Epstein v. Paganne, Ltd.

44 A.D.2d 520, 353 N.Y.S.2d 190, 1974 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 5514

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: March 12, 1974
• Status: Published

Opinion

Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County, entered in these consolidated actions on December 27, 1972, after trial, dismissing the five causes of action asserted by Paganne, Ltd., the plaintiff in Action No. 2, appellant herein, and awarding judgment to Donald Epstein and Maurice Feingold, individually and doing business as Deco, plaintiffs in Action No. 1, respondents herein," unanimously modified, on the law and on the facts, to the extent of reversing the judgment in favor of respondents and dismissing the complaint in Action No. 1, reinstating the first cause of action in Action No. 2, awarding judgment on liability to appellant on said first cause of action, remanding the matter for an assessment of damages with regard thereto, and otherwise affirmed. Appellant shall recover of respondents one bill of $60 costs and disbursements. The overwhelming weight of the credible evidence in this record establishes that, after the sales agency agreement which forms the basis of these actions was executed, respondents failed to live up to the terms thereof. Respondents, Epstein and Feingold, doing business as a copartnership under the name of Deco, clearly did not “ use its best efforts and energy in representing Paganne ”. The trial court’s finding to the contrary, which is based in part on its erroneous refusal to accept proof concerning the parties’ understanding of the meaning of the quoted phrase, is not supported by the record and is against the weight of the evidence — even when viewed in the light most favorable to respondents. J. P., Nunez, Murphy, Tilzer and Capozzoli, JJ.