inc., Nathan Nathan, Tommy Nathan, Moris Zilkha, Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, Prestige Employee Administrators Ii, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, John Does 1 - 10, Abc Corps. 1 - 8 Commercial - Contract document preview
  • Robert Harris v. Intimo, Inc., Nathan Nathan, Tommy Nathan, Moris Zilkha, Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, Prestige Employee Administrators Ii, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, John Does 1 - 10, Abc Corps. 1 - 8 Commercial - Contract document preview
  • Robert Harris v. Intimo, Inc., Nathan Nathan, Tommy Nathan, Moris Zilkha, Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, Prestige Employee Administrators Ii, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, John Does 1 - 10, Abc Corps. 1 - 8 Commercial - Contract document preview
  • Robert Harris v. Intimo, Inc., Nathan Nathan, Tommy Nathan, Moris Zilkha, Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, Prestige Employee Administrators Ii, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, John Does 1 - 10, Abc Corps. 1 - 8 Commercial - Contract document preview
  • Robert Harris v. Intimo, Inc., Nathan Nathan, Tommy Nathan, Moris Zilkha, Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, Prestige Employee Administrators Ii, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, John Does 1 - 10, Abc Corps. 1 - 8 Commercial - Contract document preview
  • Robert Harris v. Intimo, Inc., Nathan Nathan, Tommy Nathan, Moris Zilkha, Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, Prestige Employee Administrators Ii, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, John Does 1 - 10, Abc Corps. 1 - 8 Commercial - Contract document preview
  • Robert Harris v. Intimo, Inc., Nathan Nathan, Tommy Nathan, Moris Zilkha, Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, Prestige Employee Administrators Ii, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, John Does 1 - 10, Abc Corps. 1 - 8 Commercial - Contract document preview
  • Robert Harris v. Intimo, Inc., Nathan Nathan, Tommy Nathan, Moris Zilkha, Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, Prestige Employee Administrators Ii, Inc. A/K/A Prestige Employee Administrators, John Does 1 - 10, Abc Corps. 1 - 8 Commercial - Contract document preview
						
                                

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FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 Exhibit N, Harris Brief in Opposition to Prestige's Motion for Summary Judgment SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK --------------------------------------------------------------------------X ROBERT HARRIS, Plaintiff designates New York County as the Place of Trial Basis of Venue is Plaintiff, Location of Relevant Events Index No. 650175/2017 vs. Date Purchased 1/10/2017 INTIMO, INC., NATHAN NATHAN individually, TOMMY NATHAN, individually, MORIS ZILKHA, individually, PRESTIGE EMPLOYEE ADMINISTRATORS, INC. a/k/a PRESTIGE EMPLOYEE ADMINISTRATORS, PRESTIGE EMPLOYEE ADMINISTRATORS II, INC. a/k/a PRESTIGE EMPLOYEE ADMINISTRATORS and JOHN DOES 1-10, and ABC CORPS. 1-8, fictitious names for persons or entities whose present roles and identities are unknown, Defendants. --------------------------------------------------------------------------X PLAINTIFF’S MEMORANDUM OF LAW OPPOSING THE PRESTIGE DEFENDANTS MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGEMENT MEYERS FRIED-GRODIN, LLP Empire State Building 350 Fifth Avenue, 59th Floor New York, NY 10118 Phone: (646) 596-1292 E-mail: JMeyers@MfgLegal.com Attorneys for Plaintiff Robert Harris Of Counsel and on the Brief: Jonathan Meyers, Esq. 1 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE PRELIMINARY STATEMENT .....................................................................................................1 PROCEDURAL HISTORY.............................................................................................................2 COUNTER STATEMENT OF FACTS RELEVANT TO THIS MOTION ...................................3 LEGAL ARGUMENT .....................................................................................................................5 I. BECAUSE MATERIAL FACT ISSUES EXIST AS TO WHETHER THE PRESTIGE DEFENDANTS WERE PLAINTIFF’S EMPLOYER, THEIR MOTION MUST BE DENIED ...........................................................................................5 II. THE NEW YORK PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ACT DOES NOT ALLOW PRESTIGE TO ESCAPE LIABILITY ................................................................5 III. PLAINTIFF’S JOINT EMPLOYER CLAIMS AGAINST THE PRESTIGE DEFENDANTS ARE VIABLE ………………………………………………………..