Helmer v. Comito, 61 A.D.3d 635 (N.Y. App. Div. 2009). · Go Syfert
Helmer v. Comito, 61 A.D.3d 635 (N.Y. App. Div. 2009). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
11 citation events (11 in the last 25 years) across 1 distinct court.
Strongest positive: Zollo v. Adirondack Lodges Homeowners Assn., Inc. (nyappdiv, 2024-03-07)
Top citers, strongest first. 8 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Zollo v. Adirondack Lodges Homeowners Assn., Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2024 · confidence medium
Condominium v LPS Baxter Holding Co., LLC , 205 AD3d 640 , 641-642 [1st Dept 2022]; Katz v Board of Mgrs. of Stirling Cove Condominium Assn. , 201 AD3d at 636; Helmer v Comito , 61 AD3d 635, 636-637 [2d Dept 2009]; see generally Matter of Levandusky v One Fifth Ave.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Zollo v. Adirondack Lodges Homeowners Assn., Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2024 · confidence medium
Condominium v LPS Baxter Holding Co., LLC , 205 AD3d 640 , 641-642 [1st Dept 2022]; Katz v Board of Mgrs. of Stirling Cove Condominium Assn. , 201 AD3d at 636; Helmer v Comito , 61 AD3d 635, 636-637 [2d Dept 2009]; see generally Matter of Levandusky v One Fifth Ave.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Baxter St. Condominium v. LPS Baxter Holding Co., LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · confidence medium
The board’s determinations are supported by evidence of water leaks that have been recurring since the building’s construction, an engineer’s report identifying various defects as the cause of the water infiltration, including the use of vulnerable material during construction of the balconies, and recommending remedial measures, as well as the engineer’s estimated budget for the work to be performed (see Helmer v Comito, 61 AD3d 635, 636-637 [2d Dept 2009]; Gennis v Pomona Park Bd. of Mgrs., 36 AD3d 661 , 663 [2d Dept 2007]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) 1812 Quentin Road, LLC v. 1812 Quentin Road Condominium Ltd.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2012 · confidence medium
“Where a unit owner challenges an action by a condominium Board of Managers, courts apply the business judgment rule” (Helmer v Comito, 61 AD3d 635, 636 [2009]; see Matter of Levandusky v One Fifth Ave.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Molander v. Pepperidge Lake Homeowners Ass'n
N.Y. App. Div. · 2011 · confidence medium
Where, as here, a unit owner challenges an action of the condominium’s board, “courts apply the business judgment rule” (Yusin v Saddle Lakes Home Owners Assn., Inc., 73 AD3d 1168, 1170-1171 [2010]; Helmer v Comito, 61 AD3d 635, 636 [2009]; see Walden Woods Homeowners’ Assn. v Friedman, 36 AD3d 691, 692 [2007]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Romeo v. Barrella
N.Y. App. Div. · 2011 · confidence medium
In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see Helmer v Comito, 61 AD3d 635, 636 [2009]; Acevedo v Town ’N Country Condominium, Section I, Bd. of Mgrs., 51 AD3d 603, 604 [2008]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Yusin v. Saddle Lakes Home Owners Ass'n
N.Y. App. Div. · 2010 · confidence medium
“Where a unit owner challenges an action by a condominium Board of Managers, courts apply the business judgment rule” (Helmer v Comito, 61 AD3d 635, 636 [2009]; see Matter of Levandusky v One Fifth Ave.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kaung v. Board of Managers of Biltmore Towers Condominium Ass'n
N.Y. App. Div. · 2010 · confidence medium
“Where a unit owner challenges an action by a condominium Board of Managers, courts apply the business judgment rule” (Helmer v Comito, 61 AD3d 635, 636 [2009]; see Matter of Levandusky v One Fifth Ave.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
William F. Helmer
v.
Marc A. Comito
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Apr 7, 2009.
61 A.D.3d 635
Cited by 11 opinions  |  Published

