Opinion
10026N Index 150856/17
10-08-2019
ERRANT GENE THERAPEUTICS, LLC, Plaintiff–Respondent, v. SLOAN–KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH, et al., Defendants–Appellants.
Holland & Knight LLP, New York (Charles A. Weiss of counsel), and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, New York (Robert J. Gunther, Jr. of counsel), for Sloan–Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, appellant. Schlam Stone & Dolan LLP, New York (John M. Lundlin of counsel), for Bluebird Bio Inc., appellant. McCue Sussmane Zapfel & Cohen, P.C., New York (Kenneth Sussmane of counsel), for respondent.
Holland & Knight LLP, New York (Charles A. Weiss of counsel), and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, New York (Robert J. Gunther, Jr. of counsel), for Sloan–Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, appellant.
Schlam Stone & Dolan LLP, New York (John M. Lundlin of counsel), for Bluebird Bio Inc., appellant. McCue Sussmane Zapfel & Cohen, P.C., New York (Kenneth Sussmane of counsel), for respondent.
Friedman, J.P., Sweeny, Richter, Mazzarelli, Webber, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Barry R. Ostrager, J.), entered on or about June 6, 2019, which denied defendants' motion to strike plaintiff's jury demand, unanimously reversed, on the law, without costs, and the motion granted.
Plaintiff has waived its right to a jury trial. When, as here, the complaint either joins legal and equitable causes of action arising out of the same alleged wrong or seeks both legal and equitable relief, there is a waiver of a plaintiff's right to a jury trial (see Marko v. Korf, 166 A.D.3d 545, 89 N.Y.S.3d 44 [1st Dept. 2018] ; Security Pac. Natl. Bank v. Evans, 148 A.D.3d 465, 49 N.Y.S.3d 122 [1st Dept. 2017] ; Willis Re Inc. v. Hudson, 29 A.D.3d 489, 816 N.Y.S.2d 43 [1st Dept. 2006] ). Plaintiff's sixth cause of action for a permanent injunction sounds in equity, is not incidental to the remaining claims and as a result of its inclusion, it can no longer be said that money damages would afford a complete remedy (see e.g. Willis Re Inc., 29 A.D.3d at 489–490, 816 N.Y.S.2d 43 ). Furthermore, "[o]nce the right to a jury trial has been intentionally lost by joining legal and equitable claims, any subsequent dismissal, settlement or withdrawal of the equitable claim(s) will not revive the right to trial by jury" ( Zimmer–Masiello, Inc. v. Zimmer, Inc., 164 A.D.2d 845, 846–847, 559 N.Y.S.2d 888 [1st Dept. 1990] ).