Case Name: Carl R. Charleson et al., Respondents, v. City of Long Beach et al., Appellants
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2002-09-30
Citations: 297 A.D.2d 777
Docket Number: 
Parties: Carl R. Charleson et al., Respondents, v City of Long Beach et al., Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 297
Pages: 777–778

Head Matter:
Carl R. Charleson et al., Respondents, v City of Long Beach et al., Appellants.
[747 NYS2d 802]

Opinion:
In the absence of surprise or prejudice to the opposing party, leave to amend a complaint is to be freely granted (see CPLR 3025 [b]; Edenwald Contr. Co. v City of New York, 60 NY2d 957; Dal Youn Chung v Farberov, 285 AD2d 524). Here, however, the plaintiffs' proposed fourth cause of action, alleging violations of the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (18 USC § 1962), was not adequately pleaded and is plainly lacking in merit (see Curran v Auto Lab Serv. Ctr., 280 AD2d 636; 136 E. 56th St. Owners v Darnet Realty Assoc., 248 AD2d 327, 328; Schuler v Board of Educ. of Cent. Islip Union Free School Dist., 2000 WL 134346 [ED NY, Feb. 1, 2000]; United States v Private Sanitation Indus. Assn. of Nassau/Suffolk, 793 F Supp 1114, 1129).
The appellants' remaining contentions are without merit. Ritter, J.P., Krausman, McGinity and Luciano, JJ., concur.