Dec v BFM Realty, LLC 2017 NY Slip Op 05936 Decided on August 2, 2017 Appellate Division, Second Department is a legal malpractice and fraud case dismissed (after a number of years of litigation) in Kings County. It alleged fraud and judiciary law § 487 violation. Summary judgment was granted against Plaintiff. Trying to glean more details from the appellate decision is, at best, difficult.
“The plaintiff commenced this action alleging two causes of action. The first cause of action, alleging fraud, was asserted against the defendants BFM Realty, LLC, and Abraham Lichtenstein. The second cause of action, alleging a violation of Judiciary Law § 487, was asserted against the defendants Goldberg & Rimberg, PLLC, Israel Goldberg, and Brad Coven (hereinafter collectively the attorney defendants). The defendants moved pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(4) to dismiss the first cause of action and for summary judgment dismissing the second cause of action. In an order dated January 8, 2016, the Supreme Court granted the motion. The plaintiff appeals.”
“The Supreme Court also properly granted that branch of the defendants’ motion which was for summary judgment dismissing the second cause of action alleging a violation of Judiciary Law § 487. “Judiciary Law § 487 exposes an attorney who [i]s guilty of any deceit or collusion . . . with intent to deceive the court or any party’ to criminal (misdemeanor) liability and treble damages, to be recovered by the injured party in a civil action” (Melcher v Greenberg Traurig, LLP, [*2]23 NY3d 10, 12-13, quoting Judiciary Law § 487[1]). Here, the defendants established, prima facie, that the attorney defendants did not commit deceit or collusion upon the court or any party (see Lawrence Ripak Co., Inc. v Gdanski, 143 AD3d 862, 863; Klein v Rieff, 135 AD3d 910, 912; Specialized Indus. Servs. Corp. v Carter, 131 AD3d 1162). In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact.”