2016-02-11 - Couri - three recent decisions and $25M judgment.pdf

7/26/2019 2016-02-11 - Couri - three recent decisions and $25M judgment.pdf

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SUPREMECOURT

OF

THE TATEOFNEW

YORK

EWYORKCOUNTY

PRESENT:

HON.PAULWQOTEN PART

Justice

JAMES OURI,

P l a l n t f f f ,

I N D E X NO. 107240/04

- a gainst

-

MOTION

8EQ.

O .

OOP

JOHN

SIEBERT

nd

JOHN

W IEBERT,

D. C. ,

Defendants.

The ol l o w i n g p a p e r s , numbered 1 to 4 , ere r e a d o n h i s motion by

the

l a i n t i f f to

v a c a t e a

p r i o r

O rder o f h i s Court ^

PAPERSNUMBERED

Notice

o f

Motion/ O rder to Show auseAffidavits xhibits

A n s w e r i n g

A f f i d a v i t s

x h i b i t s

E

P

Replying

A f f i d a v i t s

(Reply Memo _L

U V J A M 2 O t t

Cross-Motion:

Yes

LFNo

OOWnYOSSSf^

B e f o r e t h e

C o u r t

s a m o t i o f p b i ^ h e ^

Recommendation o f J u d i c i a l H e a r i n g

O f f i c e r

I r a Gammerman (JHO Gammermmi) a t e d

December 15,2014 and e n t e r e d

on F e b r u a r y

10,2015. A l s o b e f o r e

t h e

C o u r t I s a c r o s s -

m o t i o n

by h e

p l a i n t i f f , d a t e d A p r i l

6,2015,

o r e j e c t

t h e R e p o r t

o f JHO Gammerman

c l a i m i n g

P e r j u r y , F r a u d on h e C o u r t a n d f o r g i n g and p l a n t i n g o f F i l e s I n

M o t i o n Sequence

7

y

J o s e p h

B u r k e , o r an Order (1) e j e c t i n g

e n t i r e l y

t h e i l l e g a l and r a u d u l e n t I n q u e s t

O r d e r

g r o u n d e d

o n F r a u d , p e r j u r y a n d f r a u d u l e n t B u r k e 4 - 1 - 1 5 M o t i o n I n v i o l a t i o n o f B e e l e r i n j u n c t i o n

m a n d a t i n g

' p e r m i s s i o n ' and

i o l a t i o n s

o f mandates f I n q u e s t s s i c ] ,

c o n d u c t e d

by

d e f a u l t

due

t o

m y l l n e s s . (2)

a c a t i n g

t h e

D e c i s i o n

o f

1 2 - 2 4 - 1 3 ,

on h e a d d i t i o n a l

g r o u n d s

o f

r a u d

on h e


2/30

C r o s s - M o t i o n ) .

The defendant

i l e d e p l y

a f f i d a v i t

on p r i l

8,2015.

BACKGROUND

By an r d e r d a t e d December 4,2013 nd i l e d on December 6,2013, i s C o u r t .

d i r e c t e d t h e d e f e n d a n t s

t o

i l e t h e Note

f I s s u e

on

r

b e f o r e J a n u a r y

28,2014,

nd

upon

h a t

f i l i n g t h e C o u r t s t a t e d

t h a t

t h e C l e r k s h a l l s e t a a t e upon h i c h an n q u e s t i l l be e l d

a s s e s s i n g damages, f

a n y ,

g a i n s t

l a i n t i f f

on

e f e n d a n t s

o u n t e r c l a i m s ,

h e o n l y r e m a i n i n g

issue n

t h i s

case.^

The

o u r t ,

l s o i n

t h e

December 4,2013 rder 1) r a n t e d d e f e n d a n t s m o t i o n t o

s t r i k e

a n d d i s m i s s l a i n t i f T s r e p l y t o d e f e n d a n t s o u n t e r c l a i m s ; 2 )

deemed

l a i n t i f f a e x a t i o u s

l i t i g a t o r

a n d

e n j o i n e d

p l a i n t i f f

f r o m :

a )

s s e r t i n g

h i s

m e d i c a l o r

p h y s i c a l

o n d i t i o n ,

o r m e d i c a l

t r e a t m e n t t h e r e o f ,

o r

b) s s e r t i n g h i s u n a v a i l a b i l i t y b e i n g o u t o f s t a t e as a e a s o n f o r n o n -

a p p e a r a n c e o r o n - p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n c o u r t

p r o c e d u r e

b e f o r e h i s C o u r t o r S p e c i a l R e f e r e e o r a n y

C o u r t - a p p o i n t e e ,

n d

c )

e - i s s u e d t h e O r d e r s

b y J u s t i c e H a r o l d B e e l e r ,

a t e d F e b r u a r y 1 7 ,

2005,

nd

h i s

o r d e r

d a t e d

December

2 , 2 0 0 5 , n w h i c h a l l

p a r t i e s were n j o i n e d

f r o m t a k i n g

a n y

u r t h e r a c t i o n

I n t h i s m a t t e r n c l u d i n g , f i l i n g a n y m o t i o n s ,

w i t h o u t r i o r l e a v e o f

h i s C o u r t .

The l a i n t i f f a p p e a l e d t h e December 4,2013 e c i s i o n . S u b s e q u e n t l y , h i s

C o u r t

e n i e d

p l a i n t i f f s r e q u e s t o r l e a v e t o

i l e

a o t i o n t o r e a r g u e h i s C o u r t

O r d e r

d a t e d D e c e m b e r 2 4 ,

2013 h i c h

r e s o l v e d M o t i o n S e q u e n c e 067 s e e

h i s

C o u r t s n t e r i m O r d e r ,

a t e d

J a n u a r y

1 7 ,

201 4 n d i l e d

on Janua ry 22,2014).

O n e b r u a r y 2 6 , 2 0 1 4 , h e C o u r t h e l d a a n d a t o ry C om p l i a n c e C o n f e r e n c e n P a r t 7 ,

C o u r t r o o m 341,60 e n t r e S t r e e t , N e w o r k

o r

h i s case and h e d u p l i c a t e case

o u r i

v


3/30

conference the l a i n t i f f pro se,

c h o s e n o t t o

appear,

i t h o u t

good

c a u se o r

h i s n o n-

appearance,

a n d

c h o s e

not o s end a n a t t o r n e y

o n h i s b e h a l f .

The defendants

appeared

a t

the

c o n f e r e n c e and t h e

C o u r t

p r o c e e d e d

t o

c o n f e r e n c e t h e

c a s e s .

On e b r u a r y

27,2014,

h i s

C o u r t

r e c e i v e d a n i n c o m p l e t e

d r a f t

copy o f a U n i t e d S t a t e s B a n k r u p t c y C o u r t i l i n g by

a c s i m i l e

from

t h e p l a i n t i f f

w i t h o u t v a l i d p r o o f

o f

sendee o

t h e

d e f e n d a n t s ,

w h i c h v i o i a t e s t h i s

C o u r t s

R u l e s . N o n e t h e l e s s ,

g i v e n

t h e s e r i o u s n e s s o f

s u c h

a

i l i n g

t h i s

C o u r t

c o n t a c t e d

t h e

U n i t e d

S t a t e s B a n k r u p t c y C o u r t and

d i s c o v e r e d

t h a t

o n

F r i d a y ,

F e b r u a r y

28,2014, l a i n t i f f f i l e d a

C h a p t e r7 a n k r u p t c y P e t i t i o n

i n The

U n i t e d S t a t e s B a n k r u p t c y C o u r t , C e n t r a l i s t r i c t o f

C a i i f o m i a , R i v e r s i d e D i v i s i o n ,

s e e k i n g t o

d i s c h a r g e

t h e

d e b t n t h i s c a s e . The B a n k r u p t c y

P e t i t i o n

f i l i n g

a u t o m a t i c a l l y

s t a y e d

h i s

S t a t e

C o u r t

p r o c e e d i n g ,

p u r s u a n t

t o

11

U . S . C .

62

{s ee C a s e

No. :14-bk-12555-WJ).

On

u l y . 1 5 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

B a n k r u p t c y

C o u r t n C a i i f o m i a g r a n t e d t h e

d e f e n d a n t s m o t i o n t o v a c a t e

t h e

a u t o m a t i c

s t a y ,

p u r s u a n t t o 11

U . S . C .