In an action, inter alia, to recover damages for breach of fiduciary duty, the plaintiffs appeal, as limited by their brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Rockland County (Weiner, J.), dated June 26, 2007, as amended by an order of the same court dated October 18, 2007, as granted those branches of the motion of the defendants Marc A. Comito, Robert M. Fixell, Ruth Rabiner, Frank Raso, Lynne Schloesser, Arthur J. Wohlers, Clermont Condominium II, and Board of Managers of the Clermont Condominium II which were for summary judgment dismissing the first and third causes of action of the second amended complaint, and denied their cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the first, second, and third affirmative defenses interposed by those defendants.

Ordered that the order, as amended, is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.

The defendant Board of Managers of the Clermont Condominium II (hereinafter the Board) contracted for certain construction work on its condominium buildings. The plaintiffs, the owners of certain units, challenged the Board’s authority to enter into the contract, which they contended called for “alterations” or “improvements” requiring a vote of unit own[*636] ers pursuant to the declaration establishing the condominium (hereinafter the condominium declaration). The Supreme Court, inter alia, granted those branches of the respondents’ motion which was for summary judgment dismissing the first and third causes of action of the second amended complaint alleging breaches of fiduciary duty, and denied the plaintiffs’ cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the first, second, and third affirmative defenses interposed by the respondents. We affirm insofar as appealed from.

Where a unit owner challenges an action by a condominium Board of Managers, courts apply the business judgment rule (see Matter of Levandusky v One Fifth Ave. Apt. Corp., 75 NY2d 530, 539 [1990]; Acevedo v Town ‘N Country Condominium, Section I, Bd. of Mgrs., 51 AD3d 603 [2008]; Schoninger v Yardarm Beach Homeowners’ Assn., 134 AD2d 1, 10 [1987]). “Under the business judgment rule, the court’s inquiry is limited to whether the board acted within the scope of its authority under the bylaws (a necessary threshold inquiry) and whether the action was taken in good faith to further a legitimate interest of the condominium. Absent a showing of fraud, self-dealing or unconscionability, the court’s inquiry is so limited and it will not inquire as to the wisdom or soundness of the business decision” (Schoninger v Yardarm Beach Homeowners’ Assn., Section I, Bd. of Mgrs., 134 AD2d at 9).

The evidence submitted on the motion and cross motion established that the Board’s determination that the proposed construction work constituted “repairs” and “maintenance” under the condominium declaration and by-laws was within its authority and made in good faith to further a legitimate interest of the condominium (id.). The condominium buildings had suffered leaks over the course of many years, and testing revealed that one third of the units had toxic mold. The Board hired architectural and engineering firms to conduct inspections. The firms advised that the roofs had incurred moisture damage and was nearing or had exceeded its life expectancy, and recommended work to correct this and other deficiencies in the buildings. Further, in classifying the work as repairs and maintenance, the Board relied upon a determination by the Chief Building and Zoning Inspector of the Village of Nyack Building and Zoning Department that “the proposed scope of work is of a repair/maintenance nature and does not require a building permit.” In addition, the condominium bylaws specifically provide that the Board may authorize a variance from original materials when conducting repairs.

Accordingly, the Board was within its authority in entering[*637] the construction contract without the unit owner approval required for “alterations” or “improvements” costing more than 25% of the estimated annual budget (see Gennis v Pomona Park Bd. of Mgrs., 36 AD3d 661 [2007]). Therefore, the Supreme Court properly denied the plaintiffs’ cross motion and properly awarded summary judgment to the respondents dismissing the first and third causes of action of the second amended complaint.

The Board’s contentions regarding the second cause of action in the second amended complaint are not properly before this Court (see CPLR 5515; Hecht v City of New York, 60 NY2d 57 [1983]; Adelman v Attonito, 304 AD2d 507 [2003]). Mastro, J.E, Covello, Eng and Leventhal, JJ., concur.