Case Name: Sure-Fit Plastics, L. L. C., Respondent, v. C & M Plastics, Inc., et al., Appellants
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1999-12-16
Citations: 267 A.D.2d 761
Docket Number: 
Parties: Sure-Fit Plastics, L. L. C., Respondent, v C & M Plastics, Inc., et al., Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 267
Pages: 761–763

Head Matter:
Sure-Fit Plastics, L. L. C., Respondent, v C & M Plastics, Inc., et al., Appellants.
[700 NYS2d 273]

Opinion:
—Crew III, J.
Appeals (1) from an order of the Supreme Court (Ingraham, J.), entered November 17, 1998 in Chenango County, which, inter alia, granted plaintiffs motion to recover possession of certain property, and (2) from an order of said court (Bowd, J.), entered March 5, 1999 in Chenango County, which, inter alia, denied defendants' motion for reconsideration.
Plaintiff manufactures plastic products in the Town of - Greene, Chenango County. On September 7, 1998, Terry Matthews, an employee of plaintiff, removed 10 tractor-trailer loads of equipment, supplies, furniture and files from plaintiffs plant, claiming that the property belonged to one of the two defendant companies of which Matthews is the principal owner. As a consequence, plaintiff commenced this action to recover possession of the property as well as money damages incurred as the result of the wrongful taking. Additionally, plaintiff moved by order to show cause for an order of seizure pursuant to CPLR article 71 and for a preliminary injunction enjoining defendants from transferring, encumbering or otherwise disposing of the property. Supreme Court (Ingraham, J.), expressing its disapproval of Matthews' use of self-help, ordered that the property be returned to plaintiffs plant exactly as it was and in the same situation it was in when removed. Supreme Court made no findings as to ownership, indicating that it would deal with that issue during the ensuing trial. Befendants appeal from that determination.
Thereafter, defendants moved for reargument or renewal contending that Supreme Court misapplied the law. Befendants further requested that Supreme Court designate a neutral party to take possession of the property pending the outcome of this appeal (see, CPLR 5519 [a] [4]). Plaintiff cross-moved to hold defendants in contempt and for a reduction in the amount of the undertaking previously established. Supreme Court (Dowd, J.) denied defendants' motion and granted so much of plaintiffs cross motion as requested that the undertaking be reduced. Defendants appeal from this order as well.
Initially, defendants contend that Supreme Court (Ingraham, J.) erred in granting an order of seizure inasmuch as the order failed to comply with the due process protections embodied in CPLR article 71. We disagree. In our view, the order at issue is not a seizure order but, rather, a preliminary injunction directing defendants to return the property "back into the plant exactly where it was, in the same situation it was in" so as to preserve the status quo until the issue of ownership is tried and resolved (see, Walsh v St. Mary's Church, 248 AD2d 792, 793). Inasmuch as the right to afford such provisional relief is discretionary with Supreme Court and we perceive no abuse thereof, the order must be affirmed.
Defendants next contend that Supreme Court (Dowd, J.) erred in denying their application for reconsideration. Again, we disagree. The basis for the renewal motion was the fact that plaintiffs building was not damaged during the removal of the property at issue. Simply stated, such fact was not relevant to the issue of plaintiffs entitlement to a preliminary injunction and would not therefore constitute facts material to the initial motion (see, Spa Realty Assocs. v Springs Assocs., 213 AD2d 781, 783-784). We have considered defendants' remaining contentions and find them to be equally without merit.
Cardona, P. J. and Mikoll, J., concur.