…6 A. The Prestige Defendants Explicitly Admit they Were Plaintiff’s Employer ...........7 B. The Prestige Defendants Had Sufficient Authority and Control Over Plaintiff to Be Considered His Joint Employer........................................................7 C. Plaintiff’s Other Claims Against the Prestige Defendants Are Proper ....................9 1. Insofar as the Prestige Defendants Were Plaintiff’s Employer, They Are Equally Liable as Intimo on Plaintiff’s Other Claims .............................................9 2. The Other Claims Are Not Subject to Dismissal on a “Duplicativness” Basis .........................................................................................................................9 VI. SUMMARY JUDGMENT CANNOT BE GRANTED BECAUSE DISCOVERY IS NOT COMPLETE…………………………………………………… …………………10 CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………..……11 i 2 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 PRELIMINARY STATEMENT Plaintiff Robert Harris opposes the summary judgment motion filed by Defendants Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc. a/k/a Prestige Employee Administrators’ and Prestige Employee Administrators II, Inc. a/k/a Prestige Employee Administrators’ (the “Prestige Defendants”). Material issues of fact exist as to whether the Prestige Defendants were Plaintiff’s joint employer, along with the other Defendants (the “Intimo Defendants”). To begin with, while New York does have a Professional Employers Organization statute, that Act does not shield PEOs of liability or prohibit application of a joint employer theory to PEOs. Next, the Prestige Defendants prepared documents explicitly stating that Plaintiff is their employee. One document the Prestige Defendants had Plaintiff sign states: “I Robert Harris, an employee of Prestige Administrators, Inc. hereby authorize the employer to deduct from my wages for contribution for benefits . . .” Additionally, the Employee Handbook promulgated by the Prestige Defendants states about Intimo and Prestige: “Both are your employers.” (emphasis added). And at his deposition, the Prestige Corporate Representative admitted that Plaintiff was employed by Prestige. Moreover, in its Service Agreement with Intimo, Prestige obtained control and authority over the employees. Either Prestige was Plaintiff’s employer, or it wasn’t. If it was, then it is equally as liable as Intimo, to Plaintiff. Indeed, Prestige benefited from Plaintiff’s work. Here, there is an abundance of evidence showing that the Prestige Defendants were Plaintiff’s employer. This creates a material fact issue for a jury. Accordingly, the Prestige Defendants’ summary judgment motion must be denied. 1 3 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 PROCEDURAL HISTORY On January 10, 2017, Plaintiff filed the Summons and Complaint that initiated the instant lawsuit. See Exhibit M to Prestige Moving Aff. at ¶ 59. 1 On February 10, 2017, the Intimo Defendants filed a motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint in its entirety for Failure to State a Claim for Which Relief Can Be Granted Pursuant to CPLR §3211(a)(7). That motion was denied in part and granted in part, as set forth in the Court’s Decision and Order dated December 12, 2018. Subsequently, Plaintiff filed a Notice of Appeal, dated January 6, 2020, aimed at appealing the portions of the Order that dismissed some of Plaintiff’s substantive claims. On April 23, 2019, Plaintiff and the Intimo Defendants entered into a Stipulation and Order permitting Plaintiff to amend his Complaint to add the Prestige Defendants into the case. On May 28, 2019, the Court signed that Stipulation and Order. On June 4, 2019 Employee Administrators, Inc. a/k/a Prestige Employee Administrators was served with the Summons and Amended Complaint on June 4, 2019. In lieu of filing an Answer, on July 24, 2019, the Prestige Defendants filed motion aimed at dismissing Plaintiff’s Complaint as against them. On November 21, 2019, the Prestige Defendants withdrew that motion. Both the Prestige Defendants and Intimo Defendants have failed to provide important discovery. Therefore, on September 3, 2019, Plaintiff filed a motion to compel discovery aimed at the Intimo Defendants. That motion has been fully submitted and a decision remains pending. Additionally, following depositions and issues raised therein, on December 30, 2019, Plaintiff filed another motion to compel discovery aimed at both the Prestige Defendants and the Intimo Defendants. That motion remains pending. 