Opinion
570332/08.
Decided August 24, 2009.
Plaintiff appeals from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County (Ernest J. Cavallo, J.), dated August 6, 2007, which denied its motion for summary judgment and, sua sponte, granted summary judgment in favor of defendant dismissing the complaint.
Order (Ernest J. Cavallo, J.), dated August 6, 2007, reversed, with $10 costs, complaint reinstated and plaintiff's motion for summary judgment is granted in the principal sum of $5,000, with statutory interest from January 9, 2006.
PRESENT: McKeon, P.J., Schoenfeld, Heitler, JJ.
Inasmuch as defendant was unsuccessful in his CPLR Article 78 challenge to the civil penalties imposed against him by the New York City Council, defendant may not now challenge the propriety of the imposition of the civil penalties in the context of this plenary action by the City seeking their collection ( see generally Brooklyn Welding Corp. v City of New York, 198 AD2d 189). To the extent that defendant's opposition papers below appeared to argue that the underlying City Council resolution imposing the civil penalties is not enforceable by way of a plenary action, the argument is without merit. Pursuant to New York City Charter § 394, the Corporation Counsel "shall have the right to institute actions in law or equity . . . in any court . . . to collect any . . . fines or penalties or to enforce the laws [emphasis added]."
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.