| Castle v Avanti, Ltd. |
| 2011 NY Slip Op 05796 [86 AD3d 531] |
| July 5, 2011 |
| Appellate Division, Second Department |
| Janine A. Castle, Respondent, v Avanti, Ltd., et al.,Appellants. |
—[*1] Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, Newburgh, N.Y. (Finkelstein & Partners [Kara L. Campbell], ofcounsel), for respondent.
In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, the defendants appeal from an order ofthe Supreme Court, Westchester County (Giacomo, J.), entered June 4, 2010, which denied themotion of the defendant Avanti, Ltd., to vacate an order of the same court entered January 8,2010, granting that branch of the plaintiff's unopposed motion which was for leave to enter ajudgment against it upon its failure to appear or answer, and to compel the plaintiff to accept itslate answer.
Ordered that the appeal by the defendants Frank Ratto and Frank Raho, is dismissed, as thosedefendants are not aggrieved by the order appealed from (see CPLR 5511); and it isfurther,
Ordered that the order entered June 4, 2010, is affirmed, with costs.
To vacate the order entered upon its default in opposing the plaintiff's motion for leave toenter a default judgment, the defendant Avanti, Ltd. (hereinafter the defendant), was required todemonstrate a reasonable excuse for its default in opposing the motion and a potentiallymeritorious opposition to the motion (see CPLR 5015 [a] [1]; Bethune v Prioleau, 82 AD3d 810[2011]; Giraldo v Weingarten, 81AD3d 885, 886 [2011]; NY SMSWaterproofing, Inc. v Congregation Machne Chaim, Inc., 81 AD3d 617, 618 [2011]; Simpson v Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A.,Inc., 48 AD3d 389, 392 [2008]). The defendant failed, inter alia, to demonstrate apotentially meritorious opposition to the plaintiff's motion. Under the circumstances of this case,the defendant's failure to keep a current address on file with the Secretary of State did notconstitute a reasonable excuse for its failure to appear or answer the complaint (see EugeneDi Lorenzo, Inc. v A.C. Dutton Lbr. Co., 67 NY2d 138, 143 [1986]; Fatima v Twenty Seven-Twenty FourRealty Corp., 53 AD3d 564 [2008]; Franklin v 172 Aububon Corp., 32 AD3d 454 [2006]; Santiagov Sansue Realty Corp., 243 AD2d 622, 623 [1997]; Paul Conte Cadillac v C.A.R.S.Purch. Serv., 126 AD2d 621, 622 [1987]). Accordingly, that branch of the defendant'smotion which was to vacate the subject order pursuant to CPLR 5015 (a) (1) was properlydenied.[*2]
Furthermore, that branch of the defendant's motion whichwas to vacate the subject order pursuant to CPLR 317 was properly denied, since the defendantfailed to demonstrate that it did not personally receive notice of the action in time to defend (see Coyle v Mayer Realty Corp., 54AD3d 713, 714 [2008]; YellowBook of N.Y., Inc. v Weiss, 44 AD3d 755, 756 [2007]; Levine v Forgotson's Cent. Auto & Elec.,Inc., 41 AD3d 552, 553 [2007]).
Since the defendant failed to demonstrate that it was entitled to vacatur of the subject orderpursuant to CPLR 317 or 5015 (a) (1), the plaintiff's alleged failure to comply with CPLR 3215(g) (4) (i) did not constitute a fatal defect (see Peck v Dybo Realty Corp., 77 AD3d 640, 641 [2010]; Mauro v 1896 Stillwell Ave., Inc., 39AD3d 506, 506-507 [2007]). Dillon, J.P., Covello, Balkin, Lott and Roman, JJ., concur.