Bethka v. Jensen, 250 A.D.2d 887 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998). · Go Syfert
Bethka v. Jensen, 250 A.D.2d 887 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
33 citation events (28 in the last 25 years) across 5 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Carlin v. Brennan (nysupctkings, 2025-06-10)
Treatment trajectory · 1998 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1998 2012 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 18 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Carlin v. Brennan
N.Y. Sup. Kings · 2025 · confidence medium
As to the first argument, while CORCORAN and RIEDERS, as the seller’s brokers, did not have a fiduciary duty under Real Property Law § 443 to disclose problems with the apartment, they can be held liable where they actively conceal or misrepresent a material fact regardless of their lack of fiduciary obligation to the buyer, (Jablonski v Rapalje, 14 AD3d 484, 485 [2d Dept 2005]; Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 888 [3d Dept 1998]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hecker v. Paschke
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · confidence medium
“If however, some conduct (i.e., more than mere silence) on the part of the seller rises to the level of active concealment, a seller may have a duty to disclose information concerning the property” (Daly v Kochanowicz, 67 AD3d at 91-92 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Jablonski v Rapalje, 14 AD3d at 485 ; Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 888 [1998]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lawrence v. North Country Animal Control Center, Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · confidence medium
Under these circumstances, issues of fact exist as to whether plaintiffs reasonably relied on defendants’ misrepresentation and whether plaintiffs could have discovered Brutus’ dangerous nature with due diligence (see Revell v Guido, 101 AD3d 1454, 1457-1458 [2012]; Pettis v Haag, 84 AD3d 1553, 1555 [2011]; Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 888 [1998]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) SICIGNANO, III, HENRY v. DIXEY, LARAMIE N.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · confidence medium
We likewise conclude that plaintiff raised an issue of fact with respect to whether he justifiably relied on defendants’ alleged misrepresentations (s ee Jablonski, 14 AD3d at 487-488 ; Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 888 [1998]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mo v. Rosen
N.Y. App. Div. · 2014 · confidence medium
“If however, some conduct (i.e., more than mere silence) on the part of the seller rises to the level of active concealment, a seller may have a duty to disclose information concerning the property” (Daly v Kochanowicz, 67 AD3d at 91-92 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Jablonski v Rapalje, 14 AD3d at 485 ; Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 888 [1998]). “ ‘To maintain a cause of action to recover damages for active concealment, the plaintiff must show, in effect, that the seller or the seller’s agents thwarted the plaintiffs efforts to fulfill his [or her] responsibilities fixed b…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mo v. Rosen
N.Y. App. Div. · 2014 · confidence medium
“If however, some conduct (i.e., more than mere silence) on the part of the seller rises to the level of active concealment, a seller may have a duty to disclose information concerning the property” (Daly v Kochanowicz, 67 AD3d at 91-92 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Jablonski v Rapalje, 14 AD3d at 485 ; Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 888 [1998]). “ ‘To maintain a cause of action to recover damages for active concealment, the plaintiff must show, in effect, that the seller or the seller’s agents thwarted the plaintiffs efforts to fulfill his [or her] responsibilities fixed b…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Revell v. Guido
N.Y. App. Div. · 2012 · confidence medium
However, whether a purchaser reasonably relied on a falsehood or instead should have ascertained the truth through the exercise of reasonable diligence is ordinarily a factual issue for resolution by the finder of fact (see DDJ Mgt., LLC v Rhone Group L.L.C., 15 NY3d 147, 155-156 [2010]; Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 888 [1998]; Rudolph v Turecek, 240 AD2d 935, 938 [1997], lv denied 90 NY2d 811 [1997]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Revell v. Guido
N.Y. App. Div. · 2012 · confidence medium
However, whether a purchaser reasonably relied on a falsehood or instead should have ascertained the truth through the exercise of reasonable diligence is ordinarily a factual issue for resolution by the finder of fact (see DDJ Mgt., LLC v Rhone Group L.L.C., 15 NY3d 147, 155-156 [2010]; Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 888 [1998]; Rudolph v Turecek, 240 AD2d 935, 938 [1997], lv denied 90 NY2d 811 [1997]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Meyers v. Rosen
