Opinion
December 21, 1990
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Onondaga County, Reagan, J.
Present — Denman, J.P., Boomer, Pine, Balio and Lawton, JJ.
Order unanimously reversed on the law without costs, cross motion denied, motion granted, and complaint dismissed. Memorandum: The affidavit of service by mail raised a presumption that proper mailing occurred, and because service was complete upon mailing, the affidavit of plaintiff's attorney stating that he was convinced that his office did not receive the order of preclusion does not raise an issue of fact whether proper service was made (see, Engel v. Lichterman, 62 N.Y.2d 943, 944, affg 95 A.D.2d 536). In his affidavit opposing this motion, plaintiff's attorney did not raise any issue concerning the validity of the affidavit of service and he did not contend that the order was not mailed.
In the absence of an affidavit setting forth a justifiable excuse for the delay and merit to the action, the court should not have vacated the order of preclusion and it should have granted defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.