62. On u l y

24,

2 0 1 4 , h e p l a i n t i f f t h e n i l e d

a

N o t i c e

o f

R e m o v a l o r r e m o v a l

o f

t h e h e r e i n

c a s e 2004 Case)

Case

N o . : 1 4 - b k - 1 2 5 5 5 - W J , d v . r o c e e d i n g 6 : 1 4 - a p - 0 1 1 9 2 - W J ) n d

t h e 2008 Case Case

No. : 1 4 - b k - 12555-WJ, d v . P r o ce e d in g 6 : 1 4 - a p - 0 1 1 9 0 - W J ) . T h i s

C o u r t

r e c e i v e d C o p i e s

o f

t h e N o t i c e s t o

Rem ove

on

u l y

2 9 , 2 0 1 4 , w h i c h s t a y e d t h i s C o u r t r o m p r o c e e d i n g .

On A u g u s t 1 , 2 0 1 4 , h e H o n o r a b l e

Way ne

o h n s o n , U n i t e d

S t a t e s

B a n k r u p t c y C o u r t

J u d g e ,

h e l d

a

h e a r i n g on

t h e

p l a i n t i f f s

a p p l i c a t i o n

i n c l u d i n g

t h e

d e f e n d a n t s

o p p o s i t i o n ,

and

g r a n t e d

t h e

d e f e n d a n t s m o t i o n

t o remand b o t h C o u r i

a s e s b a c k

t o

t h e

New

Y o r k S t a t e

Supreme

o u r t . - r On

e p t e m t ) e r

2 , 2 0 1 4 , u d g e J o h n s o n a l s o

d i s m i s s e d

t h e p l a i n t i f f s

C h a p t e r


4/30

a c t i o n s(Case No. :14-bk-12555-WJ,

roceeding

6;14-ap-01192-WJ and Adv. roceeding

6:14-ap-01190-WJ).

S u b s e q u e n t l y , on December 5,2014,JHO

Gammerman

e l d an n q u e s t ,

and

s s u e d

h i s

r e p o r t

on h e

r e c o r d

on

h a t

d a y .

At

h e i n q u e s t

t h e d e f e n d a n t s '

o u n s e l appeared

n - p e r s o n

and

h e l a i n t i f f ,

pro e , appeared by e l e p h o n e . The

r a n s c r i p t r e f l e c t s t h a t

a t some

o i n t

n e a r

t h e

b e g i n n i n g

o f t h e

i n q u e s t ,

l a i n t i f f

hung

u p h e

t e l e p h o n e and

e f u s e d t o

p a r t i c i p a t e i n

t h e

i n q u e s t , c l a i m i n g t h e a c t i o n s

o f JHO Gammerman e r e

f r a u d u l e n t

a n d

t h a t

he a c k e d n o t i c e .

H o w e v e r ,

as

l a i n t i f f

h a d

i l e d an

p p e a l

o f t h e December 4,2013 r d e r w h i c h s e t

h i s

m a t t e r

down o r an n q u e s t ,

a n d h a v i n g

a l s o

r e q u e s t e d l e a v e t o

r e a r g u e t h e December 4,2013

O r d e r ,

t

i s

e v i d e n t t h a t l a i n t i f f was w a r e t h a t t h e i n q u e s t was e n d i n g ( s e e

C o u r t

n t e r i m

o r d e r

d a t e d J a n u a r y 1 7 , 2 0 1 4

a n d

e n t e r e d o n

J a n u a r y 2 4 , 2 0 14 ) . M o r e o v e r , h e r a n s c r i p t f r o m

t h e i n q u e s t n d i c a t e s t h a t JHO

Gammerman

r i e d t o

n q u i r e a s t o

w h e t h e r

l a i n t i f f

h a d

s o u g h t

a n a d j o u r n m e n t o r s t a y o f t h e i n q u e s t

a n d

a l s o f f e r e d p l a i n t i f f a n a d j o u r n m e n t , b u t

s u c h

I n q u i r y

was

g n o r e d o r r e f u s e d ( s e e

D e c e m b e r

1 5 , 2 0 1 4

r a n s c r i p t

p .

3 ,

i n e 12 n d p . 5 , i n e 3 . T h u s ,

on

December 5 , 2 0 1 4 ,

f t e r t a k i n g

d e f e n d a n t s ' w o r n t e s t i m o n y , JHO

ammerman

recommended o h i s

C o u r t

J u d g m e n t

n

f a v o r o f h e d e f e n d a n t s '

on

h e i r c o u n t e r c l a i m s

n t h e

amount f 7 , 1 1 0 , 5 3 2 . 00 , i t h i n t e r e s t

r o m

A u g u s t 18,2003 see

December

15,2014

T r a n s c r i p t

p , 1 6 , l i n e 7,

o p .

1 7 i n e

1 6 ) .

T h e r e a f t e r ,

n

an

n t e r i m

O r d e r

d a t e d and

n t e r e d

on a n u a r y

8,2015,

h i s

C o u r t

g r a n t e d t h e

p a r t i e s

l e a v e t o i l e

a

o t i o n

t o c o nf i r m

o r e j e c t JHO Gammerman s

e p o r t . On

F e b r u a r y 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 , JHO

Gammerman

o - O r d e r e d t h e r a n s c r i p t o f t h e i n q u e s t p r o c e e d i n g a n d


5/30

t h e

amended e r i f i e d c o m p l a i n t , d e f e n d a n t s ' amended answer

i t h

c o u n t e r c l a i m s ,

a

copy

f h e

A p p e l l a t e D i v i s i o n ,

i r s t

D e p a r t m e n t d e c i s i o n i n C o u r i v i e b e r t , 48

AD3d

370 1 s t Dept 0 0 8 ] , a

copy f h i s C o u r t ' s O r d e r December 24,2013,

and

a

copy f h e

N o t e

o f I s s u e ,

i l e d

o n

J a n u a r y

27,2014.

The l a i n t i f f f i l e s a

r o s s - m o t i o n

b y t h e p l a i n t i f f , d a t e d A p r i l

6,2015,

o

r e j e c t

t h e

R e p o r t o f JHO Gammerman

l a i m i n g

P e r j u r y , F r a u d on h e C o u r t and

o r g i n g

and

p l a n t i n g

o f

R I e s

n

M o t i o n

Sequence

7

y J o s e p h

B u r k e ,

o r

an Order

1)

e j e c t i n g

e n t i r e l y

t h e l l e g a l and r a u d u l e n t I n q u e s t

O r d e r g r o u n d e d

on

F r a u d ,

p e r j u r y and r a u d u l e n t B u r k e 4 - 1 -

15 o t i o n i n

v i o l a t i o n

o f B e e l e r n j u n c t i o n m a n d a t i n g ' p e r m i s s i o n ' n d v i o l a t i o n s o f m a n d a t e s o f

I n q u e s t s

s i c ] , c o n d u c t e d b y

d e f a u l t

due o

m y

l l n e s s .

( 2 )

a c a t i n g t h e D e c i s i o n o f 1 2 - 2 4 - 1 3 , o n

t h e

d d ' r t i o n a l

g r o u n d s

o f

r a u d

on

h e

C o u r t , e r j u r e d

o r d e r ,

o l l u s i o n

a n d

g h o s t w r i t i n g

b y

B u r k e

o f

a n i l l e g a l l y s i c ] D e c i s i o n b e l i e d b y e v i d e n c e . 3 ) i s q u a l i f i c a t t o n o f

J o s e p h

M. u r k e

E s q .

B u r k e ] on

h e

g r o u n d s o f r a u d , p e r j u r y

and h a t he i l l

be a l l e d as

a

i t n e s s t e s t i m o n y

[ s i c ]

d e t r i m e n t a l

t o S l e b e r f P l a i n t i f f N o t i c e o f C r o s s - M o t i o n ) . The e f e n d a n t

i l e d

a

e p l y

a f f i d a v i t .

IS USSION

I t i s

w e l l , s e t t l e d

t h a t

t h e r e p o r t

o f

a p e c i a l

R e f e r e e h a l l b e c o n f i r m e d

w h e n e v e r

t h e

f i

n d i n g s c o n t a i n e d t h e r e i n a r e s u p p o r t e d b y

t h e

r e c o r d

and h e

S p e c i a l R e f e r e e has l e a r l y

d e f i n e d t h e i s s u e s and

r e s o l v e d

m a t t e r s o f r e d i b i l i t y

{ S t e i n g a r t

v H o f f m a n ,

80

AD3d 444,445

[ 1 s t

D e p t

2 0 1 1 ] ,

i t i n g

Nagerv

a n a d i s ,

238

AD2d

3 5 , 1 3 5 - 1 3 6

1 s t

D e p t

1 9 9 7 ] ;

see

l s o

M e l n i t z k y v U r i b e , 33

AD3d

373

1 s t D e p t 2 0 0 6 ] ;

K a p l a n v B i n y , 209 AD2d 248 1 s t D e p t 1 9 9 4 ] ;

N a m e r v l 5 2 - 5 ^ 5 6 W .

