2104 and email

Kataldo v Atlantic Chevrolet Cadillac, 2018 NY Slip Op 03669 [2d Dept. 2018]

To be enforceable, a stipulation of settlement must conform to the criteria set forth in CPLR 2104 (see Forcelli v Gelco Corp., 109 AD3d 244, 248; see also Martin v Harrington, 139 AD3d 1017, 1018). Where, as in the instant case, counsel for the parties did not enter into a settlement in open court, an "agreement between parties or their attorneys relating to any matter in an action . . . is not binding upon a party unless it is in a writing subscribed by him or his attorney" (CPLR 2104). The plain language of CPLR 2104 requires that "the agreement itself must be in writing, signed by the party (or attorney) to be bound" (Bonnette v Long Is. Coll. Hosp., 3 NY3d 281, 286; see Forcelli v Gelco Corp., 109 AD3d at 248). An email message may be considered "subscribed" as required by CPLR 2104, and, therefore, capable of enforcement, where it "contains all material terms of a settlement and a manifestation of mutual accord, and the party to be charged, or his or her agent, types his or her name under circumstances manifesting an intent that the name be treated as a signature" (Forcelli v Gelco Corp., 109 AD3d at 251).

Here, the email confirming the settlement agreement was sent by counsel for the party seeking to enforce the agreement, LICO. There is no email subscribed by the plaintiff, who is the party to be charged, or by her former attorney. In the absence of a writing subscribed by the plaintiff or her attorney, the settlement agreement is unenforceable against the plaintiff (see id. at 248; see also CPLR 2104).