Preview
AndrewG. Finkelstein,P.C.(NY& NJ) (NY& MA)
D. GregBlankinship
DuncanW.Clark(NY) • JeremiahFrei-PearsonNY)
===N
GeorgeA. Kohl,II (NY& MA
Finkelstein & Partnere ==r
JohnSardesai-Grant (NY)
ElyssaM. Fried-DeRosa ( ChantalKhalil(NY)
an Y)
thB.Fanson N & THE INJURY ATTORNEYS Bra/n?MSc
AndrewL. SpŸtz Y) ScottTerrell
JamesW.Shuttleworth, lil (NY) EarlA, Kirkland I)
LawrenceD.Lissauer ) JonathanT. En el (NY) FrancesM.Bova,R.N. NY& NJ) KarenO'Brien(NY) SamiT. Ahmad(N )
DavidE.Gross NY& AshleeR.Grob NY) GustavoW.Alzugar Y) DavidStauber(NY) OlenaBall(NY)
VictoriaLiebU tcap (N & MA) KirstenSiegfrie (NY,NJ& PA) SharonA. Scanlan( CT) HowardS. Lipman( ChantelMills(NY)
AnnR.JohnsonNY& CT) PatriciaRothstein(NY) MarcS. Becker(NY) NoreenTuller,R.N. FrankR.Massaro(NY)
AlexandriaAwad(NY) AntonioS, Grillo(NY& NJ) JustinM. Cinnamon & CT) KennethG. Bartlett(CT& NJ)
EdwardM.Steves(NY) JamesH.Halpi , Jr. (NY) JonathanMinkove(NJ& MD) RobinN.D'Amore )
KaraL. Campbell(NY,NJ& CT) JenniferSafier NY& NJ) DanielDeVoe(NY) RodrigoArcuri(NY
MarieM.DuSault(NY) AnnieMa(NY NJ) CristinaL Dulav(NY& NJ) KevinD. Burgess( Y)
MelodyA. Gre (NY& CT) MichaelB.Zaransky(NY) RobertSeidner(NY) SeniorOf Counsel
Flan A ard ( yn hi . Maurer(NY& NJ) n I artnez( Y J & PA) so I nna ima aÊvÏnAndern n P C. N )
VincentJ. Pasto ) MichaelFeldman(NY& NJ) KarynaSchnall(NY) StephenR.Heath
ChristopherCamas (NY& NJ) RayeD. Futerfas(NJ) VincentJ. Rossillo(NY) PatriciaFontaine(
JeffreyM. Brody(NY) LindaArmatti(NY) PamelaThomas(NY) CarlRaffa(NY) . . FounclingPartner
MicheleM.Haber(CA) DavidAkerib(NY) DonaldA. Crouch(NY& CT) PaulD.Walker(NY) HowardS.Finkelstein.
(1933-2017)
REFER TO OUR FILE#: 115609-01
VIA EFILE
September 21, 2020
HONORABLE ROBERT M. BERLINER
Rockland County Supreme Court
1 S. Main Street
New City, NY 10956
RE: Trussell-Slutsky v. Mcilmurray, et al.
Index No.: 031137/2017
Dear Judge Berliner:
This office represents the plaintiff in the above referenced matter. This matter was
previously stayed pending the outcome of the plaintiff s appeal. On August 12, 2020 the order
from the Appellate Division, Second Department was filed, ordering a new inquest on the issue
of damages. A copy of that order is enclosed.
At this time, we are requesting that a new inquest be scheduled at the Court's earliest
convenience.
Thank you.
Respectfully yours,
FINKELSTEIN & PARTNERS, LLP
By: Michael S. Feldman, Esq.