5 t h S t R e a A y

o / p . , 1 0 8 A D 2 d 7 0 5

1 s t D e p t

1 9 8 5 ] v

d i s m i s s e d s u b


6/30

he h o r o u g h l y r f v i e w e d the

i l e s ,

was a m i l i a r w i t h t h e case, heard the l a i n t i f f s

o p p o s i t i o n

t o

t h e i n q u e s t , the

e s t i m o n y

o f

w i t n e s s e s

t h a t

were u b j e c t t o

any r o s s

e x a m i n a t i o n by h e

p l a i n t i f f had he

not

hung up, and h i s f i n d i n g s are u p p o r t e d

by

the h e a r i n g t r a n s c r i p t , w a r r a n t i n g

c o n f i r m a t i o n (see

Adelaide

r o d s . , I n c . v

BKN

n t l . AG 1 AD3d

598

1 s t Dept 2008] lhe

S p e c i a l Referee l e a r l y d e f i n e d the s s u e s and r e s o l v e d m a t t e r s o f r e d i b i l i t y , and

had

ample

s u p p o r t

of ho se

i n d i n g s i n t h e r e c o r d

and h i s

r e p o r t w a r r a n t e d

c o n f i r m a n c e ] ;

see

l s o

Nager v

P a n a d l s ,

51 AD3d

598

1 s t Dept 9 9 8 ] ) .

Based

upon

h e f o r e g o i n g , d e f e n d a n t s ' m o t i o n

t o

c o n f i r m

t h e Report and Recommendation of

JHO ammerman s g r a n t e d and l a i n t i f r s

c r o s s -

m o t i o n t o

r e j e c t t h e R e f e r e e ' s R e p o r t s d e n i e d

( s e e

M a k e r

o f

m y t h e v G o o r d , 1 A D 3 d 6 0 8

[2d

Dept 2007]

T h e r e

i s

no

v i d e n c e

i n

t h e r e c o r d t o s u p p o r t t h e

p l a i n t i f q ' s

c o n t e n t i o n t h a t

t h e

h e a r i n g o f f i c e r

was

biased... nd h e r e

i s

no

n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e outcome f t h e

h e a r i n g was

a f f e c t e d

by

any

l l e g e d b i a s o n h e p a r t o f t h e

h e a r i n g

o f f i c e r ] ) .

S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e p o r t i o n o f l a i n t i f f s

c r o s s - m o t i o n s e e k i n g

t o r e j e c t

JHO

Gammerman s

R e p o r t and Recommendatio n as

l l e g a l

and

b a s e d

o n r a u d

and

e r j u r y b y d e f e n d a n t ' s a t t o r n e y

Burke and n v i o l a t i o n o f J u s t i c e B e e l e r ' s Order

a n d a t i n g

t h e p a r t i e s

secure

p e r m i s s i o n '

b e f o r e i l i n g , i s

d e n i e d .

The

e c o r d does o t u p p o r t any

r a u d

o r

p e r j u r y b y

d e f e n d a n t s o r t h e i r

a t t o r n e y B u r k e . T h i s C o u r t a l s o g r a n t e d l e a v e f o r t h e

p a r t i e s

t o

i l e a p p l i c a t i o n s

t o c o n f i r m

o r

r e j e c t JHO Gammer man s

e p o r t ,

t h u s c o m p l y i n g w i t h J u s t i c e

H a r o l d

B e e l e r ' s

O r d e r and

h i s

C o u r t ' s

Order

dated

December 24,2013.

The o r t i o n o f l a i n t i f f s c r o s s - m o t i o n t o v a c a t e h i s

C o u r t ' s o r d e r ,

d a t e d December 4 ,

2013,

i x t e e n months

f t e r t h e

i n i t i a l d e c i s i o n

i s d e n i e d . P l a i n t i f f

makes

h i s

a p p l i c a t i o n a f t e r

he


7/30

v i o l a t i n g the

C o u r t ' s p r e v i o u s Order and

w i t h o u t l e a v e

o f

the

C o u r t .

Moreover, he Court

a d d i t i o n a l l y f i n d s t h a t

the

h e r e i n a p p l i c a t i o n i s i n d i c a t i v e of a p a t t e r n by h e p l a i n t i f f t o

c o n t i n u a l i y

f i l e

m u i t i p l e motions o

vacate

or reargue e c i s i o n s , w i t h o u t s u f f i c i e n t

s u p p o r t ,

h a t

h a v e

been a d v e r s e l y r u l e d

a g a i n s t

him.

R e g a r d i n g t j i e p l i n t i f f s c r o s s - m o t i o n t o d i s q u l i f y J o s e p h B u r k e , d e f e n d a n t s o u n s e i ,

i s

w e l i

s e t t l e d

t h a t

[ Q h e

d i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n

o f

an

a t t o r n e y

i s

a

m a t t e r t h a t r e s t s

w i t h i n

t h e

sound

d i s c r e t i o n

o f t h e coyrf

F l o r e s

v W i l l a r c J J .

P r i c e

A s s o c s . ,

LLC,20

AD3d 343,344

1 s t

Dept

2 0 0 5 ] ; s e e W e l l s Fargo

Bank, . A . v

C a m ,82

AD3d 880,881

2 d

Dept

0 1 1 ] ;

F a l k

v

G a l l o , 73

AD3d

6 8 5 , 685

2 d

D e p t 2 0 1 0 ] ; H a r r i s

v

S c u i c o , 86 AD3d 4 8 1 , 4 8 1 [ 1 s t D e p t 2 0 0 9 ] ) . The i g h t

t o

c o u n s e i i s n o t

a b s o l u t e and m a y be v e r r i d d e n

where n e c e s s a r y .

..

u t

t

i s a a l u e d r i g h t

a n d a n y r e s t r i c t i o n

m u s t

b e

a r e f u l l y s c r u t i n i z e d

{S&S

o t e l V e n t u r e s t d . P a r t n e r s h i p v tn

S . H . C o r p . ,

69

NY2d 437,443 1 9 8 7 ] ; see MaUerofAbrams

J o h n

A n o n y m o u s ] ,62

NY2d 1 8 3 ,

1 9 6

1 9 8 4 ] ) .

A p a r ^ s n t i t l e m e n t t o b e r e p r e s e n t e d

i n

o n g o i n g i t i g t i o n b y c o u n s e l o f h i s o r

h e r

o w n h o o s i n g . :. h o u l d n o t

be

b r i d g e d a b s e n t a l e a r s h o w i n g

t h a t

i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n i s

w a r r a n t e d '

G u l i n o y

G u l i n o ,

35

AD3d

8 1 2 , 8 1 2 2 d

D e p t

2 0 0 6 ] ;

s e e

S S

o t e l

V e n t u r e s t d .

P a r t n e r s h i p ,

69

NY2d

a t 4 4 3 ; M a t t e r o f b r a m s , 82 NY2d a t 1 9 6 ; Campotongo v C a m p o l o n g o ,

2

D3d

476,476 2 d

D e p t

2 0 0 3 ] ;

Domlnguez Community e a l t h

P l a n

o f

u f f o l k , 284 AD2d

2 9 4 , 2 9 4 , 2 d D e p t 2 0 01 ] ) . A c c o r d i n g l y , m o t i o n s t o d i s q u a l i f y

o p p o s i n g c o u n s e l a r e

d i s f a v o r e d

.

..

and

r e q u i r e

a

h i g h

s t a n d a r d o f

p r o o f

{ C i a o - D I R e s t .

C o r p . v P a x t o n 3 5 0 ,

LLC,

22

i s c

3d

1 1 1 7 [ A ] ,

a t

*2 Sup

C t , N Y

C o u n t y 2 0 0 8 ] ; s e e

o l d s m i t h

v E l e n b e r g , 2013WL

1 4 2 2 6 4 ,

B ,

2013 N Y M i s c

LEXIS 1 9 9 7 ,

1 7

[Sup C t ,

N Y

C o u n t y

2 0 1 3 ] ; see

l s o N o r t h w e s t e r n

N a t l .