1 “Prestige Moving Aff.” Refers to the Affidavit of Prestige’s counsel, dated January 17, 2020, submitted as part of their summary judgment moving papers. 2 4 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 COUNTER STATEMENT OF FACTS RELEVANT TO THIS MOTION The following is a summary of the factual background relevant to this motion: A. The Prestige Defendants Had an Express Right of Direction and Control Over Plaintiff Including Hiring, Firing and Disciplinary Authority In Prestige’s Service Agreement with Intimo, Prestige was expressly granted the right of direction and control over employees (including Plaintiff). It states: Prestige shall have sufficient authority as may be required be any applicable law so as to maintain a right of direction and control over assigned employees assigned to client’s location and shall retain such such authority to hire, terminate, discipline, and reassign assigned employees. Exhibit G to Prestige Moving Aff. at p.2. Additionally, the Service Agreement calls for Prestige to pay employees and to “maintain necessary records and comply with reporting procedures. . .” Ibid. B. The Prestige Defendants Explicitly Held Themselves Out as Plaintiff’s Employer In the Intimo Defendants’ interrogatory answers, the Intimo Defendants identify Plaintiff’s employers as being – in addition to Intimo – “Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc.” Meyers Aff. at ¶¶ 5-7 and Exhibits C & D thereto. 2 At his deposition, Prestige’s Corporate Representative admitted that the Employee Handbook given to Plaintiff states that both Intimo and Prestige were his employers. And he specifically testified: “In the co-employment relationship, yes, legally we are both employers.” Exh. B to Meyers Aff. at 28:14-29:11. Additionally, on or about March 7, 2019, the Intimo Defendants produced documents concerning Plaintiff which include documents that look to be of the kind ordinarily found in an employee’s 2 “Meyers Aff.” refers to the opposition certification of Jonathan Meyers, Esq., dated January 27, 2020. 3 5 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 personnel file. While some of those documents bear the name “Intimo, Inc.” on them, others identify Prestige Employee Administrators. Meyers Aff. at ¶¶ 8-15 & Exhibits E through J thereto. For example, one document produced by the Intimo Defendants is entitled “Prestige Employee Administrators Employee Termination Report” which reads “Employee : Robert Harris” Exhibit E to Meyers Aff. Another such example is document entitled “Prestige Employee Administrators Application for Employment” which was completed by Plaintiff. Exhibit F to Meyers Aff. Yet another example is document entitled “Prestige Employee Administrators Employee Authorization & Waiver” which states: “I Robert Harris, an employee of Prestige Administrators, Inc. hereby authorize the employer to deduct from my wages for contribution for benefits (i.e. group health insurance, group dental insurance, life insurance, 401(k) etc.). Exhibit G to Meyers Aff. (emphasis added). And another example is document entitled “Prestige Employee Administrators COBRA Notice Acknowledgement Form” which identifies Robert Harris as “Employee.” Exhibit H to Meyers Aff. Additionally, there is the document entitled “Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc. For Intimo, Inc. Employee Handbook” which states: “This Handbook was developed by Prestige for the utilization of Intimo, Inc. Prestige and the Company are co-employers. In a co-employment relationship, duties and responsibilities are allocated between Prestige and the Company. Both are your employers.” See Exhibit I to Meyers Aff. at page Bates numbered DEF000095. Plaintiff signed an acknowledgement of the aforementioned handbook. Exhibit J to Meyers Aff. C. Plaintiff Understood Prestige to Be His Employer Based upon representations made by the Prestige Employers, Plaintiff understood the Prestige Defendants to be his employer. He testified: 4 6 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 I was hired by Nathan, and three months after that, as I’m reminded after looking at these documents, Prestige became a co-employer, joint