7001 East 71st St., LLC v Maimonides Med. Ctr.

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7001 East 71st St., LLC v Maimonides Med. Ctr. 2013 NY Slip Op 32171(U) September 10, 2013 Sup Ct, New York County Docket Number: 151387/13 Judge: Cynthia S. Kern Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various state and local government websites. These include the New York State Unified Court System's E-Courts Service, and the Bronx County Clerk's office. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. [*FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 09/12/2013 1] INDEX NO. 151387/2013 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 109 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/12/2013 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY PRESENT: / /.P (.'-/ , . ; ? /I' /' ~ PART r.¥N'1HtA, ~. KERn Justice Index Number: 151387/2013 .I:S-:c" 7001 EAST 71ST STREET LLC. vs. MAIMONIDES MEDICAL CENTER SEQUENCE NUMBER: 005 INDEX NO. MOTION DATE 1 MOTION SEQ. NO . .l DISMISS The following papers, numbered 1 to _ _ , were read on this motion to/for _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Notice of Motion/Order to Show Cause - Affidavits - Exhibits Answering Affidavits - Exhibits _ _ _-...,;".:..:.,:,-:.:...._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Replying Affidavits _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ I No(s)._ _ _ _ __ I No(s). _ _ _ _ __ I No(s). _ _ _ _ __ Upon the foregoing papers, it is ordered that this motion is .\" \"e a""e~e w d decision . oded \0 accordance w\ \s d eC' () ~ en :) .., o l- e w a:: a:: w u.. w It: .. >- ...J~ ...J Z :) 0 u.. en 3; (!) I- c{ () W W It: W Z It: - en 0 _ 3: W en ...J ...J c{ 0 Z W :I: () u.. o i= o :E I- It: 0 LL Dated: _'~-l-\. .1. l.\O:! . . \l. .1. \2L_ _ tK ~E:RN ,J.S.C. C'C'N1H\A SOJ_ic. 1. CHECK ONE: ..................................................................... D ~ NON·FINAL DISPOSITION CASE DISPOSED 2. CHECK AS APPROPRIATE: ........................... MOTION IS: D GRANTED D DENIED 3. CHECK IF APPROPRIATE: ................................................ ~ SETILE ORDER DDONOTPOST D GRANTED IN PART D OTHER D SUBMIT ORDER D FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT 0 REFERENCE [* 2] SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK: Part 55 ______________________________________________________ ----------------x 7001 EAST 71 51 STREET, LLC, j Plaintiff, Index:No. 151387/13 DEClSION/ORDER -against- MAIMONIDES MEDICAL CENTER, MILLENNIUM HEALTH SERVICES, MILLENNIUM PEDIATRICS, JORDAN MEYERS, M.D., DANIEL ABUELENIN, M.D., PEDRAM BRAL, M.D., ORRIN LlPPOFF, M.D. and JOHN DOES 1-10, Defendants. ----------------------------------------------------------------------x MILLENNIUM HEALTH SERVICES, MILLENNIUM PEDIATRICS and JORDAN MEYERS, M.D., Third-Party Plaintiff, -against- LORI FALCO-GREENBERG, Third-Party Defendant. ----------------------------------------------------------------------x HON. CYNTHIA S. KERN, J.S.c. , Recitation, as required by CPLR 2219(a), of the papers considered in the1review of this motion for: ----------------------------------Papers Notice of Motion and Affidavits Annexed ................................... . Answering Affidavits ..................................................................... . Replying Affidavits ..................................................................... . Exhibits ..................................................................................... . Numbered i 'I 2 3 4 Plaintiff 700 1 East 71 51 Street, LLC ("700 I") commenced the instant action against [* 3] defendants Maimonides Medical Center ("Maimonides"), Millennium H~alth Services ("Health Services"), Millennium Pediatrics ("Pediatrics"), Jordan Meyers, M.D. (",Dr. Meyers"), Daniel Abuelenin, M.D. ("Dr. Abuelenin"), Pedram Bral, M.D. ("Dr. Bral"), Orrin Lippoff, M.D. ("Dr. , Lippoff') and John Does 1-10 to recover damages to plaintiffs premises stemming from defendants' alleged conduct during Hurricane Sandy. Third-party defendant Lori FalcoGreenberg (hereinafter "third-party defendant" or "Ms. Falco-Greenberg") now moves for an Order pursuant to CPLR § 3211 (a)(7) dismissing the third-party complaint on the ground that it fails to state a cause of action. For the reasons set forth below, third-party defendant's motion is granted in part and denied in part. The relevant facts are as follows. Plaintiff owns the premises located at 7001-7023 Avenue U, Brooklyn, New York (the "subject premises"). Defendant Maimonides leased a I portion of the subject premises from plaintiff (the "Lease") and sublease~ all or some of that I space to other