Opinion
02-18-2016
Patrick H. BARCLAY, also known as Independent Anchor, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. CITIBANK, N.A., Defendant–Respondent.
H. Patrick Barclay, appellant pro se. Zeichner Ellman & Krause LLP, New York (Greg M. Bernhard of counsel), for respondent.
H. Patrick Barclay, appellant pro se.
Zeichner Ellman & Krause LLP, New York (Greg M. Bernhard of counsel), for respondent.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Doris Ling–Cohan, J.), entered July 8, 2014, which denied plaintiff pro se's motion to correct a stipulation, settlement and release, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The stipulation of settlement, signed by the parties, and so-ordered in open court, explicitly stated that Citibank agreed to pay $6,500 in satisfaction of the action, comprised of $5,000 plus $1,500 interest calculated at 6% for five years. The interest formula was specified as: "5000 x 0.006 x 5 = 1500. A notation was made next to the interest formula which stated: "subject to court's approval." Under these circumstances, the stipulation of settlement, "definite and complete upon its face, and spread upon the record in open court, constituted a valid and binding contract between plaintiff and [defendant]" and should stand as written (Term Indus. v. Essbee Estates, 88 A.D.2d 823, 825, 451 N.Y.S.2d 128 [1st Dept.1982] ). Plaintiff in open court "acknowledged he understood its terms" (Rivera v. State of New York, 115 A.D.2d 431, 432, 496 N.Y.S.2d 230 [1st Dept.1985] ; Sun v. Cintron, 11 Misc.3d 129[A], 2006 N.Y. Slip Op. 50281[U], 2006 WL 516806 [Sup.Ct., App.Term, 1st Dept.2006] ). The motion court properly found no fraud, overreaching, mistake, or any other good cause to set aside plaintiff's consent, and an open court stipulation may not be set aside on the basis of afterthought or change of mind (see Term Indus., 88 A.D.2d at 825, 451 N.Y.S.2d 128 ).
RENWICK, J.P., ANDRIAS, SAXE, RICHTER, JJ., concur.