Opinion
2013-04-30
Maninder BHUGRA, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. MASSACHUSETTS CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, et al., Defendants–Respondents, Videckis Financial Services, et al., Defendants.
Maninder Bhugra, appellant pro se. Rivkin Radler LLP, Uniondale (Cheryl F. Korman of counsel), for respondents.
Maninder Bhugra, appellant pro se. Rivkin Radler LLP, Uniondale (Cheryl F. Korman of counsel), for respondents.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Debra A. James, J.), entered October 25, 2011, which, to the extent appealed from, denied plaintiff's motion for a default judgment against defendants Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company, Centre Life Insurance Company, Centre Solutions, and Zurich American Insurance Company (the MCIC defendants), unanimously affirmed, without costs.
This Court previously determined that the MCIC defendants timely served their answer in accordance with the parties' writtenstipulation ( Bhugra v. Massachusetts Cas. Ins. Co., 94 A.D.3d 563, 942 N.Y.S.2d 342 [1st Dept. 2012],appeal dismissed19 N.Y.3d 1064, 955 N.Y.S.2d 540, 979 N.E.2d 799 [2012] ). Accordingly, this Court essentially held that the MCIC defendants were never in default, and that determination operates to foreclose reexamination of the question of default on this appeal ( see Morrison Cohen, LLP v. Fink, 92 A.D.3d 514, 938 N.Y.S.2d 309 [1st Dept. 2012],lv. dismissed19 N.Y.3d 1017, 951 N.Y.S.2d 713, 976 N.E.2d 241 [2012];Eastside Exhibition Corp. v. 210 E. 86th St. Corp., 79 A.D.3d 417, 911 N.Y.S.2d 610 [1st Dept. 2010],affd. on other grounds 18 N.Y.3d 617, 942 N.Y.S.2d 19, 965 N.E.2d 246 [2012],cert. denied ––– U.S. –––– , 133 S.Ct. 654, 184 L.Ed.2d 461 [2012] ). Moreover, that determination renders academic plaintiff's arguments concerning whether the MCIC defendants failed to show a reasonable excuse for the default or a meritorious defense ( see Rossini Excavating Corp. v. Shelter Rock Bldrs., LLC, 89 A.D.3d 467, 931 N.Y.S.2d 874 [1st Dept. 2011] ).
We have considered plaintiff's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.