Bookman v. 816 Belmont Realty, LLC

180 A.D.3d 986

121 N.Y.S.3d 134

Troy BOOKMAN, appellant,

v.816 BELMONT REALTY, LLC, respondent.

2018-11772

Index No. 515451/16

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

Argued - October 22, 2019

February 26, 2020

Drabkin & Margulies (Pollack, Pollack, Isaac & DeCicco, LLP, New York, N.Y. [Brian J. Isaac and Michael H. Zhu ], of counsel), for appellant.

Ahmuty, Demers & McManus, Albertson, N.Y. (Nicholas M. Cardascia and Glenn A. Kaminska of counsel), for respondent.

ALAN D. SCHEINKMAN, P.J., REINALDO E. RIVERA, SHERI S. ROMAN, LINDA CHRISTOPHER, JJ.

DECISION & ORDER

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Lawrence Knipel, J.), dated August 14, 2018. The order granted the defendant's motion pursuant to CPLR 317 and 5015(a)(1) to vacate a judgment of the same court dated November 9, 2017, entered upon its failure to appear or answer the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, the facts, and in the exercise of discretion, with costs, and the defendant's motion pursuant to CPLR 317 and 5015(a)(1) to vacate the judgment dated November 9, 2017, is denied.

On July 22, 2014, the plaintiff allegedly was injured when he fell on a sidewalk abutting premises owned by the defendant. In September 2016, the plaintiff commenced this action to recover damages for personal injuries. On September 28, 2016, the defendant was served by delivery of the summons and complaint to the Secretary of State. In December 2016, the plaintiff moved for leave to enter a default judgment upon the defendant's failure to appear or answer the complaint. On January 26, 2017, the Supreme Court granted the plaintiff's motion. On November 9, 2017, after an inquest on the issue of damages, a judgment was entered in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant in the principal sum of $375,000.

In July 2018, the defendant moved pursuant to CPLR 317 and 5015(a)(1) to vacate the judgment dated November 9, 2017, claiming, among other things, that it had not received notice of the action because of an incorrect address on file with the Secretary of State. The plaintiff opposed the motion. In an order dated August 14, 2018, the Supreme Court granted the motion. The plaintiff appeals.

Pursuant to CPLR 317, a defaulting defendant who was served with a summons other than by personal delivery may be permitted to defend the action upon a finding by the court that the defendant did not personally receive notice of the summons in time to defend and has a potentially meritorious defense (see Eugene Di Lorenzo, Inc. v. A.C. Dutton Lbr. Co., 67 N.Y.2d 138, 141, 501 N.Y.S.2d 8, 492 N.E.2d 116 ; Dove v. 143 Sch. St. Realty Corp., 172 A.D.3d 1315, 1316, 101 N.Y.S.3d 461 ). Here, the defendant was not entitled to vacatur of its default pursuant to CPLR 317. The record reflects that, since September 2011, the defendant had not filed, with the Secretary of State, the required biennial form that would have apprised the Secretary of State of its current address (see Limited Liability Company Law § 301[e] ), thus raising an inference that the defendant deliberately attempted to avoid notice of actions commenced against it (see Cruz v. Keter Residence, LLC, 115 A.D.3d 700, 701, 981 N.Y.S.2d 607 ; see also Santiago v. Sansue Realty Corp., 243 A.D.2d 622, 622–623, 663 N.Y.S.2d 235 ).

"In contrast to a motion pursuant to CPLR 317, on a motion pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1), the movant is required to establish a reasonable excuse for his or her default" ( Dwyer Agency of Mahopac, LLC v. Dring Holding Corp., 164 A.D.3d 1214, 1216, 82 N.Y.S.3d 118 ). Under the circumstances of this case, the defendant's failure to keep the Secretary of State apprised of its current address over a...