Opinion
November 27, 1991
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Ulster County (Cobb, J.).
In August 1990, petitioners made this application for leave to serve a late notice of claim upon respondent. As set forth in the proposed notice of claim submitted on the application, petitioners' claim is founded upon the theory that respondent negligently issued a building permit on December 3, 1986 and certificate of occupancy on November 14, 1987 with respect to the home now owned by petitioners, thereby permitting the construction and approval of an inadequate septic system. Supreme Court granted the application and respondent appeals.
We reverse. Contrary to petitioners' contention, the one year and 90-day Statute of Limitations of General Municipal Law § 50-i (1) (c) begins upon "the happening of the event upon which the claim is based". Here, that "event" is respondent's issuance of the building permit or certificate of occupancy attacked by petitioners (see, Klein v. City of Yonkers, 53 N.Y.2d 1011, 1013; Myers v. L M Developers, 172 A.D.2d 1043; Matter of Stelman v. Town of Poughkeepsie, 146 A.D.2d 632, lv denied 74 N.Y.2d 603). Inasmuch as the applicable limitations period had expired, Supreme Court lacked discretion to grant petitioners' application (see, General Municipal Law § 50-e).
Mahoney, P.J., Weiss, Yesawich Jr. and Levine, JJ., concur. Ordered that the order is reversed, on the law, without costs, and application denied.