I n s . C o .


8/30

3 . 7 of h e Rules of r o f e s s i o n a l

Conduct

22 NYCRR 2 0 0 . 0 ) H a r r i s ,

86 AD3d a t 481[The

d e c i s i o n whether

d d i s q u a l i f y an

a t t o r n e y r e s t s

i n

t h e

sound

d i s c r e t i o n of h e cou r f ; s e e

S S

H o t e l V e n t u r e s L t d

P a r t n e r s h l p ,

69

Y2d

a t 443;

a l k ,

73 D3d a t 6 8 6 ) . C o u r t s

must

o n s i d e r

t h e

o t a l i t y o f

t h e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s F e r o l l t o v V u H a g g l o , 99 AD3d 19,27

1 s t

Dept

0 1 2 ] ,

u o t i n g

A b s e l e t v a t r a R e a l t y ,

LLC,85

AD3d

1406,1407

3d Dept

0 1 1 ) ; s e e

Pamesy a m e s ,80

AD3d

948,952

3d

Dept

201

j ) ,

and

must

a k e c a r e t o

a v o i d

m e c h a n i c a l

a p p l i c a t i o n

o f

b l a n k e t

r u l e s ' P e l l e g r i n o v Oppenheimer

o . , n c . ,49

D3d 94,98 1 s t Dept 0 0 8 ] , u o t i n g Teknh

P l e x , n c . V

Meynet

a n d l s ,89

Y2d

123,132 1 9 9 6 ] ; s e eS S o t e l V e n t u r e s

L t d .

P a r t n e r s h i p , 69 Y2d a t 4 4 4 ) . The u n c t i o n

of h e

c o u r t o n such a m o t i o n i s r e s t r i c t e d t o

t h e

t a k i n g

o f

such

a c t i o n as

may be

n e c e s s a r y

t o I n s u r e a p r o p e r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e p a r t i e s and

f a i r n e s s

i n t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e

i t i g a t i o n {Young v

Oa k

C r e s t

a i k ,

n c . , 75 AD2d 956,957 3d

Dept

1 9 8 0 ] ; s e e

Booth v

C o n t i n e n t a l

n s .

C o . ,

167 Misc 2d

429,436 Sup

C t ,

Westchester

C o u n t y

1 9 9 5 ] ) .

T h e l a i n t i f f s

c r o s s - m o t i o n

t o d i s q u a l i f y d e f e n d a n t s c o u n s e l i s d e n i e d .

There

s n o

c r e d i b l e

or r a t i o n a l b a s t s i n the C o u rfs e c o r d t o

support

s u c h an a p p l i c a t i o n .

Moreover,

p l a i n t i f f s c r o s s - m o t i o n t o d i s q u a l i f y B u r k e s a t l e a s t

t h e

t e n t h such m o t i o n f o r same,and t h i s

C o u r t c o n c l u d e ^

h i t

i t

i s

f r i v o l o u s , t o t a l l y

w i t h o u t

m e r i t , a n d u n s u p p o r t e d

b y

t h e C o u r t

e c o r d ,

and

s d e s i g n e d t o h a r a s s

and annoy

h e d e f e n d a n t

and h i s a t t o r n e y . Thus,

h e c r o s s - m o t i o n

v i o l a t e s

Rule

1 3 0 . 1 - 1

and

as

such

p l a i n t i f f

i s

s u b j e c t

t o

s a n c t i o n s .

F i n a l l y , p l a i n t i f f

has

been c l a i m i n g

he

u f f e r s r o m

a e r i o u s l l n e s s s i n c e

t h e i n c e p t i o n

o f

t h i s ca se i n c e t w a s i l e d i n 2004. He as

c ho s e n

t o

proceed

pro se, u t

c o n t i n u a l l y

a s s e r t s


9/30

c o n t i n u e s t o

i l e m u l t i p l e

m o t i o n s o v e r

and

o v e r and o t > o m b a r d t h e

Court

i t h ex

p a r t e

f a c s i m i l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , n

v i o l a t i o n

o f

h i s

C o u r t ' s

R u l e s .

The

o u r t

once

g a i n c o n c l u d e s

f r o m

t h e

h e a r i n i g

e v i d e n c e ,

n c l u d i n g

t e l e p h o n e

c a l l s t o

t h e

C o u r t and l a i n t i f f s

a b u s i v e

n a t u r e

towards Court

e r s o n n e l

by

e l e p h o n e ,

t h a t

he c o n t i n u e s t o be a

v e x a t i o u s i t i g a t o r

and i s

n e e d l e s s l y

p r o l o n g i n g

t h i s a c t i o n

t o

harass the

d e f e n d a n t ,

h i s a t t o r n e y ,

and

n e e d l e s s l y

exhausts h i s

C o u r t ' s

resources i t h motions

o m p l e t e l y

devoid

of e r i t .

I n

a d d i t i o n p l a i n t i f f

has

been r e p e a t e d l y

w a m e d

about

such

a c t i o n

see,

n t e r l i a

m o t i o n sequences 047,058, a t e d August 3,2010, o t i o n sequences 055,054,

a t e d J u l y 6,

2010, . 3111. o t i o n sequences 060,061,062,063, 065,

a t e d June

30,2011, o t i o n

sequences 042,064, a t e d September

27,2011,

n t e r i m

C o u r t

o r d e r ,

d a t e d

J a n u a r y

17,2014,

p . ;

n t e r i m C o u r t

O r d e r , d a t e d F e b r u a r y 1 8 , 2 0 1 4 , .3 , m o t i o n sequence

067, a t e d

December

4 , 2 0 1 3 ) . P l a i n t i f f

w a s

i v e n ample n o t i c e

and

o p p o r t u n i t y

t o a v o i d s a n c t i o n s and

an

n j u n c t i o n see o w l e r

v

o n f o r t I , 194

A D 2 d

394,598 NY2d 789 1 s t

Dept 1993]

l h e

i m p o s i t i o n

o f

t h e maxi m um s a n c t i o n o f $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 o r

f d v o l o u s

c o n d u c t w a s p p r o p r i a t e n t h i s

c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n c e p l a i n t i f f w a s o r e w a r n e d

a b o u t

t h e d u b i o u s n a t u r e o f h i s a c t i o n and

u r t h e r

b e c a u s e

t h e

p l a i n t i f f has e p e a t e d l y engaged n v e x a t i o u s i t i g a t i o n a r i s i n g

f r o m

t h e o r i g i n a l .

. .

c a s e ] ) .

CONCLUSION

A c c o r d i n g l y t

i s ,

ORDERED

h a t

d e f e n d a n t ' s

m o t i o n

p u r s u a n t t o CPLR

4 0 3

and

2 0 2 . 4 4

o f h e

U n i f o r m

R u l e s

o r

t h e N e w

York

S up re m e o u r t t o

c o n f i r m

i n i t s e n t i r e t y t h e R e p o r t and


10/30

f f

Recommendation

o f

JHO r a Gam m erm a n, a t e d F e b r u a r y

10,2Q15

s

d e n i e d i n i t s e n t i r e t y ;

a n d t i s f u r t h e r ,

OR ERE h a t defendants are awarded judgmen t on h e i r c o u n t e r c l a i m s a g a i n s t the

p l a i n t i f f I n t h e

amount f $ 7 , 1 1 0 , 5 3 2 . 0 0 ,

w i t h i nt e r e s t f r o r p August 18,2003;

and

t

I s f u r t h e r ,

OR ERE h a t

t he

Orders of u s t i c e Harold Beeler, a n d

t he Order of

h i s

Court dated

December 12,2005 r e

t i l l

i n p l a c e

and

r e r e i s s u e d ,

and

t h e h e r e i n p a r t i e s a r e e n j o i n e d from

t a k i n g any u r t h e r

a c t i o n i n

t h i s m a t t e r i n c l u d i n g , i l i n g

any

m o t i o n s , or

i l i n g

any

n e w

c t i o n s

b e f o r e t h i s C o u r t , w i t h o u t p r i o r l e a v e o f

t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e J u s t i c e

o f t h i s

C o u r t ;

and t

i s f u r t h e r ,

OR ERE h a t p l a i n t i f f i s c o n t i n u i d d t o be

d e e m e d

a e x a t i o u s i t i g a t o r and i s e n j o i n e d

f r o m :