businesses, including the remaining defendants. On or about October 29,2012, I Hurricane Sandy substantially damaged the subject premises. On or about November 14,2012, 1 plaintiff was informed by licensed professional engineers that the electrical system at the subject , , premises had been seriously damaged and that it was unsafe to use any of the electrical system i components. On or about November 15,2012, plaintiff advised Maimonides that Consolidated Edison had cut off electrical service to the subject premises, that Maimonides should not energize the electrical system because it could cause an explosion and th,at no one was authorized to enter the subject premises without plaintiffs prior written consent. On or about November 20, I 2012, plaintiff wrote to Maimonides enclosing a statement received from a licensed electrician I , setting forth hazards at the subject premises and a report from an environmental consulting firm .1 2 [* 4] advising that the subject premises had become contaminated with fecal coliform, fecal bacteria i and mold and that the building should be demolished. The letter further demanded that 1 Maimonides immediately cease and desist all activities at the subject premises and vacate the subject premises. On or about December 7, 2012, plaintiff alleges that it terminated the Lease due to the damage from Hurricane Sandy and that on December 28,2012, Maimonides consented to the ! " Lease's termination. However, Maimonides alleges that it vacated the premises on December 18, 1 2012 due to the loss of certain services to the building and not because it consented to the Lease's termination. Plaintiff alleges that during this time, defendants did not promptly vacate I the subject premises but instead attempted to connect a portable generator into the existing I lighting and power panel at the subject premises, which caused a substantial risk of harm and significant fire hazard. In or around February 2013, plaintiff commenced, the instant action I against defendants alleging causes of action for breach of contract, negligence, prima facie tort, ,I, nuisance and conversion and requesting damages in the amount of $1 ,000,000.00. Specifically, ,I the Complaint alleges that defendants caused damage to the subject pretrtises, distinct and separate from Hurricane Sandy, including, inter alia, leaving medical waste, including sharp 'I disposal units and hazardous radiation equipment, illegally running a "jury-rigged" power cable, removing numerous fixtures, including electrical outlet covers and switch plates and completely I destroying parts of interior plumbing and sanitation drains. In April 2013, defendants Health i Services, Pediatrics and Dr. Meyers commenced a third-party action against Ms. Falco- Greenberg, the President and sole owner of the corporate stock of the plaintiff corporation, , alleging causes of action for, inter alia, constructive eviction and defarnJtion. Ms. Falco- [* 5] Greenberg now moves for an Order pursuant to CPLR § 3211 (a)(7) dism~ssing the third-party , I complaint on the ground that it fails to state a cause of action. On a motion addressed to the sufficiency of the pleadings, the facts pleaded are assumed I to be true and accorded every favorable inference. See Morone v. Moron'e, 50 N.Y.2d 481 i j (1980). Moreover, "a [claim] should not be dismissed on a pleading motion so long as, when I [defendant's] allegations are given the benefit of every possible inference, a cause of action exists." Rosen v. Raum, 164 A.D.2d 809 (1 Sl Dept 1990). "Where a pleading is attacked for alleged inadequacy in its statements, [the] inquiry should be limited to 'whether it states in some recognizable form any cause of action known to our law." Foley v. D 'Agostino, 21 A.D.2d 60, 64-65 (1 sl Dept 1977), citing Dulberg v. Mock, 1 N. Y.2d 54, 56 (1956). Further, in order to prevail on a defense founded on documentary evidence pursuant to CPLR § 3211 (a)(1), the documents relied upon must definitively dispose of plaintiffs claim. See Bronxville Knolls, Inc. v. Webster Town Partnership, 221 A.D.2d 248 (1 sl Dept 1995). Additionally, the documentary evidence must be such that it resolves all factual issues as a matter of law. Goshen v. Mutual Life I I Ins. Co. o/New York, 98 N.Y.2d 314 (2002). I I I In the instant action, Ms. Falco-Greenberg's motion for an Order pursuant to CPLR § J 3211(a)(7) dismissing the third-party complaint is granted in part and denied in part. Ms. FalcoGreenberg's motion to dismiss the third-party complaint's first cause of action which alleges hostile, or constructive, eviction is denied. To sufficiently plead a cause of action for constructive eviction, a tenant