Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v. 693 Fifth Owner LLC, 2022 NY Slip Op 01431 (N.Y. App. Div. 2022). · Go Syfert
Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v. 693 Fifth Owner LLC, 2022 NY Slip Op 01431 (N.Y. App. Div. 2022). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
39 citation events (39 in the last 25 years) across 5 distinct courts.
Treatment trajectory · 2022 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2022 2024 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 15 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Amsterdam 140 LLC v. Fruitopia LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2026 · confidence medium
As we have consistently held, the "narrow" doctrine of frustration of purpose does not apply where, as here, "the purpose of the contract has not been completely thwarted" ( Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fifth Owner LLC , 203 AD3d 480, 480 [1st Dept 2022]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) 20 Broad St. Owner LLC v. Sonder USA, Inc. (2×)
N.Y. App. Div. · 2024 · confidence medium
Corp. , 27 AD3d 361, 364-365 [1st Dept 2006]) and defeats the frustration of purpose defense, "as the parties' respective duties were to pay rent in exchange for occupying the leased premises" ( Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fifth Owner LLC , 203 AD3d 480,480 [1st Dept 2022]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) PLG Bedford Holdings LLC v. Prestige Deli & Grill Corp
Civ. Ct. NYC, Kings Cty. · 2024 · confidence medium
Contrs. v. Pollard Excavating , 251 AD2d 951, 952 [2nd Dept1998]. "[H]ere, the pandemic, while continuing to be "disruptive for many businesses," did not render plaintiff's performance impossible " Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v. 693 Fifth Owner LLC , 203 AD3d 480, 480 [3rd Dept 2022].
discussed Cited as authority (rule) PLG Bedford Holdings LLC v. Prestige Deli & Grill Corp
Civ. Ct. NYC, Kings Cty. · 2024 · confidence medium
Contrs. v. Pollard Excavating , 251 AD2d 951, 952 [2nd Dept1998]. "[H]ere, the pandemic, while continuing to be "disruptive for many businesses," did not render plaintiff's performance impossible " Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v. 693 Fifth Owner LLC , 203 AD3d 480, 480 [3rd Dept 2022].
discussed Cited as authority (rule) 20 Broad St. Owner LLC v. Sonder USA, Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2024 · confidence medium
Corp. , 27 AD3d 361, 364-365 [1st Dept 2006]) and defeats the frustration of purpose defense, "as the parties' respective duties were to pay rent in exchange for occupying the leased premises" ( Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fifth Owner LLC , 203 AD3d 480, 480 [1st Dept 2022]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Durst Pyramid LLC v. Silver Cinemas Acquisition Co.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2023 · confidence medium
Supreme Court also properly dismissed defendants' affirmative defenses of frustration of purpose, impossibility, and failure of consideration because under the terms of the force majeure provision of the lease, the temporary disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic caused to the tenant's business was foreseeable and was not serious enough for unilateral rescission of a 20-year lease ( see Knickerbocker Retail LLC v Bruckner Forever Young Social Adult Day Care, Inc., 204 AD3d 536 , 537 [1st Dept 2022]; Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fifth Owner LLC, 203 AD3d 480, 480-481 [1st Dept 2022]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) 88 Greenwich Owner LLC v. 21 Rector St LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2023 · confidence medium
With respect to defendants' other affirmative defenses, this Court has rejected frustration of purpose, impossibility of performance, and failure of consideration as defenses to the nonpayment of rent under a commercial lease as a result of the pandemic, particularly where, as here, there was a relatively "brief period of closure" and the lease specifically carved out the obligation to pay rent as an exception to limitations on performance ( Gap, Inc. v 170 Broadway Retail Owner, LLC , 195 AD3d 575, 577 [1st Dept 2021]; see Fives 160th, LLC v Qing Zhao , 204 AD3d 439, 440 [1st Dept 2022]; Vale…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) 88 Greenwich Owner LLC v. 21 Rector St LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2023 · confidence medium
With respect to defendants' other affirmative defenses, this Court has rejected frustration of purpose, impossibility of performance, and failure of consideration as defenses to the nonpayment of rent under a commercial lease as a result of the pandemic, particularly where, as here, there was a relatively "brief period of closure" and the lease specifically carved out the obligation to pay rent as an exception to limitations on performance ( Gap, Inc. v 170 Broadway Retail Owner, LLC , 195 AD3d 575, 577 [1st Dept 2021]; see Fives 160th, LLC v Qing Zhao , 204 AD3d 439, 440 [1st Dept 2022]; Vale…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) McLearen Sq. Shopping Ctr. Herndon, Va. L.P. v. BadaNara, LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
