Opinion
2012-01-31
ANDREWS, PUSATERI, BRANDT, SHOEMAKER & ROBERSON, P.C. and Robert S. Roberson, esq., Plaintiffs–Appellants, v. COUNTY OF NIAGARA, Defendant–Respondent.
Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Niagara County (Frank Caruso, J.), entered November 22, 2010. The order denied plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment.Brandt, Roberson & Brandt, P.C., Lockport (Robert S. Roberson of Counsel), for plaintiffs-appellants. Webster Szanyi LLP, Buffalo (Charles E. Graney of Counsel), for defendant-respondent.
Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Niagara County (Frank Caruso, J.), entered November 22, 2010. The order denied plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment.Brandt, Roberson & Brandt, P.C., Lockport (Robert S. Roberson of Counsel), for plaintiffs-appellants. Webster Szanyi LLP, Buffalo (Charles E. Graney of Counsel), for defendant-respondent.
MEMORANDUM:
Plaintiffs commenced this action seeking damages for breach of contract and unjust enrichment based upon defendant's alleged failure to pay for legal services rendered by plaintiffs. Supreme Court properly denied plaintiffs' motion seeking summary judgment on the complaint and dismissal of the counterclaims. With respect to the complaint, plaintiffs' own submissions in support of the motion raise triable issues of fact whether defendant owes plaintiffs further compensation pursuant to the legal services contract, and whether plaintiffs performed services in addition to those covered by that contract ( see generally Ulrich v. Estate of Zdunkiewicz, 8 A.D.3d 1014, 1015, 778 N.Y.S.2d 582). Plaintiffs also failed to meet their initial burden of establishing their entitlement to judgment dismissing the counterclaims ( see generally Birt v. Ratka, 39 A.D.3d 1238, 835 N.Y.S.2d 781; Home Sav. Bank v. Arthurkill Assoc., 173 A.D.2d 776, 777–778, 570 N.Y.S.2d 644, lv. dismissed 78 N.Y.2d 1071, 576 N.Y.S.2d 221, 582 N.E.2d 604). Thus, the motion was properly denied, “regardless of the sufficiency of the opposing papers” ( Alvarez v. Prospect Hosp., 68 N.Y.2d 320, 324, 508 N.Y.S.2d 923, 501 N.E.2d 572).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed with costs.