must plead "wrongful acts by the landlord that 'substantially and materially deprive the tenant of the beneficial use and enjoyment of the premises. '" Pacific Coast Silks, LLC v. 247 Realty, LLC, 76 A.D.3d 167, 172 (JSI Dept 2010). The first cause of action sufficiently pleads a claim for constructive eviction as it alleges that "the Plaintiff... and 3rd Party 4 [* 6] DefendanL.failed to provide [electric service, heat and water] or to make a reasonable effort to provide them causing irreparable harm and damage ... " and "failed, neglected and refused to give I [the] authorization" necessary to restore such services after Hurricane Sandy. The first cause of action further alleges such conduct "was a violation, repudiation and breach of the lease for peaceable possession, interfering in the practice, forcing [the] Defendants to curtail their practice and seek other premises, moving the practice at great costs and loss of business." Ms. FalcoGreenberg's assertion that she may not be held personally liable for the alleged wrongful acts of plaintiff, a limited liability company, is without merit. "[M]embers of limited liability I companies, such as corporate officers, may be held personally liable ifth'ey participate in the ~quity commission of a tort in furtherance of company business." Rothstein v. Ventures, LLC, 299 A.D.2d 472,474 (2d Dept 2002). Here, the third-party complaint sufficiently alleges that Ms. Falco-Greenberg participated in the "wrongful acts" of plaintiff landlord in failing to provide and restore certain services to the building. Ms. Falco-Greenberg's assertion that the first cause I I of action should be dismissed because the loss of such services was not caused by any of her "wrongful acts" but rather because of Hurricane Sandy is without merit as such argument is more appropriately made on a motion for summary judgment pursuant to CPL~ § 3212. Therefore, I Ms. Falco-Greenberg's motion to dismiss the first cause of action for CO?structive eviction must be denied. I However, Ms. Falco-Greenberg's motion to dismiss the third-party complaint's second I cause of action for defamation, libel and loss of business is granted. To state a claim for defamation, a party must plead "a false statement, published without privilege or authorization to a third party, constituting fault as judged by, at a minimum, a negligence standard, and it must I I 5 [* 7] either cause special harm or constitute defamation per se." Dillon v. City of New York, 261 A.D.2d 34, 38 (1st Dept 1999). However, "good-faith communications by a party having an interest in a subject, or a moral or societal duty to speak, are protected by! a qualified privilege if made to a party having a corresponding interest," also known as the comlj1on interest privilege. Herlihy v. Metropolitan Museum ofArt, 214 A.D.2d 250, 258 (1 sl Dept 1995). "A qualified privilege, however, is 'conditioned on its proper exercise, and cannot sh~lter statements published with malice or with knowledge of their falsity or reckless disregard as to their truth or falsity. '" Id. At 259, citing Loughry v. Lincoln First Bank, 67 N. Y.2d 369 (1986). The second cause of action alleges that plaintiff and third-party defendant "caused false and defamatory notices to be posted in November and December 2012 at the ... premises stating [that the] premises were contaminated and dangerous with unsafe fecal matter and· stating 'Do Not Enter ; Premises' causing great damage to the medical practice of the Defendants and loss of business and their reputation ... [which] constituted libel per se." It further alleges that "[t]he false and defamatory notices of contaminated premises posted by [third-party defendant] and the Plaintiff in a public place just outside Defendant's pediatric medical offices that were seen by patients, :1 patients families, visitors, employees and general public harmed Defendants' reputation causing mental anguish, interruption of business and monetary loss" and that the premises "had absolutely no contamination, no water damage from the flood or leaks and any water or flood damage was limited to the basement which had a history of flooding." However, such communications were protected under the common interest privilege as third-party defendant was the managing member of plaintiff landlord and had a duty to notify the defendant tenants and , any patrons if she knew the premises were unsafe. Further, third-party defendant has established 6 [* 8] through documentary evidence, including reports from environmental consultants, that the premises were contaminated and unsafe. Defendants' conclusory allegat+n that third-party defendant acted with malice is