Opinion
2012-02-23
Gary DON, et al., Plaintiffs–Respondents, v. Baruch SINGER, et al., Defendants–Appellants, Mark Junger, et al., Defendants, 855 Realty Owners, LLC, et al., Intervenors–Defendants.
Law Office of Mark R. Kook, New York (Mark R. Kook of counsel), for appellants. Neil J. Saltzman, Forest Hills, and L. Marc Zell, Jerusalem, Israel, of the bars of the District of Columbia, State of Maryland and State of Virginia, admitted pro hac vice, for respondents.
Law Office of Mark R. Kook, New York (Mark R. Kook of counsel), for appellants. Neil J. Saltzman, Forest Hills, and L. Marc Zell, Jerusalem, Israel, of the bars of the District of Columbia, State of Maryland and State of Virginia, admitted pro hac vice, for respondents.
MAZZARELLI, J.P., CATTERSON, RENWICK, ABDUS–SALAAM, MANZANET–DANIELS, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Joan A. Madden, J.), entered July 18, 2011, which denied defendants Baruch Singer and Herald Square Development LLC's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint as against them, unanimously affirmed, with costs.
An issue of fact exists whether defendant Singer's conduct manifested an intention to be bound as a joint venturer with plaintiffs ( see Richbell Info. Servs. v. Jupiter Partners, 309 A.D.2d 288, 297–298, 765 N.Y.S.2d 575 [2003] ). This conduct included remaining silent when provided with each of the subject agreements and when repeatedly introduced as plaintiffs' partner ( see Russell v. Raynes Assoc. Ltd. Partnership, 166 A.D.2d 6, 15, 569 N.Y.S.2d 409 [1991] ). Contrary to defendants' contention, plaintiffs' claim that Singer's conduct created his obligations under the joint venture does not contradict their deposition testimony that he did not sign the agreement ( see e.g. Castro v. New York City Tr. Auth., 52 A.D.3d 213, 214, 859 N.Y.S.2d 417 [2008] ). There was no requirement that the joint venture agreement contain a provision that losses be shared since, under the circumstances, there was no reasonable expectation of losses ( see Cobblah v. Katende, 275 A.D.2d 637, 639, 713 N.Y.S.2d 723 [2000] ). Even if there were an expectation of losses, there is a question of whether an agreement to share such losses could be implied from the facts of record ( Richbell, 309 A.D.2d at 298, 765 N.Y.S.2d 575).
Issues of fact exist on the question of whether the material that plaintiffs provided Singer was confidential ( see Ashland Mgt., Inc. v. Altair Invs. NA, LLC, 59 A.D.3d 97, 102, 869 N.Y.S.2d 465 [2008], mod. on other grounds 14 N.Y.3d 774, 898 N.Y.S.2d 542, 925 N.E.2d 581 [2010] ) and whether Singer used the material that plaintiffs provided.
The claim for lost profits is not unduly speculative in light of plaintiffs' expert affidavit ( see Blinds to Go [U.S.], Inc. v. Times Plaza Dev., L.P., 88 A.D.3d 838, 840, 931 N.Y.S.2d 105 [2011] ) and their detailed profit projections.
We have considered defendants' other contentions and find them unavailing.