From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Koch v. Acker, Merrall & Condit Co.

Court of Appeals of New York.
Mar 27, 2012
2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 2254 (N.Y. 2012)

Summary

holding that disclaimers set forth in defendant's catalogs did not establish a defense at the 12(b) stage

Summary of this case from Fishon v. Interactive

Opinion

2012-03-27

William I. KOCH, Appellant, v. ACKER, MERRALL & CONDIT COMPANY, Respondent.

Hunton & Williams LLP, New York City (Joseph J. Saltarelli, Shawn Patrick Regan and Jennifer L. Cummins of counsel), for appellant. Meister Seelig & Fein LLP, New York City (Stephen B. Meister, Thomas L. Friedman and Remy J. Stocks of counsel), for respondent.



Hunton & Williams LLP, New York City (Joseph J. Saltarelli, Shawn Patrick Regan and Jennifer L. Cummins of counsel), for appellant. Meister Seelig & Fein LLP, New York City (Stephen B. Meister, Thomas L. Friedman and Remy J. Stocks of counsel), for respondent.
Theodore Hadzi–Antich and Deborah J. La Fetra, Sacramento, CA, for Pacific Legal Foundation, amicus curiae.

OPINION OF THE COURT


MEMORANDUM.

[1] The judgment of Supreme Court appealed from and the order of the Appellate Division brought up for review should be reversed, with costs, and defendant's motion to dismiss plaintiff's General Business Law §§ 349 and 350 causes of action denied. To successfully assert a claim under General Business Law § 349(h) or § 350, “a plaintiff must allege that a defendant has engaged in (1) consumer-oriented conduct that is (2) materially misleading and that (3) plaintiff suffered injury as a result of the allegedly deceptive act or practice” ( City of New York v. Smokes–Spirits.Com, Inc., 12 N.Y.3d 616, 621, 883 N.Y.S.2d 772, 911 N.E.2d 834 [2009];see Goshen v. Mutual Life Ins. Co. of N.Y, 98 N.Y.2d 314, 324 n. 1, 746 N.Y.S.2d 858, 774 N.E.2d 1190 [2002] ). Here, plaintiff sufficiently pleaded such causes of action, and the disclaimers set forth in defendant's catalogs “ do not ... bar [plaintiffs] claims for deceptive trade practices at this stage of the proceedings, as they do not establish a defense as a matter of law” ( Goshen, 98 N.Y.2d at 326, 746 N.Y.S.2d 858, 774 N.E.2d 1190;see Gaidon v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 94 N.Y.2d 330, 345, 704 N.Y.S.2d 177, 725 N.E.2d 598 [1999] ).

To the extent that the Appellate Division order imposed a reliance requirement on General Business Law §§ 349 and 350 claims, it was error. Justifiable reliance by the plaintiff is not an element of the statutory claim ( see Small v. Lorillard Tobacco Co., 94 N.Y.2d 43, 55, 698 N.Y.S.2d 615, 720 N.E.2d 892 [1999], citing Oswego Laborers' Local 214 Pension Fund v. Midland Bank, 85 N.Y.2d 20, 26, 623 N.Y.S.2d 529, 647 N.E.2d 741 [1995] ). Chief Judge LIPPMAN and Judges CIPARICK, GRAFFEO, READ, PIGOTT and JONES concur in memorandum; Judge SMITH taking no part.

On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.11 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.11), judgment appealed from and order of the Appellate Division brought up for review reversed, etc.


Summaries of

Koch v. Acker, Merrall & Condit Co.

Court of Appeals of New York.
Mar 27, 2012
2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 2254 (N.Y. 2012)

holding that disclaimers set forth in defendant's catalogs did not establish a defense at the 12(b) stage

Summary of this case from Fishon v. Interactive

finding reliance and intent not an element of a GBL § 349 claim

Summary of this case from People v. Sec. Elite Grp.

listing elements of claims brought under sections 349 and 350 of New York General Business Law

Summary of this case from Porter v. NBTY, Inc.

analyzing NY CLS Gen. Bus. § 349(h)

Summary of this case from Nxivm Corp. v. Sutton

discussing N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law. §§ 349 and 350, et seq.

Summary of this case from Gordon v. Hain Celestial Grp., Inc.
Case details for

Koch v. Acker, Merrall & Condit Co.

Case Details

Full title:William I. KOCH, Appellant, v. ACKER, MERRALL & CONDIT COMPANY, Respondent.

Court:Court of Appeals of New York.

Date published: Mar 27, 2012

Citations

2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 2254 (N.Y. 2012)
944 N.Y.S.2d 452
967 N.E.2d 675
2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 2254

Citing Cases

Segovia v. Vitamin Shoppe, Inc.

To recover under GBL § 349, a plaintiff must prove "that a defendant has engaged in (1) consumer-oriented…

Polvay v. FCTI, Inc.

See Goshen v. Mut. Life Ins. Co. of N.Y., 98 N.Y.2d 314, 324 n.1 (2002). "To successfully assert a claim…