Summary
affirming trial court's finding on a motion for summary judgment that the mortgagee, despite being the titleholder, neither maintained, controlled, nor reserved any rights to reenter the premises where the mortgagor served as landlord of the property, held herself out as owner of the property, collected rents, made repairs to the property, was responsible for compliance with local regulations, and listed herself as owner of the building with the New York City Department of Buildings
Summary of this case from Cretcher v. U.S. BankOpinion
October 2, 1989
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Garry, J.).
Ordered that the order is reversed insofar as appealed from, on the law, with one bill of costs payable by the plaintiffs, the motion is granted, and the complaint insofar as asserted against it and the cross claim asserted against it are dismissed, and the action against the remaining defendants is severed.
The defendant Seabrook Holding Corp. (hereinafter Seabrook), a real estate investment corporation, obtained title to the property in question, essentially as a mortgagee. Pursuant to an agreement with the mortgagor, Bessie Kelly, Seabrook was to retain title to the premises as security for the mortgage indebtedness until such time as Ms. Kelly brought her debt current. Ms. Kelly, in her capacity as landlord, held herself out as owner of the property, and maintained, leased, collected rents for and made any repairs upon, the premises. Further, she was responsible for compliance with local regulations, and listed herself as owner of the building with the New York City Department of Buildings. Seabrook established that it was merely an out-of-possession titleholder to the premises. It neither maintained, controlled nor reserved any rights to reenter the premises. The plaintiffs failed to offer evidentiary proof in admissible form sufficient to demonstrate the existence of a triable issue of fact (see, CPLR 3212 [b]; Trails W. v Wolff, 32 N.Y.2d 207, 221; Hecht v Vanderbilt Assocs., 141 A.D.2d 696). Therefore, Seabrook is entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as it is asserted against it and the cross claim as against it (see, Bellen v Lomanto, 125 A.D.2d 905; Oquendo v Mid Mem Corp., 103 A.D.2d 705). Thompson, J.P., Bracken, Kunzeman and Rubin, JJ., concur.