| Flatbush Chiropractic, P.C. As Assignee of David Ezekwesili v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. |
| Motion No: 2011-00811 kc |
| Slip Opinion No: 2012 NY Slip Op 86821(U) |
| Decided on October 9, 2012 |
| Appellate Term, Second Department, Motion Decision |
| Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. |
| This motion is uncorrected and is not subject to publication in the Official Reports. |
of the State of New York for the 2nd, 11th & 13th judicial Districts
MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J.
MICHELLE WESTON
JAIME A. RIOS, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER ON MOTION
| Flatbush Chiropractic, P.C. as Assignee of David Ezekwesili, Appellant, v State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., Respondent. |
Appellant Flatbush Chiropractic, P.C., a/a/o David Ezekwesili, having appealed to this court from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County, dated May 30, 2010, and appellant having perfected the appeal on October 13, 2011, the matter was placed on this court's ready-day calendar for June 12, 2012. By letter dated June 6, 2012, counsel for respondent sought permission to withdraw the appeal, advising that the underlying matter had previously been settled on November 22, 2011. Attached to that letter was a stipulation discontinuing the underlying matter dated November 22, 2011. By order to show cause dated June 18, 2012, counsel for the parties were directed to show cause why an order should or should not be made and entered imposing such sanctions as the court may deem appropriate pursuant to the Rules of the Appellate Terms, Second Department (22 NYCRR) § 730.3 (f) upon the parties or their respective counsel.
Upon the order to show cause and the papers filed in response thereto, it is
ORDERED that within 20 days after service of a copy of this decision and order on motion upon it, the The Rybak Firm, PLLC, counsel for appellant, shall pay a sanction in the sum of $250 to the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection of the State of New York (see Rules of the Chief Administrator of the Courts [22 NYCRR] §§ 130-1.1[b]; 130-1.3); and it is further,
ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court, or his designee, shall serve a copy of this decision and order on motion upon counsel for the parties by regular mail; and it is further
ORDERED that within 10 days after payment of the sanction, The Rybak Firm, PLLC, shall file proof of payment with the Clerk of this Court.
The rules of this court provides, in relevant part, that "[i]f an appeal or the underlying action or proceeding is wholly or partially settled ... the parties or their counsel shall immediately notify the court. Any attorney or party who, without good cause shown, fails to comply with the requirements of this subdivision shall be subject to the imposition of costs and/or sanctions as the court may direct" (Rules of the Appellate Terms, Second Department [22 NYCRR] § 730.3 [f]).
Under the circumstances, the failure of The Rybak Firm, PLLC, to promptly advise this Court that a settlement had been reached and that the appeal should not be calendered warrants the imposition of sanctions in the amount indicated. While the court's rule does not absolve a respondent's counsel from responsibility for failing to notify the court of the settlement, in the case at bar it is undisputed that counsel for respondent advised appellant' s counsel to withdraw the appeal and had no reason to believe that he would not do so.
PESCE, P.J., WESTON and RIOS, JJ., concur..
ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk