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Contracts that Say What They Mean, Mean What They Say
By: Jeffrey M. Haber In New York, contracts are to be construed in accordance with the parties’ intent. 1 “The best evidence of what parties to a written agreement intend is what they say in their writing.” 2 Thus, a written agreement that is clear and unambiguous on its face must be enforced according to the plain meaning of its terms. 3 Extrinsic evidence of the parties’ intent may be considered only if the agreement is ambiguous. 4 A contract is unambiguous if “on its f
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Nov 1, 20216 min read
First Department Holds Buyer is not Entitled to the Return of her Down Payment on Real Estate Contract Because the Written Agreements Establish a Defense “Founded Upon Documentary Evidence” Pursuan...
By Jonathan H. Freiberger Defaults by a party to a real estate contract, whether a purchaser or a seller, are a fruitful source of litigation. Among other remedies available to an individual or entity aggrieved by a real estate contract default is specific performance, an issue discussed in this Blog’s article entitled: “ Specific Performance (That’s What I Want) – Would be a Terrible Song Title .” Briefly stated, because of the judicially recognized “unique” nature of real
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Oct 29, 20213 min read
Enforcement News: Twitter and The Pump and Dump Scheme
By: Jeffrey M. Haber People use social media, and the Internet in general, for all sorts of reasons. Investors are no different. Investors use social media to research stocks, look up information on a broker-dealer ( see Broker Check < here =">here</a>"> ) or investment adviser ( see Investment Adviser Public Disclosure < here =">here</a>"> ), find guidance on investing strategies, receive up-to-date news, and discuss the markets with others. While social media offers inve
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Oct 27, 20216 min read
Confessions of Judgment By Out-Of-State Residents, Summary Judgment In Lieu of Complaint and Forum Selection Clauses: A Little of This and A Little of That
By: Jeffrey M. Haber A forum selection clause is a contractual provision that sets forth the location designated by the parties for dispute resolution. Such clauses can be found in virtually every type of contract imaginable, e.g., employment agreements, commercial contracts, and purchase and sale agreements. Parties require forum selection clauses to reduce litigation expenses, avoid adverse laws, and mitigate the risks associated with unknown foreign judges and/or juries.
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Oct 25, 20219 min read
Follow-up: Freedom Mortgage Corp. v. Engel
By Jonathan H. Freiberger In its February 20, 2021, article entitled: “ The New York Court of Appeals Decides Four Cases, In One Opinion, Addressing and Clarifying Issues Related to the Timeliness of the Commencement of Mortgage Foreclosure Actions ” (the “Prior Article”), this Blog discussed, Freedom Mortgage Corp. v. Engel , 37 N.Y.3d 1 (2021), a February 18, 2021, decision by the New York Court of Appeals. In Freedom , the Court of Appeals decided four cases “each turning
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Oct 22, 20214 min read
Enforcement News: The SEC Giveth and The SEC Taketh Away
By: Jeffrey M. Haber The SEC Giveth In our last article (posted on September 17, 2021 ( here )) discussing the SEC’s whistleblower program, we noted that the Commission has paid more than $1 billion in awards to hundreds of whistleblowers since issuing its first award in 2012. In the month that followed, the amount paid to whistleblowers increased by more than $87 million. The first award of $11.5 million (announced on September 17, 2021, here ) was paid to two whistleblower
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Oct 20, 20214 min read
New York Court of Appeals Holds That Registering to Do Business Does Not Confer General Jurisdiction Over a Foreign Corporation
By Jeffrey M. Haber In Aybar v. Aybar , 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 05393 (Oct. 7, 2021) ( here ), the New York Court of Appeals was asked to determine whether a foreign corporation that registers to do business in New York consents to the general jurisdiction of the State’s courts. As explained below, in a 5-2 decision, the Court held that registration under the Business Corporation Law (“BCL”) to do business in the State does not confer general jurisdiction over the corporation. Pro
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Oct 18, 20216 min read
Freiberger Haber’s Co-Founding Partners Once Again Recognized By Super Lawyers Magazine
Melville, NY ( Law Firm Newswire ) October 15, 2021 - Freiberger Haber LLP is pleased to announce that co-founding partners, Jonathan H. Freiberger and Jeffrey M. Haber, have been named by Super Lawyers magazine to be among the top lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. This is Mr. Freiberger’s second, and Mr. Haber’s tenth, consecutive year of selection. Both Messrs. Freiberger and Haber were recognized for their work in business litigation. Super Lawyers Magazine® is a
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Oct 18, 20212 min read
The First Department Reiterates the “Strict Nature” of “Notice -to-Cure” Provisions in Construction Contracts
By Jonathan H. Freiberger Many contracts contain provisions requiring that in the event of a default, one party must provide to the other notice of the purported default and an opportunity to cure before the valuable rights under the contract can be terminated. In general “ he purpose of a Notice to Cure is to specifically apprise the of claimed defaults in its obligations under the and of the forfeiture and termination of the if the claimed default is not cured within a
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Oct 13, 20214 min read
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