Matter of HVT, Inc. v All County Towing and Recovery

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Matter of HVT, Inc. v All County Towing and Recovery 2017 NY Slip Op 33088(U) October 26, 2017 Supreme Court, Albany County Docket Number: 2464-16 Judge: Jr., Richard J. McNally Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. [* 1] At a Special Term of the Albany County Supreme Court, held in and for the County of Albany, in the City of Albany, New York on the 26th day of October, 2017. if PRESENT: HON. RICHARD J. MCNALLY, JR. JUSTICE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF ALBANY In the Matter of the: Special Proceeding Application of HVT,INC., Petitioner, DECISION AND ORDER Index No.: 2464-16 -againstALL COUNTY TOWING AND RECOVERY and THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, :: " .... . ...., <==• , Q ::-- .., Respondent. APPEARANCES: Rudolph J. Meola, Esq. Attorney for Petitioner 1822 Western Avenue Albany, New York 12203 Peter B. O'Connell, Esq. Attorney for Respondent All County Towing 130 Washington Avenue Albany, New York 12210 Office of the New York State Attorney General Attorney for Respondent Department of Motor Vehicles (Adele Scott, Esq., of Counsel) The Capitol Albany, New York 12224-0341 f) ./ ·.o [* 2] MCNALLY,J. Pending before the Court is a motion to reargue/renew certain issues related to the Court Decision and Order dated Januaiy 24, 2017 ("Decision and Order"). 1 Petitioner opposes the relief sought by respondent. A motion to reargue, directed to the sound discretion of the court, must demonstrate that the court overlooked, misapplied or misapprehended the relevant facts or Jaw (CPLR § 2221 [d] [2]; Loris v S & W Realty Corp., 16 AD3d 729 [3d Dept 2005]; Grasse/ v Albany Medical Center Hosp, 223 AD2d 803 [3d Dept 1996], Iv denied 88 NY2d 842 [1996]). Its purpose is not to serve as a vehicle to permit the unsuccessful party to argue once again the very questions previously decided (Foley v Roche, 68 AD2d 558 [1st Dept 1979], appeal denied 56 NY2d 507 [1982]). Likewise, a motion to renew must be based upon newly discovered evidence which existed at the time the prior motion was made, but unknown to the party seeking renewal. (CPLR § 2221 [e][2]; M & R Ginsburg, LLC v Orange Canyon Development Company. LLC, 84 AD3d 1470, 923 NYS2d 226 [3d Dept 2011]. In order to prevail on a motion to renew, the moving party must demonstrate a reasonable justification for not placing such new facts before the Court on the original application. (CPLR § 2221[e][3]; Matter ofMouawad, 61AD3d1169, 876 NYS2d 743 [3d Dept 2009]). Respondent argues in its motion, that although the Court found "petitioner paid the respondent $282.44 in towing and storage fees" in fact respondent rejected the tender when it The Court consolidated this case with Albany County index numbers 3921-16, 4637-16, and 5895-16 for a possible settlement of all matters (CP_LR § 602). Settlement did not occur and a separate Decision and Order is being issued for each case. 2 [* 3] respondent $282.44 in towing and storage fees" in fact respondent rejected the tender when it demanded a release from the Nassau County Police Department before turning over the vehicle to petitioner. The Court does not find this fact material. Here, the issue of consequence is whether respondent improperly refused to release the vehicle whereby it imposed additional conditions not authorized by law. There is nothing in the applicable Lien Law that permits garagekeepers to require a release from the police department before the vehicle can be turned over to the priority lien holder. Under the facts of this case, petitioner sought return of the subject vehicle when it contacted the Nassau County Police Department on May 2, 2016. Accordingly, the Court determined that respondent was entitled to a towing fee as well as storage fees but only up to the date of its unlawful demand for the release. The Court has considered all other arguments and contentions and finds them to be without merit. Accordingly, it is ORDERED, that respondents motion to reargue/renew is hereby denied. This shall constitute the Decision and Order of the Court. The signing of this Decision 3 [* 4] and Order shall not constitute entry or filing under CPLR § 2220. Counsel are not relieved from the applicable provision of that rule relating to filing, entry and notice of entry. SO ORDERED! ENTER Dated: October '21!_, 2017 Albany, New York RICHARD J. MCNALLY, JR. Supreme Court Justice Papers Considered: 1. Notice of Motion for Leave to Reargue dated March 10, 2107, Affirmation of Peter B. O'Connell, Esq., Affidavit of Marisol Salgado with annexed exhibits, Appendix. 2. Opposition to Motion for Leave to Reargue and Renew with annexed exhibits A. 3. Letter of Rudolph J. Meola, Esq., dated April 17, 2017. 4. Letter of Peter B. O'Connell, Esq., dated May 1, 2017. 4

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