PANKEWYCZ v. STATE (2023)

DECISION & ORDER

In a claim to recover damages for breach of contract, promissory estoppel, and negligent misrepresentation, the claimant appeals from an order of the Court of Claims (David A. Weinstein, J.), dated August 7, 2020.  The order granted the defendant's motion pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7) to dismiss the claim for failure to state a cause of action.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

In January 2020, the claimant commenced this claim against the defendant to recover damages for breach of contract, promissory estoppel, and negligent misrepresentation.  The defendant moved pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7) to dismiss the claim.  In an order dated August 7, 2020, the Court of Claims granted the defendant's motion.  The claimant appeals.  We affirm.

The Court of Claims properly granted the defendant's motion to dismiss the claim.  The claim, which alleged, inter alia, a breach of a purported contract in the amount of at least $350,000 per year, failed to allege that the purported contract at issue was approved by the New York State Comptroller, as required by State Finance Law § 112 as a condition precedent for contracts exceeding $50,000 (see Charlie's at the Fair, LLC v. State of New York, 135 A.D.3d 1042, 1044, 23 N.Y.S.3d 411;  Jacobowitz v. State Univ. of N.Y. Health Science Ctr. at Brooklyn, 5 A.D.3d 352, 352, 772 N.Y.S.2d 537).  The claim failed to allege that the purported contract was approved, either expressly or through actions undertaken by the New York State Comptroller (see State Finance Law § 112;  Jacobowitz v. State Univ. of N.Y. Health Science Ctr. at Brooklyn, 5 A.D.3d at 352, 772 N.Y.S.2d 537).  Thus, the court properly granted that branch of the defendant's motion which was to dismiss the cause of action alleging breach of contract.

Likewise, the Court of Claims properly granted those branches of the defendant's motion which were to dismiss the causes of action alleging promissory estoppel (see Chun Ho Chung v. Williams Schwitzer & Assoc., P.C., 200 A.D.3d 514, 516, 157 N.Y.S.3d 465) and negligent misrepresentation (see Mayer v. Publishers Clearing House, 205 A.D.2d 506, 507, 613 N.Y.S.2d 190).

DUFFY, J.P., MILLER, WOOTEN and WAN, JJ., concur.