Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Landlord & Tenant Law

By New York Real Estate Law Reporter Staff
May 01, 2024

Occupation of Premises Does Not Establish Assignment By Operation of Law

Innerworkings, Inc. v. Arik Eshel CPA & Assoc. P.C. 2024 WL 781688, AppDiv, First Dept. (memorandum opinion)

In tenant's action against subtenant, subtenant's principal, and alleged assignees of the sublease, all parties appealed from Supreme Court's denial of their respective summary judgment motions. The Appellate Division modified to dismiss all of tenant's claims against the individual defendants and in particular to dismiss the claims against the alleged corporate assignees, holding that the alleged assignment did not satisfy the statute of frauds.

Tenant subleased the premises to BMY in a lease signed by its principal Greenwald. The sublease forbade oral assignments and included a "no waiver" clause, but authorized subtenant to permit occupation by an accounting firm. The accounting firm did occupy the premises by arrangement with subtenant, and subtenant defaulted on payment of rent to tenant. Tenant then brought this action, contending that subtenant had orally assigned its sublease to the accounting firm. Subtenant's principal contended that his signature on the lease was forged, and the accounting firm and its principal asserted that it had never taken an assignment of the sublease.  All parties sought summary judgment, but Supreme Court denied their respective motions.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Top 5 Strategies for Managing the End-of-Year Collections Frenzy Image

End of year collections are crucial for law firms because they allow them to maximize their revenue for the year, impacting profitability, partner distributions and bonus calculations by ensuring outstanding invoices are paid before the year closes, which is especially important for meeting financial targets and managing cash flow throughout the firm.

The Self-Service Buyer Is On the Rise Image

Law firms and companies in the professional services space must recognize that clients are conducting extensive online research before making contact. Prospective buyers are no longer waiting for meetings with partners or business development professionals to understand the firm's offerings. Instead, they are seeking out information on their own, and they want to do it quickly and efficiently.

Should Large Law Firms Penalize RTO Rebels or Explore Alternatives? Image

Through a balanced approach that combines incentives with accountability, firms can navigate the complexities of returning to the office while maintaining productivity and morale.

Sink or Swim: The Evolving State of Law Firm Administrative Support Image

The paradigm of legal administrative support within law firms has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last decade. But this begs the question: are the changes to administrative support successful, and do law firms feel they are sufficiently prepared to meet future business needs?

Tax Treatment of Judgments and Settlements Image

Counsel should include in its analysis of a case the taxability of the anticipated and sought after damages as the tax effect could be substantial.