(1)

s s e r t i n g

h i s

m e d i c a l

or h y s i c a l

c o n d i t i o n ,

o r

m e d i c a l t r e a t m e n t

t h e r e o f , or

2)

a s s e r t i n g

h i s u n a v a i l a b i l i t y b e i n g o u t o f

s t a t e

a s a e a s o n f o r non-appearance o r

non-

p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n i ^ u r t p r o c e d u r e b e f o r e h i s C o u r t o r S p e c i a l R e f e r e e o r a n y C o u r t - a p p o i n t e e

t h e r e o f ; a n d t

i s

f u r t h e r ,

OR ERE h a t the C l e r k

of

the Court

and

the County C l e r k of New ork County

are

o r d e r e d n o t

t o

a c c e p t any u r t h e r p a p e r s n

c o n n e c t i o n w i t h

t h i s

m a t t e r ,

n c l u d i n g

any m o t i o n s ,

n o r s

p l a i n t i f f a l l o w e d t o c o m m e n c e any n e w c t i o n s w i t h o u t p r i o r

l e a v e

o f t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e

J u s t i c e of

h i s

Court; a n d t i s f u r t h e r ,

OR ERE

h a t

t h e d e f e n d a n t s

s h a l l s e r v e a copy o f t h i s Order i t h N o t i c e o f E n t r y

on

the

l a i n t i f f

Ja m e s

o u r i

and

the C l e r k of he

Court

w h o s

d i r e c t e d

t o

e n t e r

judgment

a c c o r d i n g l y .

T h i s c o n k i t u t e s t h e D e c i s i o n a n d 0 ( d e r f h e ^ o u r t .


11/30

1 SUPREME

COURT OF

THE

STATEOF

NEW

YORK EW

YORK

COUNTY

PRESENT:

HON.

PAULWOOTEN

PART_Z_

Justice

JAMESCOURi

PlalnW,

INDEX

NO.

113812/08

- against

JOHN

SIEBERT

nd

JOHNW

IEBERT MD.

C.,

Defendants.

NO. 005

Notice

of otion/

Order

oShow

CauseAffidavits

~

xhibits

A n s w e r i n a

f f i d a v i t s

x h i b i t s

M e m o l

\ filed

R e p l y i n g A f f i d a v i t s R e p l y Memol

f

r - _

A H

2

I I

C r o s s - M o t i o n :U es No nn.nmrrtrmmi

j.

V B M ' i O P K

Now e f o r e t h e C o u r t s a o t i o n

by

d n f e s C o u r i

p l a i n t i f f ) ,

p u r s u a n t o

CPLR

126,

o r

an r d e r t r i k i n g t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' answer and f f i r m a t i v e

d e f e n s e s

and

e t t i n g t h i s

m a t t e r down

f o r an n q u e s t

as

o damages on h e b a s i s o f d e f e n d a n t s '

e f u s a l

t o

comply i t h d i s c o v e r y

demands e r v e d i n 2009, r d e r i n g d e f e n d a n t s

o

p r o d u c e

documents and

p r o d u c e d e f e n d a n t

J o h n

S i e b e r t

o r a e p o s i t i o n . l a i n t i f f

a l s o

s e e k s

i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n

o f e f e n d a n t s ' o u n s e l

J o s e p h

M.

u r k e , Esq.

B u r k e ) . D e f e n d a n t s a r e n o p p o s i t i o n

t o t h e m o t i o n , and h e p l a i n t i f f

s u b m i t s

a

r e p l y .

DISCUSSION

T h i s

a c t i o n

2008 Case) as i l e d b y t h e

p l a i n t i f f ,

p r o e , and h i c h t h e C o u r t n o t e s

d u p l i c a t l v e

o f

a n o t h e r

a c t i o n

p e n d i n g b e f o r e t h i s C o u r t i n C o u r i

v

S i e b e r t , under n d e x n o .


12/30

i n j u n c t i o n

w h i c h p r o h i b i t e d

b o t h

p a r t i e s from

commencing a

new

a c t i o n o r

i l i n g

a

new

m o t i o n

w i t h o u t

l e a v e

or

p e r m i s s i o n o f

the Court

Order

dated

December 12,2005

and

February

17 ,

2006). P i a i n t i f T s c o m p l a i n t and c o u n t e r c l a i m s were subsequently d i s m i s s e d

by

the

A p p e l l a t e

D i v i s i o n ,

F i r s t Department

n F e b r u a r y 2008, h e r e i n t h e A p p e l l a t e

D i v i s i o n

g r a n t e d

t h e

d e f e n d a n t s m o t i o n t o t r i k e

t h e

c l a i m s b a s e d u p o n p l a i n t i f f s c o n t i n u e d

f l l u r e

t o

c o m p l y

w i t h

d i s c o v e r y d e m a n d s o r

h i s

t a x retums, u t the d e f e n d a n t s o u n t e r c l a i m remained see Couri

v

S i e b e r t ,

8 D3d

370 1 s t

Dept 0 0 8 ] ) .

With the consent

o f

the

A d m i n i s t r a t i v e

J u s t i c e ,

the

Honorable Michael

J . Stallman, a

p r i o r Judge

a s s i g n e d

t o

t h e

2004 Case, r a n t e d

t h e

p l a i n t i f f s o n e - t i m e a p p l i c a t i o n t o i l e a new

a c t i o n . Thus, o n o r about O c t o b e r 7,2008, l a i n t i f f co m menced h e h e r e i n a c t i o n ,

by

S u m m o n s

w i t h N o t i c e ,

and

s u b s e q u e n t l y

i l e d

a o m p l a i n t . D e f e n d a n t

i l e d an answer w i t h c o u n t e r c l a i m s

and issue

was o i n e d .

I n t h e 2004 Case, h i s C o u r t g r a n t e d d e f e n d a n t s m o t i o n t o s t r i k e p l a i n t i f f s r e p l y

t o

d e f e n d a n t s o u n t e r c l a i m s

and

d i s m i s s e d t h e

p l a i n t i f f s

c o u n t e r c l a i m s by

Court

r d e r ,

dated

December

24,2013,

n t e r

l i a

f o r

f a i l u r e

t o

comply

w i t h

d i s c o v e r y o r d e r s .

I n

s o

o i n g

t h i s

C o u r t

l a b e l e d t h e p l a i n t i f f a

v e x a t i o u s i t i g a t o r

and

1)

r a n t e d d e f e n d a n t s m o t i o n t o s t r i k e an d

d i s m i s s p l a i n t i f f s r e p l y t o d e f e n d a n t s o u n t e r c l a i m s ;

2)

eemed

l a i n t i f f

a

v e x a t i o u s

l i t i g a t o r

and

e n j o i n e d

p l a i n t i f f

from:

a) s s e r t i n g

h i s

m e d i c a l

o r

p h y s i c a l

c o n d i t i o n ,

o r m e d i c a l t r e a t m e n t

t h e r e o f , o r b) s s e r t i n g

h i s

u n a v a i l a b i l i t y

b e i n g

o u t o f s t a t e as a

r e a s o n

f o r non-appearance

r

n o n - p a r t i c i p a t i o n

i n

c o u r t p r o c e d u r e

b e f o r e

t h i s C o u r t o r S p e c i a l Referee r any C o u r t -

a p p o i n t e e ,

and 3) e - i s s u e d t h e i n t e r i m o r d e r s by J u s t i c e

H a r o l d

B e e i e r ,

d a t e d F e b r u a r y

1 7 ,

2005,and h i s o r d e r dated December 12.2005,

n

which

i l

p a r t i e s were n j o i n e d f r o m t a k i n g


13/30

f o r h i s n o n - a p p e a r a n c e o r t o send an

a t t o r n e y

on

h i s

b e h a l f .

The

e f e n d a n t s a p p e a r e d a t t h e

c o n f e r e n c e

a n d

t h e

Court proceeded t o

c o n f e r e n c e the cases.