insufficient to outweigh the common interest privilege as there is no evidence to support such an assertion. Moreover, the second cause of action fails to allege specific damages due to the alleged defamation. Thus, Ms. Falco-Greenberg's motion to dismiss the second cause of action alleging defamation, libel and loss of business lis granted. Third-party defendant's motion to dismiss the third cause of action for slander is also I granted on the same ground. The third cause of action alleges that third-party defendant "did on or about November 13,2012 enter the offices of...Dr. Meyers, holding what appeared to be a I handkerchief over her nose and mouth and loudly proclaimed that [his] p~emises were ; 'condemned, contaminated and unsafe' in the presence of Defendant's employees, patients, . I I patients families and visitors" and that such statement was "heard by all present and was slanderous and entirely untrue." The third cause of action further alleges· that such conduct "did II injure Dr. Meyer's reputation, business and credit and exposed him and ~is medical practice to ridicule and contempt." However, such communication is also protected: under the common I interest privilege as third-party defendant was the managing member of the landlord of the premises and had a duty to notify the defendant tenants and any patrons if it knew the premises were unsafe. Third-party defendant has provided reports from environm~ntal consultants who found that the premises were contaminated, unsafe and that they should De vacated. Moreover, the third cause of action fails to allege specific damages due to the allege? slander. Thus, Ms. j Falco-Greenberg's motion to dismiss the third cause of action for slander is granted. Finall ,Ms. Falco-Greenber 's motion to dismiss the fourth cause of action for malicious [* 9] abuse of process and frivolous action is granted. As an initial matter, the court will discuss a dismissal of causes of action for both malicious prosecution and abuse of;process as it is unclear I from the third-party complaint which cause of action third-party plaintiffs allege. To state a claim for malicious prosecution, a party must plead the termination of a prior proceeding in favor I of that party. See Munoz v. City of New York, 18 N. Y .2d 6 (1966). To state a claim for abuse of I process, the complaint must plead the following elements: (1) a regularlYi issued process, either civil or criminal; (2) intent to do harm without excuse or justification; and (3) use of the process in a perverted manner to obtain a collateral objective. See Curiano v. Suozzi, 63 N.Y.2d 113 I (1984). Further, pursuant to New York Court Rules § 130-1.1 (c)(1), conduct is frivolous if: (1) it is completely without merit in law and cannot be supported by a reasonable argument for an I I extension, modification or reversal of existing law; (2) it is undertaken primarily to delay or prolong the resolution of the litigation, or to harass or maliciously injure another; or (3) it asserts I material factual statements that are false. The fourth cause of action alleges that the complaint "constitutes malicious abuse of process in that it was brought in bad faitn without merit for a malicious purpose and to attain an unjustifiable end." Specifically, the fourth cause of action alleges that as plaintiff and third-party defendant plan to demolish the building, they "cannot in good faith sue for such minor alleged damage" such as "unspecified debris left at the premises and missing electric outlet covers." As an initial matter, the fourth cause of action fails to allege any prior proceeding terminated in favor of third-party plaintiffs or the use of a process in a I perverted manner to obtain a collateral objective. Moreover, it fails to al~ege any specific evidence of third-party defendant's intent to delay or prolong the resolution of this action, to I harass third-party plaintiffs or that the action is completely without merit in law. The fourth 8 [* 10] cause of action states that third-party defendant's conduct is "frivolous" and "abusive" but such j I assertions are merely conclusory. Thus, Ms. Falco-Greenberg's motion to dismiss the fourth j cause of action for malicious abuse of process and frivolous action is granted. Accordingly, Ms. Falco-Greenberg's motion for an Order pursuant to CPLR § 321 1(a)(7) I dismissing the third-party complaint is granted only to the extent that the.second, third and fourth I causes of action are dismissed. This constitutes the decision and order of the court. Dated: ,,\ \ i 0\ \) Enter: _ _ _~e,"-,'f<.L-_____ l.S.C. CYNTHIA S. KERN :! 9 J.S.C.

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