Opinion
February 29, 1988
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Morton, J.).
Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs.
The plaintiff's motion to vacate his default in answering defendants' counterclaims was properly granted. The plaintiff showed a meritorious defense, excusable neglect and an intent to defend the allegations against him. Moreover, the defendants failed to demonstrate that they were prejudiced by the delay which was of relatively short duration. Given these factors, the court was justified in exercising its discretion to allow resolution of the dispute on the merits (see, Stolpiec v Wiener, 100 A.D.2d 931).
The motion for summary judgment was properly denied. The Statute of Frauds (General Obligations Law § 5-701) does not bar the plaintiff's action on the oral agreement. The plaintiff alleges that the parties orally agreed to form a corporation and divide its stock equally. The agreement contemplates organizing a corporation and issuing and delivering stock to the parties. Therefore, it could be performed within one year.
In addition, summary judgment was properly denied because the conflicting affidavits raised numerous issues of fact, including the specific terms of the agreement and whether the plaintiff performed his obligations thereunder. Thompson, J.P., Brown, Lawrence and Weinstein, JJ., concur.