Moreover, he

r e l i e f sought by h e

p l a i n t i f f i n t h i s

m o t i o n , o w i t , d i s c o v e r y

from

the

d e f e n d a n t s

a n d h e d i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n

o f Burke

s d u p l i c a t i v e o f p r e v i o u s m o t i o n s i l e d i n

the

2004

C a s e . I n t h i s motion

p l a i n t i f f

s e e k s

o r e - I H i g a t e i s s u e s t h a t

ha v e b een r e s o l v e d

by n u m e r o u s

O r d e r s , n c l u d i n g M o t i o n

Seque n ce 069

n t h e 2004 Case,

and

a r e t h u s d e n i e d

as

m o o t ,

b a r r e d

by

h e

d o c t r i n e s

o f

r e s u d i c a t a see a r k e r v l a u v e l t V o l u n t e e r F i r e

C o . , 93

NY2d

343,347

[ 1 9 9 9 ]

U n d e r r e s u d i c a t a ,

o r

daim p r e c l u s i o n ,

a

a l i d

f i n a l

j u d g m e n t

b a r s

f u t u r e a c t i o n s

b e t w e e n t h e

s a m e

a r t i e s on h e s a m e a u s e o f c t i o n ] ;

S e r i o v

Town o f

s l l p ,

87

AD3d 5 3 3 ,

534 2 d

D e p t

2 0 1 1 ] a l t h o u g h

t h e p l a i n t i f f a l i e g e s n t h e i n s t a n t

a c t i o n

t h a t t h e d e f e n d an t s

e n g a g e d

i n

f r a u d ,

h i s

p u r p o r t e d

new

c i a i m

o r

t h e o r y

i s

g r o u n d e d

on

h e

s a m e

r a n s a c t i o n

o r

s e r i e s

o f

t r a n s a c t i o n s as h e

p r i o r

a c t i o n ] ;

Y o n k e r s

C o n t r .

C o . , n c .

v

P o r t A u t h . T r a n s - H u d s o n

C o r p . ,

93

NY2d

3 7 5 , 380 1 9 9 9 ] a

f i n a l

c o n d u s i o n may e n d i c a t e d

b y

t h e

c o u r t

t h r o u g h t h e

u s e o f

o n t h e

m e r i t s

o r

d i s m i s s a l w i t h p r e j u d i c e

l a n g u a g e , b o t h i n t e r c h a ng e a b l y

u s e d

t o

p r e d u d e u r t h e r l i t i g a t i o n

on

h e

m a t t e r ] ) ,

a n d

c o l l a t e r a l e s t o p p e l [ t ] h e

p a r t y s e e k i n g

t h e

b e n e f i t o f o l l a t e r a l

e s t o p p e l

m u s t d e m o n s t r a t e h a t

t h e

i d e n t i c a l

i s s u e

was e c e s s a r i l y

d e d d e d

i n t h e p r i o r

a d j u d i c a t i o n a n d i s

d e c i s i v e

i n

t h e n e w l y

p r e s e n t e d c i r c u m s t a n c e a n d f o r u m . To

b l o c k t h e u s e

o f

e s t o p p e l , a c o n t e s t a n t c a n

show

h e a b s e n c e o f a u l l and a i r o p p o r t u n i t y t o

p r e s e n t r e l e v an f v i e w s i n

t h e

p r i o r c o n t e s f { D a vi d

v B l o n d e ,

92 NY2d 3 1 8 , 3 2 2

1 9 9 8 ] ) .

T h u s , l a i n t i f f s m o t i o n

i s

d e n i e d o n t h e b a s i s t h a t

1 )

t

v i o l a t e s

J u s t i c e B e e l e r i s O r d e r s ,

and h i s

C o u r t ' s

o r d e r ,

d a t e d December

4 , 2 0 1 3 . w h i c h l a b e l s p l a i n t i f f a v e x a t i o u s l i t i g a t o r and

e n j o i n s

t h e p a r t i e s f r o m f i l i n g s u c h m o t i o n s w i t h o u t l e a v e o f t h e

C o u r t ;

2 )

l a i n t i f f

i m p r o p e r l y


14/30

p l a i n t i f f

a e l e p h o n e c o n f e r e n c e

w i t h

t h e . o u r t

t o

c o n s i d e r

g r a n t i n g

h i m

l e a v e t o i l e t h i s

m o t i o n ,

w h i c h

p l a i n t i f f

i g n o r e d ,

and

he

u b s e q u e n t l y

i l e d

t h i s

m o t i o n

w i t h o u t

l e a v e o f t h e

C o u r t

{see

Court

r d e r dated p r i l

6,2015).

F u r t h e r m o r e , l a i n t i f f has made numerous

t h e r

motions o i s q u a l i f y Burke rom

r e p r e s e n t i n g

the

e f e n d a n t s ,

which

have

l i

been e n i e d .

As uch,

he

o r t i o n of

l a i n t i f f s

m o t i o n

h e r e i n

s e e k i n g

t o

d i s q u a l i f y

d e f e n d a n t s '

o u n s e l

i s d e n i e d . There s no

r e d i b l e

o r

r a t i o n a l b a s i s i n

t h e

C o u r t ' s r e c o r d t o s u p p o r t - s u c h an p p l i c a t i o n see

i a o - D i Rest C o r p .

v

Paxton

350,

LLC, 2

isc

d

1 1 7 I A ] , a t *2

Sup

t . NY

ounty

20081 rmotions o

d i s q u a l i f y

o p p o s i n g

c o u n s e l a r e

d i s f a v o r e d . .. nd

r e q u i r e a

i g h s t a n d a r d

o f

proof] ;

G o l d s m i t h v

E l l e n b e r g , 20^3WL 142264,

8,2013

NY i s c LEXIS 9 9 7 ,

*17

Sup t , NY o u n t y

2 0 1 3 ] ;

see

l s o

Northwestem

/ a t f .

I n s .

Co.

v

n s c o ,

L t d . ,

2011 WL 552997,

4,2011

US

i s t

LEXIS

1 1 3 6 2 6 ,

3 1 [SD

NY

0 1 1 ] ; T r a d e w l n d s i r l i n e s , I n c . v S o r o s , 2009WL 3 2 1 6 9 5 , 3 , 2 0 0 9 US

D i s t LEXIS 0689, 9 SD NY 0 0 9 ] ; F l o r a s v i l l a r d J .

P r i c e

A s s o c s . , LLC, 0

AD3d

3 4 3 , 3 4 4

[ 1 s t

D e p t

2005] M h e

i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n

o f

a n a t t o r n e y

s

a

a t t e r t h a t

r e s t s w i t h i n t h e

s o u n d

d i s c r e t i o n

o f

t h e

c o u r f

;

see

e l l s

F a r g o B a n k ,

N . A .

v

a r o ,

8 2

D3d

880,881

2 d D e p t

2 0 1 1 ] ;

F a l k v G a l l o ,

73

D 3 d

6 8 5 , 6 8 5 2 d D e p t 2 0 1 0 ] ;

a r r i $

v S c u i c o ,

3 6 A D 3 d 4 8 1 . 4 8 1

I s t D e p t

2009]).

M o r e o v e r , l a i n t i f f s m o t i o n

t o

d i s q u a l i f y B u r k e

as

e f e n d a n t s ' o u n s e l s

a t

l e a s t t h e

t e n t h s u c h m o t i o n t o d i s q u a l i f y h i m and h i s C o u r t c o n c l u d e s

t h a t

t

i s f r i v o l o u s , t o t a l l y

w i t h o u t

m e r i t ,

a n d

c o m p l e t e l y u n s u p p o r t e d b y t h e

C o u r t

r e c o r d

s u c h

t h a t

t h e

C o u r t deems

t

t o

be

d e s i g n e d t o h a r a s s a n d a n n o y

t h e

d e f e n d a n t a n d h i s a t t o r n e y .

P l a i n t i f f

s o u g h t i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n

i n

t h e

2004 Case as

e c e n t l y

as o t i o n Sequence

69,

h i c h was l s o d e n i e d ,


15/30

T a v e l l a

25 AD3d 523,524 1 s t D e p t 2 0 0 6 ] ) .

P l a i n t i f f

a c t i n g

p r o

s e , h a s e n g a g e d i n a

a t t e r n

o f a b u s i v e

i i t i g a t i o n

a g a i n s t t h e d e f e n d a n t b y i l i n g e x p e n s i v e f r i v o l o u s and d u p l i c a t i v e m o t i o n s

d e s i g n e d t o

h a r a s s ,

i n j u r e and annoy h e

d e f e n d a n t , and as

a

e s u l t

p l a i n t i f f

s s u b j e c t t o

sanctions.