Of Counsel
MSF/smv
cc via ECF: Michael O'Connor mpolaw@aol.com
Newbur g h • AI bany • BI nghamton • Ki ngst on • Mi ddIet own • Newar k • Poug hkee psIe • Syr acuse • Whi t e PIai ns * Madison
NPyO825X51¹¹¹¹
'²™s TURH Phone: (845) 562-0203 Fax: (845) 562-3492 www.Iawampm.Com
INDEX NO. 031137/2017
[F I LED : ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 0i712 2 0 2 0 0 4 : 0 8 PM|
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 78 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/12/2020
di!pupreme Court of the diiptate of fjleto orIt
Eppellate Bibigion: flipeconh Jubicial Bepartment
D63070
Q/afa
AD3d Submitted - April 2020
27,
dfQ
ALAN D. SCHEINKMAN, P.J.
.ROC
JEFFREY A. COHEN CL 2D
HECTOR '8 O
D. LASALLE
PAUL WOOTEN, JJ.
2019-07368 DECISION & ORDER
Meredith Trussell-Slutsky, appellant,
v Carol Mcilmurray, et al., respondents.
(Index No. 31137/17)
Finkelstein &Partners, LLP, Newburgh, NY (James W. Shuttleworth III of counsel),
for appellant.
In an action, inter alia, to recover damages for defamation per se and intentional and
negligent infliction of emotional distress, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court,
defendants'
Rockland County (Robert M. Berliner, J.), dated May 17, 2019. The order granted the
motion pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1), in effect, to vacate ajudgment entered February 7, 2019, upon
their default in appearing at an inquest on the issue of damages and upon a jury verdict in favor of
the plaintiff and against them in the principal sum of $4,058,848.40, and for a new inquest on the
issue of damages.
ORDÈRED that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
In Mai;ch 2017, the plaintiff commenced this action, inter alia, against the defendants
to recover damages for defamation per se and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional
distress. The defendants filed an answer dated June 2, 2017. By order and judgment dated
defendants'
November 15, 2018, following the failure to provide certain discovery, the Supreme
defendants'
Court struck the answer pursuant to CPLR3126 and entered judginent against them on
the issue of liability.. iThereafter, the defendants failed to appear in gourt on January 2, 2019, for a
scheduled'appearance in-the trial ¼eady part, and an inquest on the isrsue of damages was held the
next day intheit absency. On Jãüüã£y 4, 2019, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and
against the defendants, awar ling 500,000 in compensatory damages arid $3;500,000 in punitive
damages. c A judgment dated3 February 7, 2019, awarded the plaintiff thê principal sum of
$4,058;848.40 (hereidaftern judgment).
June 24, 2020 Page 1.
TRUSSELL-SLUTSKY v MCILMURRAY
1 of 2
INDEX NO. 031137/2017
F ILED : ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 0 8 /12 / 2 0 2 0 0 4 : 0 8 PM|
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 78 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/12/2020
notice of motion dated March 5, 2019, the defendants moved pursuant to CPLR
By
in to vacate the judgment and for a new inquest on the issue of damages. The
5015(a)(1), effect,
Supreme Court granted the motion, and the plaintiff appeals.
In order to vacate the judgment, the defendâñts were required to demonstrate both a
reasonable excuse for the default and a potentially meritorious defense (see CPLR 5015[a][1] ; King
v DanielShoes, Inc., 180 AD3d 883, 884; Golden v Romanowski, 128 AD3d 1009, 1009). "Whether
Court"
an excuse is reasonable is a determination within the sound discretion of the Supreme
(Walker v Mohammed, 90 AD3d 1034, 1034; see 555 Prospect Assoc., LLC v Greenwich Design &
Dev. Group Corp., 154 AD3d 909, 909).
defendants'
Here, the attorney, who had persona1knowledge ofthe facts constituting
defendants'
the proffered excuse (cf Matter ofRamos v Ramos, 174 AD3d 718, 718-719), set forth
a detailed and credible explanation for his failure to appear in court on January 2, 2019, and there
is nothing in the record to contradict his contention that he was never notified that an inquest on the
issue of damages would be held the next day. Under these circumstances, the defendants
demonstrated a reasonable excuse for the default (see Mid-Hudson Props, Inc. v Klein, 167 AD3d
862, 864; Sposito v Cutting, 165 AD3d 863, 864; Golden v Romanowski, 128 AD3d at 1010).
