Opinion
2012-12-28
In the Matter of the FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS BY PROCEEDING IN REM PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 11 OF the REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW by COUNTY OF LIVINGSTON, Relating to the 2009 Town and County Tax. County of Livingston, Petitioner–Appellant; v. Jeffrey Mort, Respondent–Respondent.
Jason S. Diponzio, Rochester, for Petitioner–Appellant. Dibble & Miller, P.C., Rochester (G. Michael Miller of Counsel), for Respondent–Respondent.
Jason S. Diponzio, Rochester, for Petitioner–Appellant. Dibble & Miller, P.C., Rochester (G. Michael Miller of Counsel), for Respondent–Respondent.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., PERADOTTO, LINDLEY, VALENTINO, AND WHALEN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
In this proceeding pursuant to RPTL article 11, petitioner appeals from an order granting respondent's motion pursuant to RPTL 1131 to vacate the default judgment of foreclosure. Contrary to the contention of petitioner, we conclude that Supreme Court did not abuse its discretion in granting the motion.
To establish an excusable default under CPLR 5015(a)(1), the defaulting party must proffer a reasonable excuse for the default as well as a meritorious defense to the action or proceeding ( see Lauer v. City of Buffalo, 53 A.D.3d 213, 216–217, 862 N.Y.S.2d 675;Matter of Clinton County [ Miner], 39 A.D.3d 1015, 1016, 833 N.Y.S.2d 715;Matter of Jefferson County, 295 A.D.2d 934, 934, 745 N.Y.S.2d 733). “The determination whether an excuse is reasonable lies within the sound discretion of the motion court” ( Lauer, 53 A.D.3d at 217, 862 N.Y.S.2d 675). “In making [its] discretionary determination, the court should consider relevant factors, such as the extent of the delay, prejudice or lack of prejudice to the opposing party, whether there has been willfulness, and the strong public policy in favor of resolving cases on the merits” ( Moore v. Day, 55 A.D.3d 803, 804, 866 N.Y.S.2d 303;see Puchner v. Nastke, 91 A.D.3d 1261, 1262, 936 N.Y.S.2d 792;Kahn v. Stamp, 52 A.D.2d 748, 749, 382 N.Y.S.2d 199).
Here, we conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in determining that respondent had a reasonable excuse for his default and a meritorious defense to the proceeding ( see Lauer, 53 A.D.3d at 217, 862 N.Y.S.2d 675;see generally Solomon Abrahams, P.C. v. Peddlers Pond Holding Corp., 125 A.D.2d 355, 357, 509 N.Y.S.2d 78). Respondent moved to vacate the default judgment on July 22, 2011, just four days after the default judgment of foreclosure was entered. Although respondent failed to interpose an answer to the petition and notice of foreclosure, he averred that, prior to the June 13, 2011 redemption date, he twice contacted petitioner to advise it of his situation and that he intended to pay all taxes due. Notably, petitioner does not contend that it suffered any prejudice attributable to respondent's delay, and we discern none on this record. Indeed, although the default judgment ordered the transfer of title to petitioner, the record establishes that the property had not yet been auctioned when respondent moved to vacate the default. Unlike the defaulting parties in the cases cited by petitioner ( see e.g. Katz v. Marra, 74 A.D.3d 888, 891, 905 N.Y.S.2d 204,appeal dismissed15 N.Y.3d 837, 909 N.Y.S.2d 11, 935 N.E.2d 803), respondent does not contend that he could not afford to pay his taxes. Rather, respondent averred that he took steps to secure the necessary funds prior to the date of redemption, but that he did not receive those funds until approximately one month after the redemption date.
In sum, “ ‘[g]iven the brief overall delay, the promptness with which [respondent] moved to vacate the judgment, the lack of any intention on [respondent's] part to abandon the [proceeding], [petitioner's] failure to demonstrate any prejudice attributable to the delay, and the preference for resolving disputes on the merits,’ ” we conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in vacating the default judgment ( Crandall v. Wright Wisner Distrib. Corp., 59 A.D.3d 1059, 1060, 872 N.Y.S.2d 802).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.