P l a i n t i f f i n t h e 2004 Case p r e v i o u s l y f i l e d more than i x

summary

udgment

m o t i o n s ,

m u l t i p l e f r i v o l o u s motions o v a c a t e , motions o

r e a r g u e ,

m u l t i p l e motions o d i s q u a l i f y

d e f e n d a n t s o u n s e l , and

m o t i o n s s e e k i n g

t o

r e c u s e u d i c i a l

o f f i c e r s t h a t

r u l e a d v e r s e t o h i s

p o s i t i o n ,

and

l m o s t

l l

o f t h e m o t i o n s r e p e a t e d l y a l l e g e t h e

same

r g u m e n t s . M o r e o v e r ,

p l a i n t i f f s

i n t e n t ,

n

b o t h

t h e 2008 and h e 2004 Cases, s

t o

p r o l o n g t h e r e s o l u t i o n o f t h e

m a t t e r

as

a

means

f h a r a s s i n g t h e d e f e n d a n t , and o w a s t e u d i c i a l r e s o u r c e s w h i c h i s e v i d e n t f r o m :

( 1 )

l a i n t i f f s

c h o i c e

t o

p r o c e e d

p r o s e , a n d

c o n t i n u e d

r e p e a t e d

f r i v o l o u s

m o t i o n

p r a p t i c e

d e s p i t e

w a r n i n g s

by h e

C o u r t and r d e r s ;

2 )

l a i n t i f f s

f a i l u r e

t o

make

o u r t

a p p e a r a n c e s f o r

good

c a u s e i n o r d e r t o r e p r e s e n t h i m s e l f

o r

t o

p r o v i d e an

t t o r n e y f o r

same; 3)

e p e a t e d l y r e f u s i n g

o r i g n o r i n g C o u r t

o r d er s t o c o o p e r a t e

w i t h

t h e

d i s c o v e r y

p r o c e s s ;

4 ) e r b a l l y

a b u s i n g

C o u r t

p e r s o n n e l

b y t e l e p h o n e a n d r e p e a t e d l y

l e a v i n g

h a r a s s i n g

a n d t h r e a t e n i n g m e s s a g e s

o n

t h e

C o u r t

m e s s a g e s y s t e m ; a n d

( 5 )

i s r e p e a t e d i n s i s t e n c e f o r m o r e t h a n 1 1 y e a r s ,

h a t

h e s t o o

t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n C o u r t p r o c e d u r e s , a p p e a r a n c e s a n d c o n f e r e n c e s

w h e n e v e r

t h e C o u r t s e e k s

t o

move h i s case or respond

o

h i s telephone e q u e s t s .

The

l a i n t i f f

h a s c h o s e n t o

p r o c e e d

p r o se when h e

i l e d

t h i s

a c t i o n

i n

2004

n d 2 0 0 8 ,

a n d h a s

a l s o p r o f f e r e d

a n

u n d o c u m e n t e d i l l n e s s w h i c h h a s

k e p t

h i m f r o m p r o s e c u t i n g t h i s

a c t i o n s i n c e 2004. P l a i n t i f f has o t

s u b s t a n t i a t e d any

such l l n e s s as he has a i l e d t o

t i m e l y

p r o v i d e t h e p r o p e r me d i c a l a u t h o r i z a t i o n s a n d h e h a s a i l e d

t o

p r o v i d e

v a l i d d o c u m e n t a t i o n

o f


16/30

f a i l u r e t o

f o l l o w

t h i s C o u r t ' s i n j u n c t i o n r e q u i r i n g

t h a t

he b t a i n p e r m i s s i o n of he Court r i o r t o

f i l i n g

any

new c t i o n o r

m o t i o n , a n d / o r warned h e

p l a i n t i f f t h a t

t h i s c o n t i n u e d

a c t i o n would

be

s a n c t i o n a b l e

see M o t i o n Sequences 047,058, rder a t e d A u g u s t . 3 , 2 0 1 0 , M o t i o n Sequences

055,054,

r d e r d a t e d

J u l y 6,2010,

.

3

, M o t i o n Sequence

060,061,062,063,065,

r d e r

d a t e d

June

30,2011,

o t i o n

Sequence 042,064, rder

a t e d September

27,2011, n t e r i m

C o u r t

O r d e r , d a t e d

J a n u a r y

17,2014, .

2

; n t e r i m C o u r t O r d e r , d a t e d F e b r u a r y

18,2014,

.

3 7 o t i o n sequence 067, a t e d December 4 , 2 0 1 3 ) . N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e p u b l i c p o l i c y

r e q u i r i n g

f r e e a c c e s s

t o t h e

c o u r t s ,

t h e

m o t i o n c o u r t ' s

o r d e r

b a r r i n g p l a i n t i f f f r o m

i n i t i a t i n g

f u r t h e r

i t i g a t i o n o r

m o t i o n p r a c t i c e a g a i n s t

d e f e n d a n t s w i t h o u t

p r i o r c o u r t

a p p r o v a l

u n l e s s he s

r e p r e s e n t e d

b y c o u n s e l was u s t i f i e d b y

p i a i n f r i f

s

o n t i n u o u s

a n d v e x a t i o u s

l i t i g a t i o n

a g a i n s t

d e f e n d a n t s '

B a n u s h i

v Law

f f .

o f

c o t t

W.

p s t e i n ,

1 1 1 AD3d

558,558

1 s t

D e p t

2 0 1 3 ] ;

B r e y t m a n v P i n n a c l e

G r o u p , 110 AD3d

754

2 d D e p t

2 0 1 3 ] w h i l e p u b l i c p o l i c y

m a n d a t e s

f r e e

a c c e s s t o t h e c o u r t s , when

a

i t i g a n t

i s

a b u s i n g

t h e u d i c i a l p r o c e s s b y

h a r a s s i n g

i n d i v i d u a l s

s o l e l y o u t o f l l

w i l l

o r

p i t e ,

e q u i t y

may

n j o i n

s u c h v e x a t i o u s

i t i g a t i o n ] ; D I m e r y v U l s t e r

S a v i n g s B a n k ,

82 D3d1034 2 d

D e p t 2 0 1 1 ] ) ; r t ) - B r a s i l

R e s s e g u r o s

S . A . ,

59 AD3d t

366

[ T h e c o u r t p r o p e r l y i n v o k e d

I t s

e q u i t y p o w e r

t o

e n j o i n d e f e n d a n t s f r o m p r o s e c u t i n g t h e

a c t i o n .

..

n o r d e r t o

p r e v e n t t h e

w a s t e

o f

u d i c i a l

r e s o u r c e s , u n n e c e s s a r y l e g a l

e x p e n s e s ,

a n d

d u p l i c a t i v e

l i t i g a t i o n

t h a t

m i g h t l e a d

t o c o n f l i c t i n g

r e s u l t s ' ] C o u r i

v

S i e b e r t ,

4 8

AD3d

370

1 s t

D e p t

2 0 0 8 ] ; Lammers L a m m e r s , 235 AD2d 286 1 s t D e p t 1 9 9 7 ] G i v e n t h e

n u m e r o u s

f r i v o l o u s

m o t i o n s d e f e n d a n t

has made, t was

a

p r o p e r e x e r c i s e o f d i s c r e t i o n f o r t h e c o u r t t o

e n j o i n h e r f r o m m a k i n g a n y

u r t h e r m o t i o n

i n t h i s a c t i o n w i t h o u t

j u d i c i a l

a p p r o v a l ] ; S c h w a r t z

v

N o r d s t r o m , n c . , 160 AD2d 2 4 0 , 2 4 2 , a p p e a l

d i s m i s s e d

76

NY2d

845 imO], v

d e n i e d

76

NY2d


17/30

I n

denying the h e r e i n m o t i o n i n

i t s

e n t i r e t y , ,

t h e

Court a l s o f i n d s

t

a p p r o p r i a t e t o impose

s a n c t i o n s

i n

the

am o u n t

of

2,500.00

g a i n s t

t h e

p l a i n t i f f ,

p u r s u a n t

t o

NYCRR

3 0 - 1 . 1 ,

o r

b r i n g i n g a

r i v o l o u s a n d d u p l i c a t i v e m o t i o n , brought

p r i m a r i l y

t o

harass

an d

waste

Court

r e s o u r c e s ,

w i t h o u t

p r i o r

c o u r t a p p r o v a l . F i n a l l y ,

t h e

V e r i f i e d

C o m p l a i n t i s

d i s m i s s e d f o r

p l a i n t i f f s f a i l u r e t o appear t

t h e

c a l l o f t h e c a l e n d a r f o r a mandatory Compliance

Conference

on F e b r u a r y 2 6 , 2 0 1 4 , p u r s u a n t t o

2 2

NYCRR 0 2 . 2 7 ( b ) . T h i s C o u r t has

p r e v i o u s l y r u l e d

t h a t

p l a i n t i f f

c a n n o t

use h i s

m e d i c a l

c o n d i t i o n , w h i c h p l a i n t i f f has a i l e d t o s u b s t a n t i a t e

t h r o u g h v a l i d

and

a d m i s s i b l e d o c u m e n t a t i o n , as a b a s i s f o r a l l i n g t o appear n

C o u r t

or o f o l l o w t h i s C o u r t ' s

O r d e r s .

