Opinion
December 23, 1994
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Monroe County, Affronti, J.
Present — Green, J.P., Lawton, Wesley, Doerr and Boehm, JJ.
Order unanimously reversed on the law without costs and motion granted. Memorandum: Supreme Court erred in denying defendants' motions for change of venue. Subdivision (1) of section 12 of the Facilities Development Corporation Act (L 1968, ch 359, § 1, as amended; McKinney's Uncons Laws of N Y § 4412 [1]) provides, in pertinent part, that "[t]he venue of any action, suit or special proceeding brought against the corporation shall be laid in the county of Albany." To prevent the transfer of the action, plaintiffs were required to make a cross motion to retain venue in Monroe County for the convenience of material witnesses and the ends of justice (see, CPLR 510; Bruder v Pepsi Cola, 166 A.D.2d 243, 244; Pitegoff v Lucia, 97 A.D.2d 896; 7A Carmody-Wait 2d, N Y Prac § 48:58, at 168). The affidavits submitted in opposition to defendants' motions are insufficient to constitute a cross motion (see, Pitegoff v Lucia, supra; Braver v County of Nassau Off. of Admin. Servs., 67 Misc.2d 120, 121; 7A Carmody-Wait 2d, N Y Prac § 48:58, at 168). Those affidavits, moreover, fail to establish the existence of compelling circumstances that would justify a departure from the statutory directive (see, Kroupa v Facilities Dev. Corp., 157 A.D.2d 650; Seaboard Sur. Co. v Facilities Dev. Corp., 100 A.D.2d 787; see also, Zinker v Zinker, 185 A.D.2d 698).