employer, and they handled my paycheck, it was drafted by them, it had their name on it. I viewed them as a joint employer. Exh. A to Meyers Aff. at 229:16-230:5. LEGAL ARGUMENT I. BECAUSE MATERIAL FACT ISSUES EXIST AS TO WHETHER THE PRESTIGE DEFENDANTS WERE PLAINTIFF’S EMPLOYER, THEIR MOTION MUST BE DENIED Summary judgment is a “drastic remedy” and can be gratned only where no material or triable issue of fact exists. Alvarez v. Prospect Hosp., 68 N.Y.2d 320, 324, 508 N.Y.S.2d 923 (1986); Mandelos v. Karavasidis, 86 N.Y.2d 767, 768-69 (1995). The movant must come forward with evidence “sufficien[t] to warrant the court as a matter of law in directing judgment.” CPLR 3212(b). The Court must draw all reasonable inference in favor of the non-movant/Plaintiff. See, e.g., Negri v. Stop & Shop, Inc., 65 N.Y.2d 625, 626, 491 N.Y.S.2d 151 (1985). “A motion for summary judgment ‘should not be greanted where the facts are in dispute, where conflicting inferences may be drawn from the evidence, or where there are issues of credibility.” Here, the record is rife with facts indicating that – in addition Intimo – the Prestige Defendants were also Plaintiff’s employer. Accordingly, summary judgment should be denied. II. THE NEW YORK PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ACT DOES NOT ALLOW PRESTIGE TO ESCAPE LIABILITY The Prestige Defendants largely hang their arguments on the New York Professional Employer Act (NYLL §§ 915 through 924). However, there is nothing in the statute holding that a professional employer organization (“PEO”) is immune from liability to employees under the NYLL. Niether does the statute state that a PEO is not an employee’s employer by virtue of being a PEO. And the statute places no limitations upon holding a PEO liable to an employee, jointly with the PEO’s client company. 5 7 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 To the contrary, “. . .the statute, in a general sense, confers joint employment status on the PEO and its client . . .” Matter of Robsonwoese, Inc., 42 A.D.3d 774, 840 N.Y.S.2d 638 (3rd Dep't 2007)(emphasis added). Prestige may wish that the PEO Act immunizes it from liability from employees, but it does not. In sum, the PEO Act has no bearing on the case at bar. III. PLAINTIFF’S JOINT EMPLOYER CLAIMS AGAINST THE PRESTIGE DEFENDANTS ARE VIABLE Plaintiff Harris has viable claims for unpaid wages/commissions under under breach of contract and related causes of action. These claims are properly brought against the Prestige Defendants because they (and Intimo) were joint employers of Plaintiff. 3 To employ, is defined as to “suffer or permit to work.” 29 U.S.C. § 203(g). See Jimenez v. Concepts of Indep., Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 30257 at p. *3 (U) (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2018)(the NYLL follows the same “suffer or permit” definition). Similarly, the NYLL broadly defines employer as: “‘Employer’ includes any person, corporation, limitied liability company, or association employing any individual in any occupation, industry, trade, business or service.” NYLL § 190(3). See also, Jimenez at p. *3, noting the breadth of the definition. Here, it is undisputed that Plaintiff performed work with the permission of both the Intimo and Prestige Defendants. Both Intimo and Prestige had the requiste authority and control to be Plaintiff’s employer -- and both held themselves out as being his employer. Those representations cannot be 3 Plaintiff does not oppose the Prestige Defendants’ request for dismissal of his claims against Prestige for age discrimination and retaliation under the New York City Human Rights Law and New York State Human Rights Law. Following certain discovery, Plaintiff agreed to stipulate to the withdrawal of those age/retaliation claims agsinst the Prestige Defendants. 