CONCLUSION

A c c o r d i n g l y

t I s ,

ORDERED h a t p l a i n t i f f James C o u r t ' s m o t i o n b r o u g h t p u r s u a n t t o CPLR 3 1 2 6 , o r an

O r d e r t r i k i n g

t h e d e f e n d a n t s '

a n s w e r

a n d

a f f i r m a t i v e

d e f e n s e s a n d s e t t i n g

t h i s

m a t t e r

d own

o r

an

i n q u e s t

as

o

damages o n t h e b a s i s

o f d e f e n d a n t s '

r e f u s a l

t o

c o m p l y w i t h d i s c o v e r y

demands

e r v e d

i n

2 0 0 9 ,

o r d e r i n g

d e f e n d a n t s

t o

p r o d u c e

d o c u m e n t s

and

p r o d u c e d e f e n d a n t

J o h n S i e b e r t . f o r a e p o s i t i o n , and o r d i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n o f d e f e n d a n t s ' c o u n s e l

J o s e p h

M.

u r k e ,

Esq. s d e n i e d i n

i t s

e n t i r e t y ; a n d

t

i s f u r t h e r ,

ORDERED h a t t h e V e r i f i e d

C o m p l a i n t

s d i s m i s s e d

f o r

p l a i n t i f f s f a i l u r e

t o

a p p e a r

a t

t h e

c a l l o f t h e c a l e n d a r

f o r

a m a n d a t o r y

C o m p l i a n c e

C o n f e r e n c e on F e b r u a r y

2 6 ,

2 0 1 4 , p u r s u a n t t o

NYCRR

0 2 . 2 7 ( b ) ; a n d t i s f u r t h e r ,

ORDERED h a t t h e C o u r t

sua p o n t e

imposes a n c t i o n s a g a i n s t

p l a i n t i f f

i n t h e

amount

o f

2 , 5 0 0 . 0 0 , p u r s u a n t t o

2 2

NYCRR 3 0 - 1 . 1 , o r i l i n g a u c c e s s i v e r i v o l o u s

m o t i o n I n v i o l a t i o n


18/30

C o u r t o r t r a n s m i t t a l t o

t h e

C o m m i s s i o n e r o f

T a x a t i o n

a n d

F i n a n c e ;

a n d t i s f u r t h e r ,

ORDERED h a t

t h e

O r d e r s o f u s t i c e

H a r o l d

B e e l e r ,

a n d

t h e O r d e r o f h i s C o u r t

d a t e d

D e c e m b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 3

r e

t l l i n

p l a c e

a n d a r e

r e i s s u e d ,

a n d t h e h e r e i n p a r t i e s a r e e n j o i n e d f r o m

t a k i n g a n y

u r t h e r a c t i o n

i n t h i s m a t t e r

i n c l u d i n g ,

i l i n g a n y m o t i o n s , o r i l i n g a n y

n e w

c t i o n s

b e f o r e t h i s C o u r t ,

w i t h o u t

p r i o r l e a v e o f

h e

A d m i n i s t r a t i v e J u s t i c e

o f

t h i s C o u r t ; a n d t i s

f u r t h e r .

ORDERED

h a t

p l i n t i f f

i s

c o n t i n u e d t o

b e

d e e m e d

a

v e x a t i o u s

l i t i g t o r

a n d

i s

e n j o i n e d

f r o m ; 1 )

s s e r t i n g

h i s

m e d i c a l o r p h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n , o r m e d i c a l t r e a t m e n t t h e r e o f , o r 2 )

a s s e r t i n g h i s

u n a v a i l a b i l i t y

b e i n g o u t o f t a t e a s

a

e a s o n o r n o n - a p p e a r a n c e o r n o n -

p a r t i c i p a t i o n I n c o u r t p r o c e d u r e b e f o r e t h i s

C o u r t o r

S p e c i a l

R e f e r e e

o r a n y C o u r t - a p p o i n t e e ;

and t i s

f u r t h e r ,

ORDERED

h a t

t h e

p a r t i e s

a i l u r e

t o

c o m p l y w i t h t h e

t e r m s

o f

t h i s

o r d e r s h a l l

s u b j e c t

t h e p a r t i e s t o

d i s m i s s a l

o f h e i r a c t i o n , a n c t i o n s o r c o n t e m p t

o f

t h e C o u r t ;

a n d

t i s f u r t h e r ,

ORDERED h a t

t h e

C l e r k o f t h e

C o u r t

a n d t h e C o u n t y C l e r k o f N e w Y o r k C o u n t y a r e

o r d e r e d n o t t o a c c e p t

a n y

u r t h e r

p a p e r s

i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h

t h i s

m a t t e r , n c l u d i n g a n y

m o t i o n s ,

n o r

s

p l i n t i f f

a l l o w e d t o

c o m m e n c e

a n y

n e w

a c t i o n s

w i t h o u t

p r i o r

l e a v e

o f

t h e

A d m i n i s t r a t i v e

J u s t i c e

o f t h i s C o u r t ; and

t

i s

f u r t h e r ,

ORDERED h a t

t h e d e f e n d a n t s s h a l l

s e r v e a c o p y o f

h i s

O r d e r

w i t h

N o t i c e o f E n t r y o n

t h e

p l i n t i f f a n d t h e C l e r k o f t h e

C o u r t

w h o s d i r a c t f t H t n

j i i r f f | m o n f

a c c o r d i n g l y .

T h i s c o n s t i t i ^ J ^ ^ ^ ^ p 6 l | ^ o | h e o u r t

i JAN 7

aM


19/30

\ \ j a SUPREME COURT

OF

THE STATE OF

NEW

ORK

) NEW YORK

COUNTY

Ui

CO

>

e

s

s

lU

u.

Il l

K

IS

i i

O

z

S 2 I

U J

j

o

u.

S I

P R E S E N T :

P a u l

Wooten

PART

Ir

Justle9

I n d e x Number: 0 1 0 3 3 / 2 0 1 5

COURI JAMES

vs

burke.

OSEPH M.

SEQUENCE NUMBER:

02

SUMMARY UDGMENT

l i l S T i b N 8 g Q . N 0 . .

NVC

OFRCE

Y g U P R i M E , C O U R T

-

p i i

T h e o l l o w i n g p a p e r s ,

n u m b e r e d

1 o4

e r e r e

a d o n h i s m o t i o n t o / f o r

| N o ( s ) . _ L 3 l ^

| N q ( ) . 3

Notice o f Motion/Order o ShowCause~fRdavHs

xhibits

Answering f f i d a v i t s

x h i b i t s

Replying f f i d a v i t s

U p o n

t h e o

r a

g o i n g

p a p e r s ,

t

I s

o r d e r e d t h a t

h i s

m o t i o n

s

d i C \ d i O ^

VH

3 C O O ( i S ^ S P C &

UOcV^

' ^ m S T f i o f t a i n d u i i r i d e e i i s ^

\ a

V o o W i

S e c i M e w i f l

oo\.

FILED

JAN27 I I


20/30

SUPREME COURT OF

THE

STATE

OFNEWYORK

EWYORK

COUNTY

PRESENT: HON,

PAULWOOTEN

RT

Justice

JAMES

COURi,

- against

-

P l a i n t i f r

n

1033rt8

NDEX NO.^ ..nrs

JOSEPHM. URKE

SQ.,

RUSSO URKE

ESQ.,JOHNDOE -10

Defsndants.

The o l l o w i n g

p a p e r s

numbered 1 o 2 were e a d on

h i s

m o t i o n by e f e n d a n t s t o d i s m l s e t h e

complaint.

PAPERS NUMBERED

N o t i c e of o t i o n /

Order

o

S h o w CauseAffidavits

. E x h i b i t s

Answering

A f f i d a v i t s

x h i b i t s Mem

2016-02-11 - Couri - three recent decisions and $25M judgment.pdf

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