Monthly Archives: August 2023

Patron Injured at Drake/Live Nation Concert at Madison Square Garden

Posted on August 28, 2023 | Comments Off on Patron Injured at Drake/Live Nation Concert at Madison Square Garden

Was Live Nation/MSG Liable for Bottle Thrown from Crowd?

Amanda Giovacco, an audience member, alleged that she was injured while attending a concert at Madison Square Garden. Aubrey Drake was the featured performer. Giovacco was hit in the head by an aluminum bottle thrown from the crowd. Litigation ensued. MSG and Live Nation moved to dismiss the complaint. Giovacco moved for summary judgment.

Live Nation, as promoter and producer of the concert, entered into an agreement with Drake’s production company, Away From Home Touring, Inc. The contract required Live Nation to provide security for the event. Live Nation also entered into a license agreement with MSG, the owner and operator of the Garden. Pursuant to the license agreement, Live Nation was allowed to use the arena for the concert and MSG was to provide security officers for the event.

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Posted in Litigation, New York Law, Personal Injury

Commercial Landlord and Tenant Exchanged Drafts of Amended Lease

Posted on August 22, 2023 | Comments Off on Commercial Landlord and Tenant Exchanged Drafts of Amended Lease

Was Landlord Estopped from Asserting That No Binding Agreement Was Made?

In March 2021, Odonata Ltd., the tenant/operator of a hair salon, notified its landlord, Baja 137 LLC, that it would be surrendering the leased premises effective July 7, 2021, a month before the lease was due to expire, because it could no longer afford the rent. In response, Baja offered to forgive certain rent and late fees. And Baja advised Odonata that it would consider a third modification to the lease, at a lesser rent and on more favorable terms, stating that Odonata had been a “great” tenant. Odonata replied that it had already found new spaces at lower base rents and that it was prepared to move. And Odonata then presented Baja with a counteroffer of an even lower base rent and other more favorable terms, stating that it was more in line with “generous” offers it had received from other property owners. Baja acknowledged receipt of the counteroffer and advised Odonata that it would provide a “formal reply” to its counteroffer and that it was subject to a lease amendment signed by both parties.

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Posted in Landlord-Tenant, Litigation, New York Law, Real Estate

Elderly Aunt Changes Beneficiary of $6 Million Account

Posted on August 18, 2023 | Comments Off on Elderly Aunt Changes Beneficiary of $6 Million Account

Did Favored Niece Exercise Undue Influence?

Paul Salitsky alleged in his complaint that, in December 2019, Karen D’Attanasio used undue influence or fraud to induce his elderly aunt to execute a form changing the designated beneficiary of a $6 million account from Salitsky to D’Attansio or that she forged his aunt’s signature on the form. The aunt passed away in January 2021. D’Attanasio moved to dismiss several of the claims asserted in the complaint. Supreme Court granted the motion. Salitsky appealed.

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Posted in Litigation, New York Law, Trusts & Estates, Wills

Property Owner Driving Excavator/Felling Timber Hits Worker Cutting Stump

Posted on August 14, 2023 | Comments Off on Property Owner Driving Excavator/Felling Timber Hits Worker Cutting Stump

Was Equipment Operator Negligent/Liable for Causing Injury?

Garrett Hickey and another person were assisting Paul Regalbuto in felling trees on Regalbuto’s property and then cutting the timber for firewood. Regalbuto was directing the two men with regard to the work being done. Regalbuto was operating an excavator and, once a tree had been cut down, Regalbuto used the excavator to move the tree to a pile where it was then cut into firewood.

The excavator cab could rotate 360 degrees and, on at least some occasions, Regalbuto was facing in the opposite direction of the way the excavator was moving. While picking up and moving one of the felled trees, he struck Hickey with the excavator. Hickey had apparently stopped behind the excavator to cut a stump down closer to ground level. Hickey testified that Regalbuto had specifically directed him to cut the stump flush to the ground. But Regalbuto testified that he was unaware that Hickey was behind the excavator and cutting the stump. 

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Posted in Litigation, New York Law, Real Estate

Cinco De Mayo Celebrant Hit Crossing Street Leaving Bar

Posted on August 10, 2023 | Comments Off on Cinco De Mayo Celebrant Hit Crossing Street Leaving Bar

Was Tavern Liable for Failure to Maintain Safe Passage?
Scene set: A bar patron was hit by a car while crossing a highway after attending a Cinco De Mayo celebration. The patron sued the bar for failure to maintain safe passage. After issue was joined and depositions were taken, the bar moved for summary judgment.

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Posted in Litigation, New York Law

Flatiron Hall Bar & Grill Door Slams on Patron’s Finger

Posted on August 7, 2023 | Comments Off on Flatiron Hall Bar & Grill Door Slams on Patron’s Finger

This was originally published on the SGR Blog.

Was Resulting Injury Caused by Tavern’s Negligence?

Reisa Forster suffered injuries when the door of the bar and grill known as Flatiron Hall, owned by 38 W. 26th St. Restaurant Corp., allegedly slammed on her right ring finger. The bill of particulars alleged that Flatiron failed to maintain the door, which was heavy, causing it to slam back on Forster’s hand.

Flatiron Hall moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, arguing that the door was not defective. Further arguing that there was no notice of any alleged defective condition and that Forster’s conduct was the sole proximate cause of her injuries. In support of the motion, Flatiron Hall submitted copies of the pleadings, transcripts of the parties’ deposition testimony, an affidavit of Brian Golding, manager of Flatiron Hall, and an expert affidavit of Steven McEvoy, an engineer.

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Posted in Litigation, New York Law, Personal Injury

Real Property Purchaser Sues Seller for Fraudulent Misrepresentation

Posted on August 3, 2023 | Comments Off on Real Property Purchaser Sues Seller for Fraudulent Misrepresentation

This was originally posted on the SGR Blog.

Buyer’s Claim of Justifiable Reliance Meets Defense of Caveat Emptor

On June 21, 2006, Yama Rahimzada entered into a contract to sell to R. Vig. Props., LLC three improved commercial properties for the sum of $20.4 million. The sale closed on December 20, 2006. On December 18, 2012, RVP sued Rahimzada to recover damages for fraud and deceit, misrepresentation and breach of contract.

RVP alleged that Rahimazada represented that one of the properties, located in Valatie, NY, was primarily occupied by a master tenant pursuant to a self-sustaining triple-net master lease. RVP contended that Rahimzada withheld certain facts relating to the Valatie property, including the fact that the master tenant at that property had informed him that it was experiencing financial difficulties and, absent rent concessions, would breach the master lease and vacate the property. A prior determination of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey relieved all prior assignees of the master lease for that property from liability notwithstanding that the terms of the master lease, annexed as an exhibit to the contract of sale, provided that such assignees were liable; and the master tenant at that property was a single asset entity with no assets other than the lease.

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Posted in Litigation, New York Law, Real Estate