6 8 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 glossed over as mere fictions. They must count for something. Otherwise, the law would be supporting a deceptive ruse. A. The Prestige Defendants Explicitly Admit they Were Plaintiff’s Employer The Prestige Defendants admit that they are employers (along with Intimo) of Plaintiff. The Prestige/Intimo Employee Handbook outright states it. See Exhibit I to Meyers Aff. at page Bates numbered DEF000095. The Intimo Defendants similarly state that Prestige was also an employer of Plaintiff. See Exhibits C & D to Meyers Aff. (at rog answer 34). The cover of the Employee Handbook bear Prestige’s logo and then repeats its name and then lists Intimo’s name. It is therefore only reasonable for the reader of the handbook to assume that both the Intimo Defendants and Prestige Defendants had the authority and control over the many areas of control over his work that are addressed in the Employee Handbook. Those areas of control include: Code of Conduct (page 8), Attendance (page 15), Discipline (page 9), Performance Reviews (page 16), Separation from Employment (page 26), etc. In light of this, it is hardly surprising that Plaintiff believed he was jointly employed by both Intimo and Prestige. Even Prestige’s Corporate Representative admitted that Prestige was an employer of Plaintiff. These admissions are conclusive. B. The Prestige Defendants Had Sufficient Authority and Control Over Plaintiff to Be Considered His Joint Employer Even if the Prestige Defendants had not admitted being Plaintiff’s employer, the control and authority they had, render them his joint employers. As a threshold matter, itis not dispositive that Mr. Harris reported to Intimo’s Nathan Nathan and considered Mr. Nathan to be his boss. The definition of “employer” is “expansive.” Zavala v. 411 7 9 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 Holbrook Inc., 2017 NY Slip Op 30434 at p. *3 (U) (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2017). Indeed, it is not necessary for a company to exercise control and authority over the plaintiff to impute an employer/employee relationship. It is enough for the company to simply possess that power. Id. at p. *4. For these reasons, the Zavala court refused to grant summary judgment in a case similar to the one at bar. See also Brankov v. Hazzard, 142 A.D.3d 445 (1st Dep’t 2016)(of the factors to consider “the extent of the employers right to control the employee is most important and, if established, the other factors “are then of marginal importance”). Here, it is undisputed that the Prestige Defendants’ agreement with Intimo gave Prestige the power over the very points that establish joint employer liability – namely, control and authority over hiring and firing, discipline, and transfer. Exhibit G to Prestige Moving Aff. at p.2. Notably, the Employee Handbook does not state that the Prestige Defendants lack the authority and control over these issues with respect to Plaintiff. Indeed, it was Prestige that issued Plaintiff his written termination notice. See Exhibit 4 to Meyers Aff. And it was Prestige that issued a job application with its logo on it to Plaintiff. See Exhibit 5 to Meyers Aff. This projects hiring and firing authority on Prestige’s part. Accordingly, just as the Zavala court denied summary judgment, so too should the Court here. The primarily relief Plaintiff seeks here is under a theory of breach of contract. However, just because Plaintif and Nathan Nathan entered into that agreement does not excuse the Prestige Defendants from liability. Either Prestige was a joint employer of Plaintiff or itwas not. If it was, then Nathan Nathan acted with apparent authority to bind Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s employer to the contract. See, e.g., Scharf v. Idaho Farmer’s Market, Inc., 115 A.D.3d 500, 501 (1st Dep’t 2014); and Gonzalez v. Beacon Terminal Associates L.P., 48 A.D.3d 518, 520 (2nd Dep’t 2008)(apparent authority creates fact issue precluding summary judgment). 8 10 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 Morever, the Prestige Defendants benefited from the contract. Prestige was paid by Intimo to be Plaintiff’s employer. Prestige cannot enjoy the fruits of that contract and then walk away from it after it has been breached. See HTRF Ventures, LLC v. Permasteelisa N. Am. Corp., 2019 NY Slip Op 32095(U) (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2019). C. Plaintiff’s Other Claims Against the Prestige Defendants Are Proper 1. Insofar as the Prestige Defendants Were Plaintiff’s Employer, They Are Equally Liable as Intimo on Plaintiff’s Other Claims Plaintiff’s fraud and promissory estoppel claims are based upon similar justifications as his breach of contract claim and those jusitifcations preclude summary judgment being granted as to them. Next, Plaintiff’s unjust enrichment claim allows for recovery where “broad considerations of equity and justice” exist. Andersen ex rel. Ansersen, Weinroth & Co., L.P. v. Weinroth, 849 N.Y.S.2d 210, 222 (1st Dep’t 2007). Here, equitable principles allow Plaintiff to recover from Prestige. This is the only result that would be fair, given that Prestige held itself out as Plaintiff’s employer. Additionally, the fruits of Plaintiff’s unpaid efforts indirectly benefitted Presitge. By Plaintiff providing his efforts to Intimo, it allowed Intimo to thrive as a business and thereby be able to pay Prestige for its PEO services. Plaintiff’s quantum meruit claims are governed by similar equitable principles and they compel the same result. 