Furthermore, contrary to the plaintiff's contention, the defendants demonstrated a potentially
meritorious defense to the damages claimed by the plaintiff, which included a claim for punitive
defendants'
damages. Althoughthe answer was stricken, "a defaulting defendant does not admitthe
plaintiff's-conclusionas-to-dataagesrand-is-entitled-at-an-firquest to cross-examine witnesses, give
damages"
testimony, and offer proof in mitigation of (Golden v Romanowski, 128 AD3d at 1010;
see Amusement Bus. Underwriters v American Intl. Group, 66 NY2d 878, 880 ; Rokina Opt. Co. v
Camera King, 63 NY2d 728, 730-731; Def esus v H E. Broadway, Inc., 175 AD3d 1485, 1486 ;
Paulus v Christopher Vacirca, Inc., 128 AD3d 116, 126). Here, inasmuch as a defendiuit's wealth
damages"
is "material to the assessment of punitive (Matter of 91st St. Crane Collapse Litig., 154
AD3d 139, 157; see McIntyre v Manhattan Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, 256 AD2d 269, 271; Buggie v
Cutler, 222 AD2d 640, 642), the defendants were entitled to present such evidence at an inquest.
Accordingly, we agree with the Supreme Court's determination to grant the
defendants'
motion pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1), in effect, to vacate the judgment and for a new
inquest on the issue of damages.
SCHEINKMAN, P.J., COHEN, LASALLE and WOOTEN, JJ., concur.
.:-
ENTER:
SUPREME COURT. STATE 0F NEW YORK
APPELLATE DMSION SECOND DEPT. 25
I APRILÃÑNE AGOST4NO, Clerk of the Appellate Division of the Supr ,me
.
dourt, Second Judicial Departerient, donareby certif y thatIhave compmad
g
Apr ¡j
this copy with the origmal fBed in my Stice on ghat
2 4 : o
this copy is a correct tmnsenppon obad odginial Cler o
rERED
JN WITNESS 4 0 I L ovWreunto set my hand and affixed
the seabofflis Court o 0
June 24, 2020 Page 2.
TRUSSELL-SLUTSKY v MCILMURRAY
2 of 2
Preview
AndrewG. Finkelstein,P.C.(NY& NJ) (NY& MA) D. GregBlankinship DuncanW.Clark(NY) • JeremiahFrei-PearsonNY) ===N GeorgeA. Kohl,II (NY& MA Finkelstein & Partnere ==r JohnSardesai-Grant (NY) ElyssaM. Fried-DeRosa ( ChantalKhalil(NY) an Y) thB.Fanson N & THE INJURY ATTORNEYS Bra/n?MSc AndrewL. SpŸtz Y) ScottTerrell JamesW.Shuttleworth, lil (NY) EarlA, Kirkland I) LawrenceD.Lissauer ) JonathanT. En el (NY) FrancesM.Bova,R.N. NY& NJ) KarenO'Brien(NY) SamiT. Ahmad(N ) DavidE.Gross NY& AshleeR.Grob NY) GustavoW.Alzugar Y) DavidStauber(NY) OlenaBall(NY) VictoriaLiebU tcap (N & MA) KirstenSiegfrie (NY,NJ& PA) SharonA. Scanlan( CT) HowardS. Lipman( ChantelMills(NY) AnnR.JohnsonNY& CT) PatriciaRothstein(NY) MarcS. Becker(NY) NoreenTuller,R.N. FrankR.Massaro(NY) AlexandriaAwad(NY) AntonioS, Grillo(NY& NJ) JustinM. Cinnamon & CT) KennethG. Bartlett(CT& NJ) EdwardM.Steves(NY) JamesH.Halpi , Jr. (NY) JonathanMinkove(NJ& MD) RobinN.D'Amore ) KaraL. Campbell(NY,NJ& CT) JenniferSafier NY& NJ) DanielDeVoe(NY) RodrigoArcuri(NY MarieM.DuSault(NY) AnnieMa(NY NJ) CristinaL Dulav(NY& NJ) KevinD. Burgess( Y) MelodyA. Gre (NY& CT) MichaelB.Zaransky(NY) RobertSeidner(NY) SeniorOf Counsel Flan A ard ( yn hi . Maurer(NY& NJ) n I artnez( Y J & PA) so I nna ima aÊvÏnAndern n P C. N ) VincentJ. Pasto ) MichaelFeldman(NY& NJ) KarynaSchnall(NY) StephenR.Heath ChristopherCamas (NY& NJ) RayeD. Futerfas(NJ) VincentJ. Rossillo(NY) PatriciaFontaine( JeffreyM. Brody(NY) LindaArmatti(NY) PamelaThomas(NY) CarlRaffa(NY) . . FounclingPartner