Specifically, although the governmental restriction at issue here precluded BadaNara from offering in-person dining services, it expressly permitted restaurants such as BadaNara to offer take-out or delivery services and "frustration of purpose is not implicated by temporary governmental restrictions on in-person operations, as the parties' respective duties were to pay rent in exchange for occupying the leased premises" ( Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fifth Owner LLC , 203 AD3d 480, 480 [1st Dept 2022]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Arista Dev., LLC v. Clearmind Holdings, LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
Gap, Inc. v 44-45 Broadway Leasing Co. LLC , — AD3d &mdash, &mdash, 2022 NY Slip Op 03980, *1 [1st Dept 2022]; Fives 160th, LLC , 204 AD3d at 439-440 ; Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fifth Owner LLC , 203 AD3d 480, 480 [1st Dept 2022]; 558 Seventh Ave.
discussed Cited "see" U.S. Bank Trust N.A. v. Parris Dev. Projects, LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2026 · signal: see · confidence high
In order to invoke the defense of frustration of purpose, "the frustrated purpose must be so completely the basis of the contract that, as both parties understood, without it, the transaction would have made little sense" ( Gulf LNG Energy, LLC v Eni S.p.A. , 232 AD3d 183 , 192 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fifth Owner LLC , 203 AD3d 480 ; Restatement [Second] of Contracts § 265). "[T]he 'narrow' doctrine of frustration of purpose is inapplicable . . . where the purpose of the contract has not been completely thwarted" ( Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fift…
discussed Cited "see" 579 Fifth Ave., LLC v. Sargoy, Stein, Rosen & Shapiro
N.Y. Sup. Ct., New York Cty. · 2025 · signal: see · confidence high
See Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v. 693 Fifth Owner LLC, 203 A.D.3d 480 , (1st Dept. 2022) (finding that “frustration of purpose is not implicated by temporary governmental restrictions on in-person operations, as the parties' respective duties were to pay rent in exchange for occupying the leased premises” and that the doctrine of impossibility only applies to the “destruction of the subject matter of the contract or the means of performance makes performance objectively impossible"); See also 558 Seventh Ave.
discussed Cited "see" 579 Fifth Ave., LLC v. Sargoy, Stein, Rosen & Shapiro
N.Y. Sup. Ct., New York Cty. · 2025 · signal: see · confidence high
See Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v. 693 Fifth Owner LLC, 203 A.D.3d 480 , (1st Dept. 2022) (finding that “frustration of purpose is not implicated by temporary governmental restrictions on in-person operations, as the parties' respective duties were to pay rent in exchange for occupying the leased premises” and that the doctrine of impossibility only applies to the “destruction of the subject matter of the contract or the means of performance makes performance objectively impossible"); See also 558 Seventh Ave.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Gap, Inc. v. 44-45 Broadway Leasing Co. LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Plaintiffs' reliance on the doctrine of frustration of purpose is unavailing, as they were not "'completely deprived'" from using the premises as intended under their lease agreements ( Gap, Inc. v 170 Broadway Retail Owner, LLC , 195 AD3d 575 , 577 [1st Dept 2021], quoting Center for Specialty Care, Inc. v CSC Acquisition I, LLC , 185 AD3d 34, 43 [1st Dept 2020]; see also Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fifth Owner LLC , 203 AD3d 480, 480 [1st Dept 2022] [frustration of purpose inapplicable "where the purpose of the contract has not been completely thwarted"]).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Gap, Inc. v. 44-45 Broadway Leasing Co. LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Plaintiffs' reliance on the doctrine of frustration of purpose is unavailing, as they were not "'completely deprived'" from using the premises as intended under their lease agreements ( Gap, Inc. v 170 Broadway Retail Owner, LLC , 195 AD3d 575 , 577 [1st Dept 2021], quoting Center for Specialty Care, Inc. v CSC Acquisition I, LLC , 185 AD3d 34, 43 [1st Dept 2020]; see also Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fifth Owner LLC , 203 AD3d 480, 480 [1st Dept 2022] [frustration of purpose inapplicable "where the purpose of the contract has not been completely thwarted"]).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Valentino U.S.A., Inc.
v.
693 Fifth Owner LLC
Index No. 652605/20 Appeal No. 15467 Case No. 2021-01099.
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Mar 8, 2022.
2022 NY Slip Op 01431
Cited by 17 opinions  |  Published
Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fifth Owner LLC (2022 NY Slip Op 01431)
Valentino U.S.A., Inc. v 693 Fifth Owner LLC
2022 NY Slip Op 01431
Decided on March 08, 2022
Appellate Division, First Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.