2. The Other Claims Are Not Subject to Dismissal on a “Duplicativness” Basis Although Plaintiff has a pending claim for breach of contract, he is still permitted to maintain alternative claims. “Causes of action may be stated alternatively or hypothetically.” CPLR R 3014. “Undeniably, a plaintiff is entitled to advance inconsistent theories in allegeing a right to recovery.” Cohn v. Lionel Corp., 21 N.Y.2d 559, 563, 289 N.Y.S.2d 404, 408 (1968). Mr. Harris’ other claims are all pled in the alternative and therefore are not subject to disissal. 9 11 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 For example, see Joseph Sternberg, Inc. v. Wal-ber 36th Street Assoc., 187 A.D.2d 225, 594 N.Y.S.2d 144 (1st Dep’t 1993). There, in a case involving an unpaid commission, the Court upheld alternative causes of action based on contract and quatum meruit: In this State where a litigant fails to establish the right to recover upon an express contract he may, in the same action, recover in quantum meruit. [Citations omitted]. If warranted by the pleadings and proof, the case may be submitted to a jury on both theories and an election need not be made. [Citations omitted]." (Supra, 305 N.Y. at 73, 111 N.E.2d 209; see also, Byrne v. Gillies Co., 144 App.Div. 677, 129 N.Y.S. 602, Walar v. Rechnitz, 126 App.Div. 424, 110 N.Y.S. 777). Thus, it appears that where there is a bona fide dispute as to the existence of a contract or where the contract does not cover the dispute in issue, plaintiff may proceed upon a theory of quantum meruit and will not be required to elect his or her remedies. Id. at 146. Similarly in the recent Man Advisors, Inc. v. Selkoe, 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 05483 (1st Dept. July 9, 2019) the First Department reversed the dismissal of a fraudulent inducement cause of action that the trial court dismissed on the ground of “duplicativeness” of a breach of contract claim. Here the Intimo Defendants dispute whether there is a contact in existence between them and Mr. Harris. Indeed, they moved (unsuccessfully) to dismiss Mr. Harris’ breach of contract claim on their original motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. The Intimo Defendants will seek to dismiss the contract claim again on a summary judgement motion. The Man Advisors and Joseph Sternberg decisions aim at avoiding a total loss of remedy for a plaintiff like Mr. Harris – should his breach of contract claim ultimately be dismissed on a summary judgment motion. Accordingly, summary judgment cannot be granted. IV. SUMMARY JUDGMENT CANNOT BE GRANTED BECAUSE DISCOVERY IS NOT COMPLETE Where discovery is not complete, a party may not obtain a grant of summary judgment. See CPLR § 3212(f) and, e.g., De France v. Oestrike, 187 N.Y.S.2d 186, 8 A.D.2d 735 (2nd Dep’t 1959). 10 12 of 13 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 12:37 04:16 PM INDEX NO. 650175/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 192 229 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/27/2020 02/10/2020 Here, the Prestige Defendants have not complied with their discovery obligations. A motion aimed at compelling their outstanding discovery is currently pending. CONCLUSION Material issues of fact exist as to whether the Prestige Defendants were Plaintiff’s joint employer (along with the Intimo Defendants). Again and again Prestige represented itself to Plaintiff as being his employer. In its Service Agreement with Intimo, Prestige staked out control and authority over the employees. Prestige’s Corporate Representative even admitted that Presitge employed Plaintiff. Accordingly, the Prestige Defendants’ summary judgment motion must be denied. MEYERS FRIED-GRODIN, LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff Robert Harris By: ____________________________________ Dated: January 27, 2020 Jonathan Meyers, Esq. Empire State Building 350 Fifth Avenue, 59th Floor New York, NY 10118 Phone: (646) 596-1292 E-mail: JMeyers@MfgLegal.com Attorneys for Plaintiff Robert Harris 11 13 of 13