Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
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.
VAN DUZER REALTY CORP., Plaintiff–Respondent, v. GLOBE ALUMNI STUDENT ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION, INC., et al., Defendants–Appellants.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Carol Edmead, J.), entered June 20, 2011, awarding plaintiff landlord a total amount of $1,488,604.66, and bringing up for review an order, same court and Justice, entered December 6, 2010, which granted plaintiff summary judgment on the issue of liability, unanimously affirmed, with costs.
In this action for breach of a commercial lease and enforcement of a guarantee, plaintiff seeks damages in connection with a lease entered into in September 2006, for real property located in Staten Island, for a term, as extended, of 10 years. On January 30, 2008, plaintiff issued defendant-tenant Globe Alumni Student Assistance Association, Inc. a notice to cure violations of the lease. Rather than curing the violations, in February 2008, the tenant vacated the premises. Plaintiff then terminated the lease effective as of March 24, 2008.
After obtaining a judgment of possession in the Civil Court, plaintiff brought the instant action seeking, among other things, the balance of rent due for the remainder of the term, which was recoverable as liquidated damages under an acceleration provision in the lease.
Plaintiff made a prima facie showing of its entitlement to accelerated rent, pursuant to the express terms of the lease, which also provided that the obligation to pay rent was to continue in the event of termination of the lease (see Ring v. Printmaking Workshop, Inc., 70 AD3d 480, 481 [1st Dept 2010] ).
In opposition, defendants failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to whether the liquidated damages provision was an unenforceable penalty (see Truck Rent–A–Ctr. v. Puritan Farms 2nd, 41 N.Y.2d 420, 423–425 [1977] ). The doctrine of res judicata does not bar plaintiff's recovery under the acceleration provision, as such damages were not recoverable in the summary proceeding brought in the Civil Court (see N.Y. City Civ Ct Act § 204; Ross Realty v. v. & A Fabricators, Inc., 42 AD3d 246, 249–250 [2d Dept 2007] ).
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: January 22, 2013
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
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.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)