Decided and Entered: March 08, 2022
Before: Acosta, P.J., Renwick, Webber, Kern, Friedman, JJ.

Index No. 652605/20 Appeal No. 15467 Case No. 2021-01099

[*1]Valentino U.S.A., Inc., Plaintiff-Appellant,

v

693 Fifth Owner LLC, Defendant-Respondent.




Newman Ferrara LLP, New York (Jarred I. Kassenoff of counsel), for appellant.

Cyruli Shanks & Zizmor LLP, New York (Robert J. Cyruli of counsel), for respondent.



Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Andrew S. Borrok, J.), entered January 27, 2021, which granted defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1) and (7), unanimously affirmed, without costs.

The motion court properly found that the complaint failed to state a claim under the lease or in equity. As an initial matter, the "narrow" doctrine of frustration of purpose is inapplicable here, where the purpose of the contract has not been completely thwarted (see Crown IT Servs., Inc. v Koval-Olsen, 11 AD3d 263, 265 [1st Dept 2004]). Contrary to plaintiff's contention, frustration of purpose is not implicated by temporary governmental restrictions on in-person operations, as the parties' respective duties were to pay rent in exchange for occupying the leased premises, and plaintiff acknowledged that it was open for curbside retail services as of June 4, 2020 and services by appointment as of June 22, 2020 (see Center for Specialty Care, Inc. v CSC Acquisition I, LLC, 185 AD3d 34, 42 [1st Dept 2020]).

The doctrine of impossibility is also inapplicable here. Impossibility "excuses a party's performance only when the destruction of the subject matter of the contract or the means of performance makes performance objectively impossible" (Kel Kim Corp. v Central Mkts., 70 NY2d 900, 902 [1987]). Here, the pandemic, while continuing to be "disruptive for many businesses," did not render plaintiff's performance impossible, even if its ability to provide a luxury experience was rendered more difficult, because the leased premises were not destroyed (see 558 Seventh Ave. Corp. v Times Sq. Photo Inc., 194 AD3d 561, 562 [1st Dept 2021], appeal dismissed 37 NY3d 1040 [2021]).

Additionally, the failure of consideration argument fails for the same reasons that the frustration of purpose and impossibility arguments fail (see Guthartz v City of New York, 84 AD2d 707, 708 [1st Dept 1981], appeal dismissed 57 NY2d 635 [1982]).

The motion court correctly dismissed plaintiff's claim for constructive eviction on the ground that plaintiff failed to plead adequate facts in support of the claim. There is no allegation in the complaint of any specific wrongful act by defendant that resulted in plaintiff's inability to use the leased premises. Indeed, the complaint alleges that the pandemic is to blame for plaintiff's temporary inability to operate. Plaintiff was able to open for curbside retail and by appointment without impediment, and plaintiff's notice to defendant of its intention to vacate the leased premises stated that plaintiff would remain in the premises until the end of the year, without reference to any act by

defendant that interfered with its use or enjoyment (see 7001 E. 71st St., LLC v Millennium Health Servs., 138 AD3d 573 [1st Dept 2016]).

We have considered plaintiff's remaining contentions and find them unavailing.THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.

ENTERED: March 8, 2022