Opinion
January 18, 1996
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Beverly Cohen, J.).
As sufficient elements of legal malpractice were asserted ( see, Mendoza v Schlossman, 87 A.D.2d 606), the IAS Court properly denied defendant Lustig summary judgment. While privity of contract is necessary to state a cause of action for professional malpractice ( see, Estate of Spivey v Pulley, 138 A.D.2d 563, 564), liability is extended in the presence of "special circumstances" ( supra, at 564). Plaintiff asserted that defendant-appellant, retained by the other general partner, knew at the time of the filing of the petition in bankruptcy for the limited partnership that plaintiff's personal liability as general partner would be accelerated, yet did not apprise him of such filing. The court therefore properly found that, if proven, such relationship would sufficiently approach privity to enable plaintiff to recover ( see, Prudential Ins. Co. v Dewey, Ballantine, Bushby, Palmer Wood, 80 N.Y.2d 377).
Concur — Ellerin, J.P., Rubin, Nardelli, Tom and Mazzarelli, JJ.