Case ID: ad2d_78/html/0628-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Silverman, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Lee H, Miller, Appellant, v Stanley Lasdon et al., Respondents.
   Order, Supreme Court, New York County, dated January 29, 1980, granting defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment dismissing so much of plaintiff’s complaint as seeks recovery for lost earnings and profits, and severing the action accordingly, is unanimously reversed, on the law, and said motion for partial summary judgment is denied, with costs. However difficult it may be for plaintiff to establish the loss of profits in a new and untried business, we think plaintiff should have the opportunity to try to establish such profits upon the trial. Concur—Kupferman, J. P., Sandler, Ross and Carro, JJ.

Silverman, J.,

concurs in a memorandum as follows: I concur in the reversal. I am almost prepared to say that we can take judicial notice of the fact that there is no way to establish satisfactorily that an untried business to be conducted by persons never in that business before will be profitable, and in a given amount. The uncertainties of economic life are just too great. However, there is no separate cause of action for loss of profits but only a general claim for $500,000, which includes loss of earnings and profits, moneys expended and obligations incurred (although the bill of particulars does allocate over $450,000 of the $500,000 claimed damages to such loss of earnings and profits). Perhaps it is just as well not to attempt at this stage to decide the measure of plaintiff’s recovery if plaintiff does establish liability.