Category: CPLR § 2002

33-37 Farrington, LLC v Global Universal Group, Ltd., 2018 NY Slip Op 07081 [2d Dept. 2018]

“The report of a referee should be confirmed whenever the findings are substantially supported by the record, and the referee has clearly defined the issues and resolved matters of credibility” (Flagstar Bank, F.S.B. v Konig, 153 AD3d 790, 790-791; see Thomas v Thomas, 21 AD3d 949, 949). Here, the Referee’s findings with regard to the amount due under the note and mortgage are supported by the record. Any error in the admission of hearsay testimony at the hearing was harmless (see CPLR 2002; Barracato v Camp Bauman Buses, 217 AD2d 677, 678). Accordingly, we agree with the Supreme Court’s determination granting SDF’s motion to confirm the Referee’s report.

Excel Capital Group Corp. v 225 Ross St. Realty, Inc.,
2018 NY Slip Op 07291 [2d Dept. 2018]

The Supreme Court, as the ultimate arbiter of the dispute with the power to reject the referee’s report and make new findings (seeCPLR 4403), considered the defendant’s evidence and correctly concluded that the defendant’s contention was without merit (see Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v Zlotoff, 77 AD3d 702; Adelman v Fremd, 234 AD2d 488; Stein v American Mtge. Banking, 216 AD2d 458; Shultis v Woodstock Land Dev. Assoc., 195 AD2d 677; cf. Aurora Loan Servs., LLC v Taylor, 114 AD3d at 629-630; Sears v First Pioneer Farm Credit, ACA, 46 AD3d 1282).

CPLR R. 4518 Business records

CPLR § 2002 Error in ruling of court

Rodriguez v New York City Tr. Auth., 2011 NY Slip Op 01258 (App. Div., 2nd 2011)

The defendant's contention that the Supreme Court improperly denied the admission of a certain photograph of the upper landing of the subject stairway taken some five years after the accident is without merit. The defendant failed to establish a proper foundation by showing that it was a fair and accurate representation of the condition of the landing on the date of the accident (see Moore v Leaseway Transp. Corp., 49 NY2d 720, 723; People v Byrnes, 33 NY2d 343, 347-349; Saporito v City of New York, 14 NY2d 474, 476-477; Leven v Tallis Dept. Store, 178 AD2d 466; Prince, Richardson on Evidence § 4-212, at 149 [Farrell 11th ed]).

We agree with the defendant that the Supreme Court erred in precluding it from introducing into evidence two accident reports. The accident reports were made in the regular course of business and were admissible under CPLR 4518(a) (see Galanek v New York City Tr. Auth., 53 AD2d 586; Bracco v MABSTOA, 117 AD2d 273, 277; Klein v Benrubi, 60 AD2d 548, 548; Bishin v New York Cent. R.R. Co., 20 AD2d 921). A business record is admissible even though the person who prepared it is available to testify to the acts or transactions recorded (see Meiselman v Crown Hgts. Hosp., 285 NY 389, 397; Clarke v New York City Tr. Auth., 174 AD2d 268; Napolitano v Branks, 141 AD2d 705, 706). Accordingly, the accident reports should have been admitted (see Klein v Benrubi, 60 AD2d at 548). However, the error does not require reversal since the precluded evidence was cumulative of testimony already adduced before the jury during the defendant's case (see CPLR 2002; Woody v Foot Locker Retail, Inc., 79 AD3d 740; Sweeney v Peterson, 24 AD3d 984; Tannen v Long Is. R.R., 215 AD2d 745).