The Law and Technology

    It is always fascinating to watch the law play catch-up with technological change.
   Under New York's Statute of Frauds a contract for the conveyance of real property is not enforceable unless it is in writing. General Obligations Law § 5-703. There is an extensive body of case law on what constitutes a "writing" which satisfies the Statute of Frauds.
    Last week the Appellate Division, First Department, addressed the question of whether an e-mail can constitute a writing which meets the requirements of the General Obligations Law. Justice David Friedman's careful analysis concludes that it can. I recommend the opinion as a good example of how courts seek to fit new technologies into existing law. The ruling, Naldi v. Grunberg, can be found here .