Opinion
2011-11-9
Michael GORALSKI, respondent,v.John C. NADZAN, Jr., appellant.
Salenger Sack Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP, New York, N.Y. (Michael Schwartz of counsel), for appellant.Davis & Ferber, LLP, Islandia, N.Y. (Ian M. Sack of counsel), for respondent.
In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the defendant appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (Spinner, J.), dated October 12, 2010, which denied his motion to vacate a judgment of the same court entered July 6, 2009, upon his default in appearing or answering the complaint, and to dismiss the complaint for lack of proper service upon him.
ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, with costs, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Suffolk County, for a hearing to determine whether the defendant was properly served and, thereafter, for a new determination of his motion to vacate the judgment entered upon his default in appearing or answering the complaint and to dismiss the complaint for lack of proper service upon him.
The burden of proving that personal jurisdiction has been acquired over a defendant in an action rests with the plaintiff ( see Anderson v. GHI Auto Serv., Inc., 45 A.D.3d 512, 512–513, 845 N.Y.S.2d 129; Kearney v. Neurosurgeons of N.Y., 31 A.D.3d 390, 817 N.Y.S.2d 502; Bankers Trust Co. of Cal. v. Tsoukas, 303 A.D.2d 343, 756 N.Y.S.2d 92). Ordinarily, a process server's affidavit of service establishes a prima facie case as to the method of service and, therefore, gives rise to a presumption of proper service ( see Wells Fargo Bank, NA v. Chaplin, 65 A.D.3d 588, 589, 884 N.Y.S.2d 254; Household Fin. Realty Corp. of N.Y. v. Brown, 13 A.D.3d 340, 785 N.Y.S.2d 742; Bankers Trust Co. of Cal. v. Tsoukas, 303 A.D.2d at 344, 756 N.Y.S.2d 92). However, where there is a sworn denial that a defendant was served with process, the affidavit of service is rebutted, and the plaintiff must establish jurisdiction at a hearing by a preponderance of the evidence ( see Wells Fargo Bank, NA v. Chaplin, 65 A.D.3d at 589, 884 N.Y.S.2d 254; Mortgage Access Corp. v. Webb, 11 A.D.3d 592, 593, 784 N.Y.S.2d 116; Bankers Trust Co. of Cal. v. Tsoukas, 303 A.D.2d at 344, 756 N.Y.S.2d 92).
The defendant's sworn, detailed, and specific statements that he no longer resided at the address recited in the process server's affidavit of service when service of the summons and complaint was purportedly made pursuant to CPLR 308(2) were sufficient to rebut the process server's affidavit of service. In opposition, the plaintiff failed to submit documentary evidence sufficient to establish that the address where the process was served was the defendant's dwelling place, usual place of abode, or last known residence. Under these circumstances, the defendant is entitled to a hearing on the issue of whether service was properly effected pursuant to CPLR 308 (2) ( see Zion v. Peters, 50 A.D.3d 894, 854 N.Y.S.2d 670; Mortgage Access Corp. v. Webb, 11 A.D.3d at 593, 784 N.Y.S.2d 116; Bankers Trust Co. of Cal. v. Tsoukas, 303 A.D.2d at 344, 756 N.Y.S.2d 92). Thus, we remit the matter to the Supreme Court, Suffolk County, for a hearing to determine whether the defendant was properly served and, thereafter, for a new determination of his motion to
vacate his default and to dismiss the complaint for lack of proper service on him.
MASTRO, J.P., BALKIN, CHAMBERS and SGROI, JJ., concur.