Opinion
2003-1563 SC.
Decided June 23, 2004.
Appeal by defendant from so much of an order of the District Court, Suffolk County (P. Hensley, J.), dated September 25, 2003, as denied her cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint or, in the alternative, to disqualify plaintiff's attorney from further representation.
Order insofar as appealed from unanimously reversed without costs, defendant's cross motion for summary judgment granted, and the complaint dismissed.
PRESENT: McCABE, P.J., RUDOLPH and ANGIOLILLO, JJ.
It is well settled that an obligation to pay the debt of another must be in writing and signed by the person to be charged (General Obligations Law § 5-701 [a] [2]). Herein, it is uncontroverted that the monies allegedly owed are a business debt between plaintiff and defendant's late husband. Plaintiff contends that defendant personally agreed to pay for said debt by her signed letters dated June 20, 2000 and November 9, 1998. Upon a review of said letters, however, we find that defendant did not agree therein to pay the debt of her deceased husband. Accordingly, defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is granted.