MicheleM.Haber(CA) DavidAkerib(NY) DonaldA. Crouch(NY& CT) PaulD.Walker(NY) HowardS.Finkelstein. (1933-2017) REFER TO OUR FILE#: 115609-01 VIA EFILE September 21, 2020 HONORABLE ROBERT M. BERLINER Rockland County Supreme Court 1 S. Main Street New City, NY 10956 RE: Trussell-Slutsky v. Mcilmurray, et al. Index No.: 031137/2017 Dear Judge Berliner: This office represents the plaintiff in the above referenced matter. This matter was previously stayed pending the outcome of the plaintiff s appeal. On August 12, 2020 the order from the Appellate Division, Second Department was filed, ordering a new inquest on the issue of damages. A copy of that order is enclosed. At this time, we are requesting that a new inquest be scheduled at the Court's earliest convenience. Thank you. Respectfully yours, FINKELSTEIN & PARTNERS, LLP By: Michael S. Feldman, Esq. Of Counsel MSF/smv cc via ECF: Michael O'Connor mpolaw@aol.com Newbur g h • AI bany • BI nghamton • Ki ngst on • Mi ddIet own • Newar k • Poug hkee psIe • Syr acuse • Whi t e PIai ns * Madison NPyO825X51¹¹¹¹ '²™s TURH Phone: (845) 562-0203 Fax: (845) 562-3492 www.Iawampm.Com INDEX NO. 031137/2017 [F I LED : ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 0i712 2 0 2 0 0 4 : 0 8 PM| NYSCEF DOC. NO. 78 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/12/2020 di!pupreme Court of the diiptate of fjleto orIt Eppellate Bibigion: flipeconh Jubicial Bepartment D63070 Q/afa AD3d Submitted - April 2020 27, dfQ ALAN D. SCHEINKMAN, P.J. .ROC JEFFREY A. COHEN CL 2D HECTOR '8 O D. LASALLE PAUL WOOTEN, JJ. 2019-07368 DECISION & ORDER Meredith Trussell-Slutsky, appellant, v Carol Mcilmurray, et al., respondents. (Index No. 31137/17) Finkelstein &Partners, LLP, Newburgh, NY (James W. Shuttleworth III of counsel), for appellant. In an action, inter alia, to recover damages for defamation per se and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, defendants' Rockland County (Robert M. Berliner, J.), dated May 17, 2019. The order granted the motion pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1), in effect, to vacate ajudgment entered February 7, 2019, upon their default in appearing at an inquest on the issue of damages and upon a jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against them in the principal sum of $4,058,848.40, and for a new inquest on the issue of damages. ORDÈRED that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements. In Mai;ch 2017, the plaintiff commenced this action, inter alia, against the defendants to recover damages for defamation per se and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The defendants filed an answer dated June 2, 2017. By order and judgment dated defendants' November 15, 2018, following the failure to provide certain discovery, the Supreme defendants' Court struck the answer pursuant to CPLR3126 and entered judginent against them on the issue of liability.. iThereafter, the defendants failed to appear in gourt on January 2, 2019, for a scheduled'appearance in-the trial ¼eady part, and an inquest on the isrsue of damages was held the next day intheit absency. On Jãüüã£y 4, 2019, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendants, awar ling 500,000 in compensatory damages arid $3;500,000 in punitive damages. c A judgment dated3 February 7, 2019, awarded the plaintiff thê principal sum of $4,058;848.40 (hereidaftern judgment). June 24, 2020 Page 1. TRUSSELL-SLUTSKY v MCILMURRAY 1 of 2 INDEX NO. 