On August 24, 2023, we published a blog post on a proposed bill before the New York State Assembly that would ban non-competition agreements in New York. Since then, the bill passed the vote before the Assembly, but Governor Hochul vetoed the bill on December 22, 2023. While the status of a New York state … Read more
New York City requires contractors performing services for homeowners or their tenants to have a home improvement license to be entitled to receive payment for their work. This provision was recently interpreted in a case brought by a contractor against an LLC that refused to pay for renovation work. At issue was whether LLCs have … Read more
In a previous blog post, we discussed a court ruling on when a party can terminate a license to use property at will. The decision of the New York Appellate Division, Fourth Department in Skaneateles Country Club v. Cambs had created another exception to the general rule that license agreements can be terminated at will. … Read more
Generally, under New York law, a release signed by one party releasing the other party from liability bars the first party (the releasor) from suing the second party (the releasee). However, how this rule plays out in court can be complicated as demonstrated in a recent decision of the New York Appellate Division, Second Department. … Read more
Non-competition agreements are fairly common in certain types of jobs and industries. Because they restrict an employee’s future employment prospects, typically, these contracts are limited in that they only apply for a specific length of time and/or a reasonable distance from the previous employer’s business location. However, in recent years, some states are going so … Read more
In certain types of collection actions, New York has an expedited process known as a Motion for Summary Judgment in Lieu of Complaint (CPLR § 3213). The provision allows a party to commence an action without the filing of a complaint and immediately move for summary judgment but only if the “action is based upon … Read more
Financial transactions happen every day all around the world. Interestingly, whether you’re buying a bottle of water or entering into a multi-million-dollar contract, many of the same basic rules apply. Among those rules are ones that govern what happens if you accidentally overpaid someone. It’s important to know what your obligations are when you pay … Read more
Landowners can allow others to utilize their property in multiple ways. One way is with a lease that generally grants a user (the tenant) the exclusive right to use and access the property during the term of the lease. A second option is to grant a license to use property. Unlike a lease, a license … Read more
You are probably not going to receive a nine-figure payment, whether by accident or on purpose. However, you can still learn some valuable lessons from a group of finance firms that did get $1 billion mistakenly. In a recent case in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the Court addressed whether the … Read more
In most contracts, there is specific language regarding how and when a notice to the other party are to be sent. For example, the agreement might specify that notice of termination be given to a certain individual, sent by mail, and/or provided at least 30 days in advance of taking an action. The terms of … Read more