Case Name: Bison Plumbing City, Inc., Respondent, v. Nathan Benderson et al., Appellants
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2001-03-21
Citations: 281 A.D.2d 955
Docket Number: 
Parties: Bison Plumbing City, Inc., Respondent, v Nathan Benderson et al., Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 281
Pages: 955–955

Head Matter:
Bison Plumbing City, Inc., Respondent, v Nathan Benderson et al., Appellants.
[722 NYS2d 660]

Opinion:
—Order unanimously affirmed with costs. Memorandum: "A motion to disqualify another party's attorney is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court" (Juergens v Schanman, 182 AD2d 740, 741). Supreme Court properly exercised its discretion in denying defendants' motion to disqualify plaintiffs attorney based upon the failure of defendants to meet their burden of presenting sufficient proof to warrant that relief (see, Petrossian v Grossman, 219 AD2d 587, 588). Defendants failed to establish that an attorney-client relationship exists between them and plaintiff's attorney or his former law firm based upon the law firm's representation of a partnership in which one of defendant trustees is a partner (see, Brooklyn Navy Yard Co-generation Partners v PMNC, 254 AD2d 447; Kushner v Herman, 215 AD2d 633). Further, assuming, arguendo, that the law firm is disqualified from representing plaintiff, we conclude that defendants failed to demonstrate that the law firm's disqualification is imputed to plaintiffs attorney pursuant to Code of Professional Responsibility DR 5-105 (d) (22 NYCRR 1200.24 [d]) based upon his status as "special counsel" to the law firm (see, Shelton v Shelton, 151 AD2d 659; Gray v Memorial Med. Ctr., 855 F Supp 377, 379-380). (Appeal from Order of Supreme Court, Erie County, NeMoyer, J. — Disqualify Counsel.) Present — Pigott, Jr., P. J., Green, Wisner, Kehoe and Burns, JJ.