031137/2017 F ILED : ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 0 8 /12 / 2 0 2 0 0 4 : 0 8 PM| NYSCEF DOC. NO. 78 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/12/2020 notice of motion dated March 5, 2019, the defendants moved pursuant to CPLR By in to vacate the judgment and for a new inquest on the issue of damages. The 5015(a)(1), effect, Supreme Court granted the motion, and the plaintiff appeals. In order to vacate the judgment, the defendâñts were required to demonstrate both a reasonable excuse for the default and a potentially meritorious defense (see CPLR 5015[a][1] ; King v DanielShoes, Inc., 180 AD3d 883, 884; Golden v Romanowski, 128 AD3d 1009, 1009). "Whether Court" an excuse is reasonable is a determination within the sound discretion of the Supreme (Walker v Mohammed, 90 AD3d 1034, 1034; see 555 Prospect Assoc., LLC v Greenwich Design & Dev. Group Corp., 154 AD3d 909, 909). defendants' Here, the attorney, who had persona1knowledge ofthe facts constituting defendants' the proffered excuse (cf Matter ofRamos v Ramos, 174 AD3d 718, 718-719), set forth a detailed and credible explanation for his failure to appear in court on January 2, 2019, and there is nothing in the record to contradict his contention that he was never notified that an inquest on the issue of damages would be held the next day. Under these circumstances, the defendants demonstrated a reasonable excuse for the default (see Mid-Hudson Props, Inc. v Klein, 167 AD3d 862, 864; Sposito v Cutting, 165 AD3d 863, 864; Golden v Romanowski, 128 AD3d at 1010). Furthermore, contrary to the plaintiff's contention, the defendants demonstrated a potentially meritorious defense to the damages claimed by the plaintiff, which included a claim for punitive defendants' damages. Althoughthe answer was stricken, "a defaulting defendant does not admitthe plaintiff's-conclusionas-to-dataagesrand-is-entitled-at-an-firquest to cross-examine witnesses, give damages" testimony, and offer proof in mitigation of (Golden v Romanowski, 128 AD3d at 1010; see Amusement Bus. Underwriters v American Intl. Group, 66 NY2d 878, 880 ; Rokina Opt. Co. v Camera King, 63 NY2d 728, 730-731; Def esus v H E. Broadway, Inc., 175 AD3d 1485, 1486 ; Paulus v Christopher Vacirca, Inc., 128 AD3d 116, 126). Here, inasmuch as a defendiuit's wealth damages" is "material to the assessment of punitive (Matter of 91st St. Crane Collapse Litig., 154 AD3d 139, 157; see McIntyre v Manhattan Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, 256 AD2d 269, 271; Buggie v Cutler, 222 AD2d 640, 642), the defendants were entitled to present such evidence at an inquest. Accordingly, we agree with the Supreme Court's determination to grant the defendants' motion pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1), in effect, to vacate the judgment and for a new inquest on the issue of damages. SCHEINKMAN, P.J., COHEN, LASALLE and WOOTEN, JJ., concur. .:- ENTER: SUPREME COURT. STATE 0F NEW YORK APPELLATE DMSION SECOND DEPT. 25 I APRILÃÑNE AGOST4NO, Clerk of the Appellate Division of the Supr ,me . dourt, Second Judicial Departerient, donareby certif y thatIhave compmad g Apr ¡j this copy with the origmal fBed in my Stice on ghat 2 4 : o this copy is a correct tmnsenppon obad odginial Cler o rERED JN WITNESS 4 0 I L ovWreunto set my hand and affixed the seabofflis Court o 0 June 24, 2020 Page 2. TRUSSELL-SLUTSKY v MCILMURRAY 2 of 2