N.Y. App. Div. · 2010 · confidence medium
In New York, the doctrine of caveat emptor traditionally “impose[d] no duty upon a vendor to disclose any information concerning the property in an arm’s length real estate transaction” (Stoian v Reed, 66 AD3d 1278,1279 [2009], quoting Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 887-888 [1998]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Stoian v. Reed
N.Y. App. Div. · 2009 · confidence medium
In New York, the “doctrine of caveat emptor imposes no duty upon a vendor to disclose any information concerning the property in an arm’s length real estate transaction” (Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 887-888 [1998]; accord Gizzi v Hall, 300 AD2d 879, 881 [2002]; but see Real Property Law art 14 [enacted in 2001]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Daly v. Kochanowicz
N.Y. App. Div. · 2009 · confidence medium
Documentary Evidence/Caveat Emptor/Peculiar Knowledge “New York adheres to the doctrine of caveat emptor and imposes no duty on the seller or the seller’s agent to disclose any information concerning the premises when the parties deal at arm’s length, unless there is some conduct on the part of the seller or the seller’s agent which constitutes active concealment” (Jablonski v Rapalje, 14 AD3d 484, 485 [2005]; see Platzman v Morris, 283 AD2d 561, 562 [2001]; Glazer v LoPreste, 278 AD2d 198 [2000]; London v Courduff, 141 AD2d 803, 804 [1988]). “ ‘If however, some conduct (i.e., mo…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Anderson v. Meador
N.Y. App. Div. · 2008 · confidence medium
Traditionally, there is “no duty upon a vendor to disclose any information concerning the property in an arm’s length real estate transaction” (Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 887-888 [1998]; see Boyle v McGlynn, 28 AD3d 994, 995 [2006]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Boyle v. McGlynn
N.Y. App. Div. · 2006 · confidence medium
To be sure, “ ‘[t]he doctrine of caveat emptor imposes no duty upon a vendor to disclose any information concerning the property in an arm’s length real estate transaction’ ” (Gizzi v Hall, 300 AD2d 879, 881 [2002], quoting Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 887-888 [1998]; see Rector v Calamus Group, Inc., 17 AD3d 960, 962 [2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rector v. Calamus Group, Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2005 · confidence medium
At the time of this transaction, New York followed the doctrine of caveat emptor in relation to real estate transactions; the seller had no duty to disclose any information concerning the property in an arm’s length transaction unless the seller participated in some active concealment of a defect (see Gizzi v Hall, 300 AD2d 879, 881 [2002]; Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 887-888 [1998]; but see Real Property Law art 14 [enacted in 2001 (L 2001, ch 456)]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gizzi v. Hall
N.Y. App. Div. · 2002 · confidence medium
“The doctrine of caveat emptor imposes no duty upon a vendor to disclose any information concerning the property in an arm’s length real estate transaction” (Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 887-888 [citation omitted]). 2 “If, however, some conduct (i.e., more than mere silence) on the part of the seller rises to the level of ‘active concealment’, a seller may have a duty to disclose information concerning the property” (id. at 888 [citations omitted]; see Slavin v Hamm, 210 AD2d 831, 832 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Daniel I. Colton, United States of America v. Daniel I. Colton
4th Cir. · 2000 · confidence medium
See, e.g., United States v. Benny, 786 F.2d 1410, 1418 (9th Cir.1986); Bethka v. Jensen, 250 A.D.2d 887 , 672 N.Y.S.2d 494, 495 (1998); cf. Meade v. Cedarapids, Inc., 164 F.3d 1218, 1222 (9th Cir.1999) ("[0]ne who makes a representation that is misleading because it is in the nature of a 'half-truth' assumes the obligation to make a full and fair disclosure of the whole truth.” (quoting Gregory v. Novak, 121 Or.
discussed Cited "see" Jablonski v. Rapalje
N.Y. App. Div. · 2005 · signal: see · confidence high
“If however, some conduct (i.e., more than mere silence) on the part of the seller rises to the level of ‘active concealment’ (Slavin v Hamm, 210 AD2d 831, 832 ; see, Stambovsky v Ackley, 169 AD2d 254, 257 ), a seller may have a duty to disclose information concerning the property” (Bethka v Jensen, 250 AD2d 887, 888 [1998]).
discussed Cited "see" Jackson National Life Insurance v. Greycliff Partners, Ltd. (2×)
E.D. Wis. · 1998 · signal: see · confidence high
See Bethka v. Jensen, — A.D.2d-, 672 N.Y.S.2d 494, 495 (1998).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Walter R. Bethka
v.
Robert J. Jensen
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
May 7, 1998.
250 A.D.2d 887
1998 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 5338
Carpinello.
Cited by 21 opinions  |  Published
Carpinello, J.

Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court (Keniry, J.), entered April 2, 1997 in Saratoga County, which denied a motion by defendants Robert J. Jensen and Patricia D. Jensen for summary judgment dismissing the complaint against them.

In December 1992, plaintiffs purchased the residence of defendants Robert J. Jensen and Patricia D. Jensen (hereinafter collectively referred to as defendants) located in Rivercrest Development in the Town of Clifton Park, Saratoga County. Prior to the sale, defendants provided plaintiffs with written material indicating that the property was serviced by “Town water and sewer”, that $502.75 of the annual taxes for the property were allocated to the “Rivercrest Sewer District” and that the property’s total taxes were significantly less than an equivalent home in a neighboring town. Less than one month after the closing on the property, plaintiffs received a bill representing a “special assessment” on the property for the operation and maintenance of the sewer system. This separate assessment was limited to the 17 residents in the Rivercrest Development. There is evidence in the record that defendants initially intended to disclose to potential purchasers that the sewer system servicing the property was in the process of being connected to another system and that an additional assessment was likely, but subsequently deleted this information from the written material describing the house.

Plaintiffs commenced this action to rescind the contract or, in the alternative, to recover damages for defendants’ alleged fraudulent misrepresentations concerning the true status of the sewer system servicing the property. Prior to completion of discovery, defendants moved for summary judgment which was denied by Supreme Court. Defendants appeal.

On the particular facts of this case, and in light of the procedural status of the action, we affirm. The doctrine of caveat emptor imposes no duty upon a vendor to disclose any in[*888] formation concerning the property in an arm’s length real estate transaction (see, e.g., London v Courduff, 141 AD2d 803, 804, lv dismissed 73 NY2d 809). If, however, some conduct (i.e., more than mere silence) on the part of the seller rises to the level of “active concealment” (Slavin v Hamm, 210 AD2d 831, 832; see, Stambovsky v Ackley, 169 AD2d 254, 257), a seller may have a duty to disclose information concerning the property. Here, plaintiffs allege specific conduct on the part of defendants, not just their failure to speak, which deceived them.

Defendants, on the other hand, persuasively counter that they did not conceal anything from plaintiffs that could not have been readily discovered by inquiry from municipal authorities. We have recently held, however, that “whether a party could have ascertained the facts with reasonable diligence is a factual question for resolution by the jury” (Rudolph v Turecek, 240 AD2d 935, 938, lv denied 90 NY2d 811; see, Casey v Masullo Bros. Bldrs., 218 AD2d 907; Todd v Pearl Woods, 20 AD2d 911, affd 15 NY2d 817). Given the outstanding discovery in this case, we feel constrained to find that Supreme Court properly denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment since questions of fact exist concerning whether defendants made material representations which induced plaintiffs to purchase the property and whether a reasonable inquiry by plaintiffs would have revealed the sewer system special assessment (see, Casey v Masullo Bros. Bldrs., supra; Hauser v Lista, 201 AD2d 873, 874-875; Dygert v Leonard, 138 AD2d 793, 795).

Mercure, J. P., White, Peters and Spain, JJ., concur. Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs.