DYNAMIC EVENT GROUP INC v. PENSKE TRUCK LEASING CO (2023)

Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Arlene R. Bluth, J.), entered August 17, 2022, dismissing the amended complaint, and bringing up for review an order, same court and Justice, entered August 4, 2022, which granted defendants’ cross-motions for summary judgment dismissing the amended complaint and denied plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

The court properly concluded that defendant Penske's tender of full payment of plaintiff's expenses and defense costs rendered the controversy moot (see Amherst & Clarence Ins. Co. v. Cazenovia Tavern, Inc., 59 N.Y.2d 983, 984, 466 N.Y.S.2d 660, 453 N.E.2d 1077 [1983]).  The declarations plaintiff seeks to obtain no longer apply to the instant action and are relevant only to future actions involving the parties, which may or may not be filed, and which are beyond their control at this juncture.  Plaintiff is seeking an advisory opinion concerning Penske's liability in the future and would gain nothing in the present action if the court granted the declarations it seeks (see Technology Ins. Co. v. First Mercury Ins. Co., 194 A.D.3d 530, 531, 143 N.Y.S.3d 869 [1st Dept. 2021], lv denied 38 N.Y.3d 902, 2022 WL 806783 [2022]).

Exceptions to the mootness doctrine do not apply here because it is not certain that the issue will recur in future actions between these parties since recurrence depends on the happening of another accident caused by plaintiff's negligence and, in that event, Penske may again elect to fully compensate plaintiff for its expenses and defense costs.

We have considered the parties’ remaining arguments and find them unavailing.