Appellate Term, Second Department · September 17, 2026 · 2026 NY Slip Op 51584[U]
Balalaos v Bernstein
Read the official decision: 2026 NY Slip Op 51584[U]
Holding The court reversed the lower court’s judgment because the plaintiff, an unlicensed home improvement contractor, is barred from recovering payment for work performed. The court held that the plaintiff’s use of licensed subcontractors did not cure the lack of a personal license required by law.
The court’s words
plaintiff conceded, in opposition to defendant's oral motion at trial, that he did not possess the requisite license
2026 NY Slip Op 51584[U], at the official text
such relationships are insufficient to permit an unlicensed contractor to recover for work performed
2026 NY Slip Op 51584[U], at the official text
the award in favor of plaintiff failed to render substantial justice according to the rules and principles of substantive law
2026 NY Slip Op 51584[U], at the official text
| Court | Appellate Term, Second Department |
|---|---|
| Decided | September 17, 2026 |
| Citation | 2026 NY Slip Op 51584[U] |
| Area of law | Contracts and Commercial |
| Week | Week ending September 19, 2026 |
| Official text | Official decision: 2026 NY Slip Op 51584[U] |
| Publication status | Slip opinions are uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports. |
| Source feed | New York slip opinion page |
| Law Watch record id | 916 |
Recommended citation
ESQ HQ, New York Law Watch, Balalaos v Bernstein, 2026 NY Slip Op 51584[U] (Appellate Term, Second Department, September 17, 2026), https://esqhq.com/decisions/2026-ny-slip-op-51584-u/
How this record was made
Holding drafted by Law Watch’s in-house model, graded by three reviewers; every quotation verified word for word against the official text.
Read how Law Watch works