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John BOWMAN, individually, and as Successor-in-title to 2069 Realty, Inc., et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. George DI PLACIDI, etc., et al., Defendants-Respondents.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Walter B. Tolub, J.), entered June 8, 2004, which, inter alia, granted defendants' CPLR 3211 motion insofar as to dismiss the first and second causes of action on statute of frauds grounds, and order, same court and Justice, entered on or about September 9, 2004, which, to the extent appealable, denied plaintiffs' motion for renewal and for leave to amend the complaint to include a cause of action for rescission, unanimously affirmed, with costs.
Plaintiffs' claims for breach of an alleged oral contract for the transfer and reconveyance some three years later of a parcel of real property, were properly dismissed since the purported agreement is void under the statute of frauds (see General Obligations Law § 5-701 and § 5-703). Plaintiffs' allegations that they partially performed the agreement are insufficient to remove the agreement from the statute since the conduct relied upon, i.e., delivery of a deed, which did not recite the consideration paid for the property, is not unequivocally referable to the alleged agreement (see Messner Vetere Berger McNamee Schmetterer Euro RSCG, Inc. v. Aegis Group plc, 93 N.Y.2d 229, 689 N.Y.S.2d 674, 711 N.E.2d 953 [1999] ). Moreover, since the agreement was not performable within one year, plaintiffs' reliance upon part performance to remove the agreement from the statute's preclusive scope is, in any event, unavailing (see General Obligations Law § 5-701; Stephen Pevner, Inc. v. Ensler, 309 A.D.2d 722, 766 N.Y.S.2d 183 [2003] ).
We have reviewed plaintiffs' remaining arguments and find them unavailing.
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Decided: March 09, 2006
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
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FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
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